Brokering Control List: SOR/2019-220

Canada Gazette, Part II, Volume 153, Number 13

Registration
SOR/2019-220 June 17, 2019

EXPORT AND IMPORT PERMITS ACT

P.C. 2019-796 June 16, 2019

Her Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, pursuant to section 4.11 footnote a of the Export and Import Permits Act footnote b, makes the annexed Brokering Control List.

Brokering Control List

List

1 For the purposes of section 4.11 of the Export and Import Permits Act, the Brokering Control List includes the following goods and technology:

Coming into force

2 This List comes into force on the day on which section 5 of An Act to amend the Export and Import Permits Act and the Criminal Code (amendments permitting the accession to the Arms Trade Treaty and other amendments), chapter 26 of the Statutes of Canada, 2018, comes into force, but if it is registered after that day, it comes into force on the day on which it is registered.

REGULATORY IMPACT ANALYSIS STATEMENT

(This statement is not part of the List, the regulations or the Order.)

Issues

The Government of Canada wishes to accede to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT or the Treaty).

The ATT has its origins in the growing international concern about the direct and indirect consequences of the irresponsible arms trade. These consequences include increased conflict and instability, human rights abuses and negative impacts on socio-economic development, which run counter to Canadian foreign policy objectives. The Treaty came into force in December 2014. As of December 2018, the ATT counted 100 States Parties.

The ATT establishes standards for international trade in a broad range of conventional arms with the goal of ensuring that states have effective national systems to review and control arms trading, and thus provides an opportunity for Canada to further strengthen its export control regime. The full-system conventional arms over which the ATT requires reporting are defined in Article 2(1) as battle tanks; armoured combat vehicles; large-calibre artillery systems; combat aircraft; attack helicopters; warships; missiles and missile launchers; and small arms and light weapons. Article 10 of the ATT requires that each State Party take measures to regulate brokering taking place under its jurisdiction for the full-system conventional arms that fall under the scope of Article 2(1) of the Treaty.

On December 13, 2018, An Act to amend the Export and Import Permits Act (EIPA) and the Criminal Code (amendments permitting the accession to the Arms Trade Treaty and other amendments) [the Act] received royal assent. It not only amended the EIPA to establish controls over brokering in Canada, but also created a legal obligation for the Minister of Foreign Affairs to consider certain assessment criteria, such as human rights violations or terrorism, among others, before authorizing export and brokering permits. After the consideration of any mitigation measures, should there remain a substantial risk of these negative consequences, the Minister will be required to deny the permit.

Canada must now develop regulations to ensure full compliance with the ATT.

Objective

The ultimate objective of this package of regulations is for Canada to accede to the ATT in full and demonstrable compliance.

Description

The following regulations have been made:

Brokering

Enhanced reporting on ATT exports to the United States (U.S.)

Regulatory development

Canada’s approach

In order to develop its regulations enabling accession to the ATT, Canada has consistently looked to the international context to develop its approach. Global Affairs Canada has undertaken thorough benchmarking to learn from the experiences of like-minded countries and to ensure that Canada’s brokering controls and reporting methods are effective, while minimizing undue burden on Canadian businesses. This research has informed and helped refine this package of regulations. Global Affairs Canada will continue to look to the international context to ensure that Canada’s brokering controls and reporting methods remain efficient and effective over time, and remain in line with those of like-minded countries.

Consultation

Results from the public consultations

Global Affairs Canada proactively consulted stakeholders interested in this proposal. There are, broadly speaking, three main groups of stakeholders: the Canadian defence, security and aerospace industries; Canadian civil society organizations, including academics, whose work focuses on the global arms trade, human rights, and conflict prevention and mitigation; and Canadian firearms owners and users. These groups were consulted during the recent online consultation entitled “Global Affairs Canada’s proposed strengthening of Canada’s export controls regime,” that was undertaken from December 13, 2018, until January 31, 2019. In addition to this online consultation, Global Affairs Canada met with representatives from the stakeholders mentioned above through a series of meetings, workshops, webinars and round table discussions that took place across the country between December 13, 2018, and February 11, 2019. Beyond these recent consultations, these groups of stakeholders were actively consulted in the parliamentary process for the amendments to the Export and Import Permits Act and in the negotiations of the ATT.

