C-233An Act to amend the Export and Import Permits Act
Private member's bill, introduced in the House of Commons on September 19, 2025
- Status
- Defeated at second reading in the House of Commons
What it does
Changes Canada’s export permit rules for military goods, removes country exemptions, and adds reporting and treaty compliance requirements.
What it does
- Expands the definition of “arms, ammunition, implements or munitions of war” to include parts, components and technology needed to assemble or use them.
- Removes country-based exemptions from the Export Control List for military goods.
- Bars the Minister from issuing general export permits and general brokering permits for military goods.
- Requires the Minister to consider added factors when deciding export or brokering permits, and to require an end-use certificate when that would help reduce a substantial risk of war crimes or human rights violations.
- Requires the Minister to table an annual report in Parliament on military goods exports, permit decisions and steps taken to comply with the Arms Trade Treaty.
- Makes permits issued before royal assent expire after 180 days, and gives pending applications and General Export Permit No. 47 temporary transitional treatment.
Who it affects
- Canadian arms exporters
- Brokers of military goods
- The federal government
- Members of Parliament
Background
The bill amends the Export and Import Permits Act. Its summary says it is meant to align the law more fully with the Arms Trade Treaty.
Where it is
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Defeated here. Defeated
Committee
Not reached.
Report stage
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Senate
First reading
Not reached.
Second reading
Not reached.
Committee
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Royal assent
Royal assent
Not reached.
Introduced by an MP who is not a minister. These bills compete in a lottery for debate time, and most do not become law. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
2nd reading of Bill C-233, An Act to amend the Export and Import Permits Act
Vote 85,
Failed
22 yeato295 nay · 6 paired
Party breakdown for vote 85 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Nay15 broke ranks 15 140 15 Conservative Nay 0 133 8 Bloc Nay 0 22 0 NDP Yea 6 0 0 Green Yea 1 0 0 Total 22 295
What MPs said
Each party’s first speech on this bill in the House, from Hansard. Excerpts are the speaker’s opening sentences, unedited.
LiberalRob Oliphant· November 19, 2025
“She has attempted to do that in the bill, and I believe that all members of the House agree that Canada must maintain a strong export control system to prevent the misuse of weapons anywhere and everywhere. Right now, global security matters more than ever, and Canada must act with clarity and resolve.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caConservativeMichael Chong· November 19, 2025
“The bill would amend the Export and Import Permits Act, which governs Canada's defence and military exports, by removing exemptions for specific countries. Currently under the Export and Import Permits Act, the United States is exempt from its provisions, due to a ministerial order.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caBlocSimon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay· November 19, 2025
“Tonight we are debating Bill C‑233, an act to amend the Export and Import Permits Act, introduced by the member for Vancouver East. I will begin by outlining the main points.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caNDPJenny Kwan· September 19, 2025
“Moved for leave to introduce Bill C-233, An Act to amend the Export and Import Permits Act. I rise today to introduce my private member's bill, an act to amend the Export and Import Permits Act, otherwise known as the no more loopholes act.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.ca
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: Bill defeated. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.