Issue
Foreign Policy & Defence
Canada's role abroad through the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act, the Department of National Defence Act, and the Special Economic Measures Act (the basis for Russia, Iran, Belarus, North Korea, and Myanmar sanctions). NATO commitments and defence spending: Canada's 2024 Defence Policy Update committed to reaching 2% of GDP on defence by 2032 (current spending below the NATO 2% target). Active 2024-2025 files: Bill C-70 (Countering Foreign Interference Act, royal assent June 2024, established the Foreign Influence Transparency Registry as a Hogue Commission response), Canada's continued military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine since the 2022 Russian invasion, the 2023 modernized Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (C-57), the Canada-Taiwan relations framework discussion (S-277, C-343), and the Canada-Israel-Palestine-Hamas conflict (federal government recognition of a Palestinian state was promised in 2024 conditional on conditions that have not been met).
Where parties stand
Compare side-by-side- Bloc QuébécoisBLOC
The Bloc Quebecois defends Quebec's economic interests in federal trade and foreign-policy decisions, particularly Quebec aerospace contracts (Bombardier, CAE, Pratt and Whitney Canada with approximately 41,000 direct aerospace jobs in Quebec per Aero Montreal data), defends the federal Bill C-282 protections for Quebec dairy farmers (supply management), supports federal humanitarian commitments to Ukraine post-2022 Russian invasion (Quebec hosts approximately 80,000 Ukrainian refugees per Statistics Canada 2024 estimates), opposes federal arms exports to Saudi Arabia (Canadian arms exports to Saudi Arabia exceeded $4 billion since 2014), and supports Canadian recognition of the State of Palestine alongside Israel under the two-state solution.
Source - Conservative Party of CanadaCONSERVATIVE
The federal Conservative Party under Pierre Poilievre commits to meeting the NATO two-percent-of-GDP defence-spending target by 2030 (Canada currently at approximately 1.4 percent per NATO data), faster procurement of the F-35 fleet (currently 88 aircraft, delivery 2026-2032), restoration of funding for the Royal Canadian Navy combatant surface vessels under the National Shipbuilding Strategy (15 vessels under the $84-billion Canadian Surface Combatant program), supports continued Canadian arms exports under the Defence Production Act framework, opposes the federal arms-export embargo on Saudi Arabia, supports Canadian recognition of the State of Israel alongside Palestine under a future two-state solution.
Source The federal Green Party calls for Canada to refuse to meet the NATO two-percent-of-GDP defence-spending target if it requires cutting social spending, supports the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW, 2017; Canada has not signed despite 86 state parties), demands Canadian recognition of the State of Palestine alongside Israel under the two-state solution (joining Spain, Norway, Ireland, and others who recognized in 2024), supports an arms-export embargo on Saudi Arabia (Canadian arms exports to Saudi Arabia exceeded $4 billion since 2014 per Global Affairs Canada data), and ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty implementation.
Source- Liberal Party of CanadaLIBERAL
Committed to meeting NATO's 2% defence spending target by 2032 on a multi-year glide path. Continues military and financial aid to Ukraine, supports a two-state solution in Israel-Palestine, and frames Canada's role as a values-based middle power within the rules-based international order.
Source Supports humanitarian and reconstruction aid to Ukraine but opposes increased weapons spending. Has called for a ceasefire in Gaza and a halt to military exports to Israel; opposes Canadian participation in nuclear-weapons sharing arrangements.
Source
Bills affecting this issue
- S-214Federal45-1In committee
An Act to amend the Special Economic Measures Act (disposal of foreign state assets)
Special Economic Measures Act on foreign-asset disposal (Senate).
- C-235Federal45-1In committee
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (increasing parole ineligibility)
Senate bill targeting foreign interference, hostage taking and arbitrary detention.
- C-219Federal45-1In committee
An Act to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act, the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law), the Special Economic Measures Act and the Broadcasting Act
Magnitsky-style sanctions framework continuation.
