Ban nickel exports to Israel
Petitioners ask the Government of Canada to ban Canadian nickel exports to Israel and to arms manufacturers supplying Israel, and require buyers to certify no resale. The government responds that export permits regulate such nickel.
Why we would sign this petition
- Reduces the risk that Canadian nickel is used in weapons supplied to Israel, aligning resource exports with humanitarian concerns.
- Uses trade controls to pressure actors linked to alleged abuses without resorting to military measures.
- Adds supply‑chain transparency by requiring buyer certification to prevent re‑export to Israel or arms manufacturers.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Could restrict market access for Canadian nickel exporters and their customers, harming trade relationships and business activity.
- Certification and enforcement may be difficult to verify, creating loopholes and administrative burden.
- May duplicate or conflict with existing export controls and diplomatic tools the government already uses to limit military exports.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the Government of Canada Whereas: The State of Israel is carrying out a campaign of genocide against the people of Palestine through indiscriminate military actions against the civilian population, killing and maiming more than one hundred thousand people, and destroying the physical and social infrastructure of Gaza; Many of the weapons used in this genocide are supplied to the State of Israel by the United States and other NATO Countries; Nickel is an important raw material in the manufacture of these armaments; Forty percent of the nickel consumed in US manufacturing originates in Canada; The people of Canada do not want the natural resources of this land or the labour of our people contributing to this campaign of terror and mass murder; The Government of Canada has banned new contracts for the sale of armaments to Israel; The Government of Canada can enact programs that promote the development of peaceful uses of nickel; We, the undersigned Citizens and Residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to: Institute a ban on the sale of nickel to Israel and to those armament manufacturers that supply Israel; Require purchasers of Canadian nickel to certify that they will not re-sell Canadian nickel to Israel or to arms manufacturers supplying Israel.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Signed by Rob Oliphant The Government of Canada shares the shock and horror felt across Canada – and around the world – at the brutal and unthinkable terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israeli civilians on October 7, 2023. The Government also recognizes the devastating toll faced by Palestinians as a result of the ensuing conflict. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The tragic loss of civilian lives – particularly women and children – is heartbreaking. Canada welcomes the ceasefire and the comprehensive peace plan for Gaza presented by the United States and urges the parties to fully implement the plan. This includes ensuring a sustained influx in unimpeded humanitarian assistance led by the United Nations, and new governance and security arrangements for Gaza to lay the foundations for recovery and reconstruction. Canada is engaged in the region and actively working with international partners to advance the peace plan. As the Minister of Foreign Affairs has outlined, Canada’s long-standing position is ultimately rooted three key principles: that Israel has a right to exist and by extension defend itself, in accordance with international humanitarian law; that protection of civilians is paramount; and that the Palestinian people have a right to self-determination. The Government remains committed to working towards an irreversible path to achieving a two-state solution, where Israelis and Palestinians can live securely within internationally recognised borders. This is the only viable option to achieve a just and enduring peace. Canada remains deeply concerned by extremist settler violence in the West Bank and condemn such acts, not only for the significant impact they have on Palestinian lives, but also for the corrosive impact they have on prospects for lasting peace. We call on authorities to ensure the protection of civilians and hold perpetrators of such violence accountable. Along with our partners, Canada continues to call on the Israeli government to take immediate action to stop such further occurrences of extremist settler violence, and to uphold Israel’s obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention to protect the Palestinian population and hold those responsible for the violence accountable under the law. This is why Canada has also announced four rounds of sanctions against the inciters and perpetrators of this violence, including Isreali Cabinet Minister’s Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. Sanctions are a part of Canada’s foreign policy toolkit, which also includes dialogue, capacity building, advocacy, multilateral engagement, and other diplomatic actions. Canada is judicious in its approach to imposing sanctions and rigorously evaluates the particular circumstances at hand, as well as broader political and international contexts, before deciding whether sanctions or any other tools in Canada’s foreign policy toolbox may be an appropriate response. Through the Export and Import Permits Act, Canada requires a valid export permit for the export of nickel and nickel alloys when they are in forms and have properties that are useful for military, nuclear or space applications. Canada also requires permits for the export of many components of military, nuclear and space related equipment, many of which are made of nickel or include parts made from nickel. Regarding arms export permits, Canada has not approved any new permits for items to Israel that could be used in the current conflict in Gaza since January 8, 2024. In 2024, Canada also suspended approximately 30 export permits for items destined to Israel. All permits suspended in 2024 remain suspended and cannot be used to export to Israel.