Statement by Heather McPherson, NDP Foreign Affairs Critic, on Canada’s failure to sanction Streit Group « Canada’s NDP
“Today, we learned in the Globe and Mail that Guerman Goutorov, the Russian-born Canadian citizen who is head of Streit Group, has been sanctioned by the European Union for allegedly helping Russia in its illegal invasion of Ukraine. While Streit Group is based in the United Arab Emirates, it was founded in and maintains its headquarters in Canada.
New Democrats have called for sanctions on Streit Group for over a decade, since Goutorov was accused of breaking an arms embargo against Sudan in 2012. Streit has also been accused of skirting sanctions in Libya and South Sudan and arming warring parties in multiple parts of the world in violation of the Arms Trade Treaty, and the company has been condemned by the United Nations multiple times over the past 15 years. Streit Group has also been fined by the United States government.
Yet Canada has done nothing despite years of advocacy from New Democrats and arms control and human rights groups.
New Democrats have raised concerns about Streit Group in Canada’s Parliament a dozen times over the last ten years, via questions in the House, in Committees, and written questions. We have never received answers from the Canadian government about whether investigations were taking place, or whether sanctions were considered – for ten years.
Canada’s legislation is clear: Canadians may not sell weapons to governments that may use those weapons in violations of international law, including human rights abuses. This applies whether they are based in Canada or another country, including the United Arab Emirates.
The Liberals’ inaction on Streit Group is shameful. They have known about these allegations for over a decade and have taken no action.
The Liberals’ failure to investigate and enforce Canada’s export controls not only enables Streit Group to continue arming the world’s worst human rights violators, it also grants a free pass to other arms suppliers who want to dodge Canadian sanctions.
Streit Group and Guerman Goutorov deal in death and misery. They should be investigated under the Export and Import Permits Act and Canada’s Arms Trade Treaty legislation.
Ten years of Liberal inaction must end. Sanctions now.”