The struggle for justice and peace in the Middle East is happening at home in Canada as successive Conservative and Liberal governments sustain a $15 billion arms deal for Light Armoured Vehicles (LAVs) with Saudi Arabia. Early in 2016, the Liberal government granted the required "export permits" for the deal despite the fact that the sale of the LAVs would be in clear violation of both the word and spirit of Canada's export controls. CJPME and other Canadian human rights groups have highlighted the incompatibilities between the granting of the permits, and Saudi Arabia's appalling record of human rights abuses.
With this campaign, CJPME has been very active, and has worked in very effective collaboration with other Canadian human rights groups:
- An Open Letter to Justin Trudeau, asking him to rescind the export permits for the Saudi arms deal. This letter was signed by CJPME and over a dozen important Canadian human rights organizations.
- A CJPME Press Release regarding the Saudi Ambassador's reluctance to comment on the Arms deal.
- A CJPME Press Release sent in conjunction with the joint protest letter from Canadian human rights organizations on Canadian human rights organizations opposing the deal
- CJPME's Factsheet "Canada and the International Arms Trade Treaty." Canada sent this document to all MPs in 2015.
- CJPME's Factsheet "Canada and the $15B Saudi Arms Deal." Canada sent this document to all MPs in 2015.
- CJPME's Factsheet "Canada's Military Trade with the Middle East." Canada sent this document to all MPs in 2015.
- CJPME's Postion Paper "Canada's response to Middle Eastern authoritarian regimes." CJPME presented this position paper to dozens of MPs.