The Canadian defence, security and aerospace industries include companies that manufacture, export and/or broker military and dual-use goods and technologies (i.e. goods with both a civilian and military purpose). It also includes companies that provide related technical and after-sale services. The 2018 State of Canada’s Defence Industry, a report published jointly by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries, states that “the defence industry contributed close to $6.2B in GDP and 60 000 jobs to the Canadian economy in 2016.” Industry representatives, such as the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries, have publicly supported Canada’s accession to the ATT on numerous occasions, speaking in favour of an implementation of the ATT that does not lead to new undue regulatory or administrative burdens for manufacturers. Industry representatives welcomed the fact that the ATT will provide common rules for exporters across all States Parties, thereby encouraging a level playing field for arms manufacturers on the global stage. With regard to brokering controls, during both parliamentary consideration of the Act and during the recent public consultations, industry has expressed some views on their scope and their potential unintended impacts. They have also asked questions on when actions crystallize into brokering, thus triggering the requirement for authorization. Industry has not indicated concerns with regard to the costs of brokering controls, but has asked that the new controls be in line with those of Canada’s allies.

Canadian civil society organizations whose work focuses on the global arms trade, human rights, and conflict prevention and mitigation have generally welcomed Canada’s desire to accede to the ATT. In the course of the debate on the amendments to the Export and Import Permits Act, they have urged the Government of Canada to apply further rigour in its assessments of Canada’s international arms exports and to regulate all aspects of the arms trade more deeply and extensively. During the legislative process, they expressed concerns about the existing practice of not requiring permits for the export of ATT items to the United States. During both parliamentary consideration of the Act and during the recent consultations, civil society organizations have expressed support for Canada’s proposed brokering controls themselves. Civil society organizations have also underlined the importance that the proposed brokering controls be as rigorous as export controls. They have asked the Government to increase its transparency by reporting on these exports with at least the same level of rigour as exports to all other destinations. Their other main concern was around the application of the ATT assessment criteria and the overriding risk test, which was initially to be developed through regulation. This concern was considered, and a decision was taken to respond to this concern by placing these elements of the ATT in the legislation rather than in regulation. In addition, civil society organizations have expressed support for Canada’s proposed brokering controls themselves, as part of its implementation of the ATT requirements. Civil society organizations have also underlined the importance that the proposed brokering controls be as rigorous as export controls.

Canadian firearm owner groups have expressed concerns that the ATT could be used to re-introduce a gun registry and that ATT reporting requirements might include details on individual gun owners, thus leading to a de facto gun registry. Officials have sought to clarify to Canadian firearm owner groups that neither the ATT nor its implementation in Canada would result in such changes.

Results from the 30-day public comment period following publication of the regulations in the Canada Gazette, Part I

The regulations were published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, for public comment from March 16 to April 15, 2019. Emails and notifications of this comment period were sent to over 3 500 groups and individuals including all the participants in the December 2018/January 2019 public consultations on “Global Affairs Canada’s proposed strengthening of Canada’s export controls regime,” industry members, industry associations, non-governmental organizations, key federal government partners, and other stakeholders. In-person and telephone engagement sessions were held during the public comment period to provide information and to answer questions about the proposed regulations.

A total of 12 responses (via emails, meetings and telephone calls) were received during the 30-day public comment period. All responses supported Canada’s steps to accede to the Arms Trade Treaty or were neutral about the broad lines of the regulations. The Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI) and the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada (AIAC) issued a joint letter of support stating they remain committed to continue working with Global Affairs Canada to assist in a smooth transition to implement the new controls. A joint civil society submission from the Canadian Red Cross and International Committee of the Red Cross was supportive of the ongoing consultations and steps taken to move towards ATT compliance.

Some concerns and questions were raised about specific elements of the proposed regulations. Similar to the feedback received during the earlier public consultations, concerns identified by industry included the potential unintended impacts on industry related to the proposed scope of the regulations, and the need for clarity on certain the procedural elements of the brokering process. For examples, there were questions relating to stage at which to apply for a brokering permit and industry also posed questions regarding whether their activities were captured by the proposed regulations. Similar to the feedback received during the parliamentary study of the Act and the earlier public consultations, civil society organizations’ concerns, articulated in a joint submission from Amnesty International, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, Oxfam Quebec, Project Ploughshares and The Rideau Instituted and a joint submission from the Canadian Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross, set out how they would like to see the Government of Canada go further in certain areas to further strengthen the proposed controls and Canada’s adherence to the ATT, including related to transparency and to addressing diversion concerns.

