Thank you, Mr. Bergeron. I would say that Turkey has certainly shown itself willing to leverage its membership in NATO to get other countries to skirt their Arms Trade Treaty obligations. We cannot control that. We cannot control what the Turkish government does or the phone calls their political leaders make. What we can control is the strength of our own export decisions, our authorizations and our denials.
To be blunt, NATO membership does not in itself generate a reason for an exemption or different treatment or differential treatment of Turkey. They can try it, but we should not allow it.
In the final report on exports to Turkey, which was issued just weeks ago, the Canadian government says they are assessing export permits on a case-by-case basis and assessing whether there are exceptional circumstances, including NATO co-operation programs. I will tell this committee that from the perspective of the Arms Trade Treaty, which we follow very closely—we have attended every conference of states parties—that is not a valid exemption. Allies don't let allies commit human rights violations. Allies don't enable allies to skirt obligations under the Arms Trade Treaty.