Some industry members requested that the Brokering Control List be amended to remove certain items and to mirror a subset of the Export Control List Item 5505 so that responsibility of assessing whether an item is captured rests solely with Global Affairs Canada. The Brokering Control List encompasses all of Export Control List Group 2 Items (Munitions Items), and no exceptions to that scope were considered given the Government’s long-stated intent that all munitions items be captured by brokering controls. This coverage follows Canada’s commitments in the Wassenaar Arrangement to control brokering on all munitions items. The Weapons of Mass Destruction portion of the Brokering Control List closely mirrors Export Control List Item 5505.

Comments from industry related to the Brokering Permit Regulations focused on non-regulatory issues that relate to the interplay of brokering permits with export permits. These included a request that the same flexibility for duration of export permits apply to brokering permits and that mechanisms be envisaged to allow for efficient processes when companies seek both an export and a brokering permit for the same sale to allow for aftermarket service that may either be undertaken as an export from Canada or brokered from another country. Global Affairs Canada is generally supportive of these proposals and will apply similar flexibility for the duration of brokering permits and work is underway to create streamlined procedures for the processing of related export and brokering permit applications.

Civil society’s sole comment on the Brokering Permit Regulations was that diversion is not explicitly addressed in this regulation. Global Affairs Canada agrees that assessing the risk of diversion is a fundamental element of the permit assessment process. While the word “diversion” is not present in the text of the regulations, they do require that applicants submit information about the parties to the transaction (including consignees and any other brokers), specific details regarding the type of good or technology in question, and information on the end-use. This information forms a fundamental part of the permit assessment process and allows officials to determine any diversion risks. Diversion is also addressed under the prohibitions of the Export and Import Permits Act (in particular subsections 15(1) and (2)). Global Affairs Canada will ensure that the concept of diversion and its related risks are more fully explained in the “Notice to Brokers” to this regulation, as well as in the Export Controls Handbook and other policy documents and outreach information. Further to Budget 2017, Global Affairs Canada received additional resources that have enabled the department to create a new export control outreach unit and a new export control compliance unit that will allow for more interaction with industry to focus on diversion related risk and for more rigorous enforcement of the Export and Import Permits Act.

Comments on the Regulations Specifying Activities that Do Not Constitute Brokering sought to expand the scope of these regulations. Specifically, industry members requested that transactions involving Export Control List Group 9 (Arms Trade Treaty) items be included as an activity that does not constitute brokering in these regulations. In addition, it was suggested that transactions made at the request of an affiliate, transactions for Government of Canada end-use, transactions subject to authorizations from other jurisdictions, companies or citizens operating in the jurisdictions of close allies, and aftermarket activities be added to the list of activities that do not constitute brokering. Global Affairs Canada carefully considered each of these scenarios, mindful of potential unintended loopholes that complete carve-outs could create (a concern also raised by civil society) that could be used by unscrupulous persons seeking to circumvent controls, and of the benchmarks set by allies’ brokering frameworks to ensure the same level of rigour and no undue advantages to industry. Further to this review, Global Affairs Canada is of the view that these scenarios should be captured by brokering controls. However, recognizing that different scenarios pose different risk thresholds, Global Affairs Canada has determined that brokering transactions destined for Government of Canada end-use could be addressed through expedited authorizations under a general permit. This has been reflected in amendments to General Brokering Permit No. 1. More details are provided in the Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement for that regulation. Global Affairs Canada is also looking at future expedited measures related to certain aftermarket activities once it develops a better understanding in this area.

Comments on the Order Amending the Export Control List (Arms Trade Treaty) were mixed, with a request from civil society to add items and requests from industry to narrow the scope by removing or clarifying certain items. Specifically, civil society requested that Group 9 of the Export Control List be amended to include parts and components. The purpose of Group 9 is to enhance transparency and facilitate Canada’s international commitments on reporting. Group 9 therefore represents the items that Canada must report on as part of its Arms Trade Treaty obligations, along with additional precisions to allow Canada to meet its related Wassenaar Arrangement reporting obligations. As a result Group 9 will not be amended.

Respondents also made a number of useful comments related to matters not directly related to the ATT package of regulations. Some of these comments were practical implementation matters that are being considered and will be reflected as applicable in policy and in process, such as the need for guidance on when to apply for a brokering permit and how to complete a brokering permit application. Other comments were legislative in nature related to the Export and Import Permits Act and the Act which amended it. The latter comments will be taken under advisement for any future legislative amendments.

Outreach and engagement actions including further face-to-face meetings will be undertaken to clarify the implications of the regulations once made, and to help address any questions or concerns.

Modern treaty obligations and Indigenous engagement and consultation

Modern treaty obligations have been considered and are not affected by these regulations.

Instrument choice

The objective of this package is to bring Canada into full and demonstrable compliance with the ATT ahead of its accession.

Article 10 of the ATT requires that Canada regulate the brokering of full-system conventional arms defined in Article 2(1) of the ATT. There are no instruments other than regulations that could be used to create such a framework for brokering controls that meets Article 10 of the ATT. The Minister of Foreign Affairs is also proposing to make the General Brokering Permit No. 1 a ministerial regulation that will offer brokers access to a streamlined permit for brokering to low-risk destinations. This ministerial regulation, discussed in its own Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement, should be considered as part of the broad suite of measures preparing Canada for accession to the ATT.

Article 13 of the ATT requires that Canada report on its export of full-system conventional arms as defined in Article 2(1) of the ATT. An amendment to the Export Control List to add these full-system conventional arms as controlled items, including those shipped to the United States, is the only mechanism to allow for the capture of accurate data on the exports of these military goods.

However, the reciprocal permit-free movement of most military items between Canada and the United States has been in place since World War II, pursuant to various arrangements between the two governments. A series of Exchanges of Notes between Canada and the United States of America stemming from the Hyde Park Agreement of 1941 reference the need and the general principles required for greater economic and defence integration. One such Exchange of Notes dated October 26, 1950, states that “barriers which impede the flow between Canada and the United States of goods essential for the common defence efforts should be removed as far as possible.” The combined regulatory amendments to the Export Control List and the creation of the new General Export Permit No. 47 are not intended to alter this existing and long-standing permit-free movement of such military goods. Canada continues to benefit from its close defence and security relationship with the United States and continues to have confidence in the highly rigorous nature of the U.S. export control system, and this is not impacted by the U.S. administration’s recent decision to “un-sign” the ATT. Many of our key partners and allies have expedited licensing measures to the United States, even though the U.S. is not an ATT State Party.

Consequently, the Government believes that it continues to be in Canada’s best interests to ensure an expedited process for the movement of military goods between Canada and the United States. Therefore, in parallel with the amendments to the Export Control List that requires permits for the export of all Group 9 items to the United States, the Minister of Foreign Affairs will create a general export permit (the General Export Permit No. 47, discussed in its own Regulatory Impact and Analysis Statement). This general permit allows Canadian companies and residents intending to export the majority of goods to be listed in Group 9 of the Export Control List to do so without applying for an individual permit if they prenotify Global Affairs Canada of their intent to export these items in a calendar year and subsequently report semiannually on their exports.

Regulatory analysis

Benefits and costs

Benefits

This proposal will enable Canada to be in a position to accede to the ATT. It also offers other benefits related to the ATT. These regulations will increase the rigour of Canada’s export control regime by regulating brokering in the international arms trade in a way that minimizes the burden on Canadian business and the Government. This proposal will also enable Canada to report on all its international arms transfers that fall under the ATT, including exports to the United States.

This package of regulations will also offer benefits that go beyond Canada’s accession to the ATT. This package of regulations will showcase Canadian leadership by providing full transparency on Canadian exports of military goods and setting an example for other states to follow. This package will also contribute to the growth of an essential international norm on the responsible arms trade and effective international cooperation in this area. Finally, these regulations will demonstrate the higher standard Canada will be held to, thus showing Canada to be a safer destination for the import of sensitive goods and technologies.

Government costs

For Government, the cost to administer the new brokering regime is estimated to be approximately $640,000 annually to hire three new staff to support the implementation of an arms brokering control regime in Canada, and to review brokering permit applications, conduct policy and regulatory work, and provide business intelligence. Some of these costs are attributed to making minor changes to adapt Global Affairs Canada’s IT system for brokering licences. There are no costs to Government emanating from the amendment to the Export Control List.

Industry costs

Brokering

Any person or organization in Canada or any Canadian citizen, permanent resident or organization that is incorporated, formed or otherwise organized under the laws of Canada or a province, that is acting outside of Canada and wishes to broker can currently do so without applying for any permit. Since these persons or organizations have no obligations to apply for brokering licences now, the brokering regulations impose incremental costs on business. A detailed review of each regulation highlights the costs each one imposes or minimizes:

Overall costs to industry of the brokering regime are expected to be low. Based on earlier consultations and benchmarking against the experience of partners with similar brokering regimes as what is proposed for Canada (e.g. the European Union and Australia), and prior to prepublication, it was anticipated that 15 companies would likely be affected by the brokering regulations, and that each would submit an average of two permit applications per year. The previously mentioned ministerial General Brokering Permit No. 1 will offer brokers a streamlined permit that will be publicly accessed and used without an individual application, provided that broker transactions meet the requirements of the permit and meet the terms and conditions of this general permit. Prior to prepublication, this streamlined permit was expected to mitigate the need for approximately 50% of individual permit applications. In other words, without the General Brokering Permit No. 1, companies that broker would otherwise be expected to submit an average of four permit applications per year. One change has been made to General Brokering Permit No. 1 further to comments received during the Canada Gazette prepublication period that will result in a decrease in the number of individual brokering permit applications and higher use of the General Brokering Permit. As the prepublication of the regulations did not bring additional information (such as information on quantitative costings) to the attention of officials, it is not possible at this time to quantify the potential change in resulting costs at this time. For more information, please consult the separate Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement for General Brokering Permit No. 1.

Furthermore, companies that export military goods are likely to be those which already broker such goods in the current unregulated environment. As a result, they already have the appropriate staff structure (such as trade compliance specialists) in place to apply brokering controls, and the information required for brokering permits (e.g. the broker’s particulars, those of the parties involved in the transaction, details on the items to be brokered, and information related to end use) will not require additional efforts to generate. Finally, the brokering regulations are designed to resemble export controls. The latter are well-known by exporters, which will minimize new costs to industry. For instance, the brokering regulations will employ the same IT system (known as EXCOL), and will refer to existing Government of Canada documents that are well known to exporters of arms (such as the item groups of the Export Control List or the Export Controls Handbook).

As the brokering controls are implemented, Global Affairs Canada will monitor their implementation, including the cost impacts on business. This will lead to the creation of data that will allow Global Affairs Canada to refine the brokering controls in the future, if needed.

Export Control List amendment

Canada currently controls all ATT listed items for export to all destinations, other than the United States. Controls on the export of ATT items to the United States are currently limited to items such as prohibited firearms and certain missiles. While all ATT items are captured in different parts of Group 2 of the Export Control List, in order to capture all ATT items in one distinct and identifiable group, a new Group 9 (Arms Trade Treaty) of the Export Control List is being created. Therefore, ATT items will be captured under both Group 2 and Group 9. The incremental costs to business of the Order Amending the Export Control List (Arms Trade Treaty) will apply to individual permits for the export of ATT items (that require reporting under Article 13 of the ATT) to the United States that do not already require individual export permits (prohibited firearms, prohibited weapons, prohibited devices and items in Export Control List 2-4.a., including bombs, torpedoes, and missiles). These costs will essentially be negated by the above-mentioned General Export Permit No. 47 (see “Instrument choice”). Readers may wish to consult the Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement on the General Export Permit No. 47 for more information about the costs associated with this measure.

As ATT items will be controlled by both Group 2 and Group 9 of the Export Control List, exporters of ATT items to non–U.S. destinations will be encouraged to also self-assess the goods they intend to export in light of the new Group 9 when completing their individual permit application, in keeping with current practice. Around 25 companies apply for permits to export ATT items to non–U.S. destinations. Global Affairs Canada has advised these companies and has worked with them to ensure that they understand this minor change that should result in no incremental costs (no new field/box will be added to the export permit application).

Small business lens

Small businesses represent a modest part of Canada’s defence, security and aerospace industries in transaction volumes. In data from 2016, Statistics Canada indicated that there were 529 small businesses in the defence and security sector (out of a total of 664 companies). Statistics Canada also reported that, in 2016, these small businesses represented 13.2% of defence industry sales, 17.3% of employment, 15.2% of research and development and 8.2% of exports.

The community of arms brokers is thought to be a small subset of the defence and security industry, and a very small subset of the small and medium-sized enterprise community. As a result, the impacts of the brokering controls on small business are likely to be marginal and will not result in substantial or disproportionate cost impacts for small business.

Small businesses typically do not manufacture the items covered by the Order Amending the Export Control List (Arms Trade Treaty). The most recent data available shows that only seven companies have exported ATT items to destinations other than the United States and that none of these companies are small businesses. However, there are approximately 20 small enterprises that export firearms to the United States. Additional costs imposed by the Order Amending the Export Control List (Arms Trade Treaty) will be mitigated by the ministerial regulation, General Export Permit No. 47 (as described under “Instrument choice”).

In addition, small businesses benefit from measures that Global Affairs Canada has implemented to support all businesses in their efforts at compliance, namely

“One-for-One” Rule

As described above under “Industry costs,” the Brokering Control List, Brokering Permit Regulations, and Order Amending the Export Control List (Arms Trade Treaty) increase administrative burden for exporters and brokers of certain controlled items. The “One-for-One” Rule is triggered for the Brokering Control List and Brokering Permit Regulations, as both measures introduce new regulations and increase administrative burden on businesses. The “One-for-One” Rule is triggered for the Order Amending the Export Control List (Arms Trade Treaty), as it increases the administrative burden under existing regulations. However, because these three regulations are required to meet Canada’s international obligations under the ATT, they are therefore exempted from the “One-for-One” Rule.

Regulatory cooperation and alignment

This package of regulations will enable Canada’s accession to the ATT in a full and demonstrable manner. By acceding to the ATT, Canada will be joining 100 countries (as of December 2018) that are States Parties to the ATT. Many of these states are among Canada’s closest allies and trading partners. Moreover, there is reason to believe that more states will join the ATT over time.

Strategic environmental assessment

In accordance with The Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals, a preliminary scan concluded that a strategic environmental assessment is not required. The approved preliminary scan determined that the regulations are unlikely to result in important environmental effects and that further analysis is not required.

Gender-based analysis plus

An assessment indicates that there are no gender-based analysis plus (GBA+) impacts in this package of regulations. However, there are relevant GBA+ considerations in the broader context of Canada’s accession to the ATT. The ATT is the first international treaty that specifically mentions gender-based violence as an outcome to prevent. Therefore, by acceding to the Treaty, Canada will support this objective.

As a demonstration of Canada’s commitment in this regard, the legislative amendments to the Export and Import Permits Act included gender-based violence and violence against women and children as an assessment criterion for export and brokering permits that would be subject to a substantial risk test in the same manner as the other ATT criteria (thus going beyond the ATT requirement in this regard). This change was brought about by the Act, which now places a legal obligation on the Minister of Foreign Affairs to consider this and other criteria before authorizing export and brokering permits.

In light of the above, Global Affairs Canada continues to develop its work on how to best assess instances of gender-based violence and violence against women and children in export and brokering permit applications.

Implementation, compliance and enforcement, and service standards

Implementation

The package of regulations will come into force at the same time as the Act. Canada will seek to deposit its instrument of accession to the ATT shortly after the final approval of these regulations. There will be a 90-day waiting period before Canada would become a State Party to the Treaty.

As the brokering controls are a new area for Canada, Global Affairs Canada will carefully monitor their implementation to gather information about the brokering community and develop baseline knowledge about its practices. If feedback about an undue cost of brokering controls is expressed, particularly about new low-risk situations, officials from Global Affairs Canada would consider proposing options to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Such options might include new general brokering permits or other mechanisms to further streamline the permitting process.

Compliance and enforcement

Global Affairs Canada’s Export Controls Operations Division, which is responsible for issuing export and brokering licences, now includes a dedicated compliance section. This unit will promote compliance with the brokering regulations through its regular mechanisms, such as documentation reviews. Global Affairs Canada is currently exploring additional mechanisms to increase compliance, including through communication products and in-person outreach. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is responsible for the enforcement of brokering controls, while the RCMP and the Canadian Border Services Agency are responsible for the enforcement of export controls.

Service standards

As brokering controls represent a new activity for Global Affairs Canada, service standards have yet to be defined but efforts will be made to keep them as short as possible given the nature of brokering activities. Global Affairs Canada will work with industry and other stakeholders to identify appropriate service standards for these controls.

Contact

Judy Korecky
Deputy Director
Export Controls Policy Division
Global Affairs Canada
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0G2
Telephone: 343‑203‑4332
Fax: 613‑996‑9933
Email: judy.korecky@international.gc.ca

Should members of the public contact Ms. Korecky by email, they are invited to send a copy of their comments to the collective mailbox at expctrlpol@international.gc.ca.