- C-251Federal45-1First reading
An Act to amend the Customs Act and the Customs Tariff (forced labour and child labour)
Strengthens federal tools against goods produced with forced labour in supply chains, particularly Xinjiang-origin imports.
- C-233Federal45-1Second reading
An Act to amend the Export and Import Permits Act
Export and Import Permits Act amendments.
- C-228Federal45-1Second reading
An Act to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act (prior review of treaties by Parliament)
Prior parliamentary review of treaties in DFATD Act.
- C-37-43Federal44-1Royal assent
Foreign Influence Transparency Registry Act (43-2)
Foreign Influence Transparency Registry Act (43-2 origin).
- C-70Federal44-1Royal assent
An Act respecting countering foreign interference
Modernizes Canada's response to state-backed foreign interference (China, Russia, Iran cases).
- S-9Federal44-1Royal assent
An Act to amend the Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Act
Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Act amendments.
- C-353Federal44-1In committee
An Act to provide for the imposition of restrictive measures against foreign hostage takers and those who practice arbitrary detention in state-to-state relations and to make related amendments to the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
Sanctions regime targeting foreign hostage-takers and arbitrary detention by states.
- C-281Federal44-1In committee
An Act to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act, the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law), the Broadcasting Act and the Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act
International Human Rights Act: Magnitsky-style sanctions annual list, CRTC foreign-state-broadcaster check.
- C-388Federal44-1First reading
An Act to fast track energy and mining projects and to facilitate the provision of munitions to Ukraine and develop its munitions industry
Fast-track energy and mining projects + munitions to Ukraine.
- S-278Federal44-1Second reading
An Act to amend the Special Economic Measures Act (disposal of foreign state assets)
Special Economic Measures Act foreign-state asset disposal.
- S-277Federal44-1Second reading
An Act respecting a framework to strengthen Canada–Taiwan relations
Statutory Canada-Taiwan relations framework. Codifies cultural and economic ties without affirming Taiwan statehood.
- C-350Federal44-1First reading
An Act to amend the State Immunity Act, the Criminal Code and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
Combatting Torture and Terrorism Act.
- C-41Federal44-1Royal assent
An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to other Acts
Lets Canadian aid agencies operate in Afghanistan (Taliban-controlled territory) without falling foul of anti-terrorism financing rules.
- C-343Federal44-1First reading
An Act respecting a framework to strengthen Canada-Taiwan relations
Commons companion to S-277: Canada-Taiwan relations framework.
- S-211Federal44-1Royal assent
An Act to enact the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act and to amend the Customs Tariff
Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act.
- C-324Federal44-1First reading
An Act to amend the Special Economic Measures Act
Special Economic Measures Act sanctions reform.
- S-225Federal44-1In committee
An Act to amend the Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act (investments)
Bans Canadian financial institutions from investing in companies that produce cluster munitions.
- C-300Federal44-1First reading
An Act to amend the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act, the Defence Production Act and the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act (Canadian products and services)
PWGSC + Defence Production Act + munitions to Ukraine bundle.
- S-247Federal44-1First reading
An Act to amend the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law)
Expands the Magnitsky Law to require annual published lists of designated foreign officials.
- C-262Federal44-1First reading
An Act respecting the corporate responsibility to prevent, address and remedy adverse impacts on human rights occurring in relation to business activities conducted abroad
Federal mandatory human-rights due-diligence regime for large companies with foreign operations.
- C-263Federal44-1First reading
An Act to establish the Office of the Commissioner for Responsible Business Conduct Abroad and to make consequential amendments to other Acts
Creates an independent Commissioner for Responsible Business Conduct Abroad with investigative powers.
- S-217Federal44-1First reading
An Act respecting the repurposing of certain seized, frozen or sequestrated assets
Authorizes Ottawa to repurpose seized or frozen foreign-official assets to compensate victims.
- C-243Federal44-1First reading
An Act respecting the elimination of the use of forced labour and child labour in supply chains
Forced and child labour in supply chains (precursor to S-211).
- S-204Federal44-1Second reading
An Act to amend the Customs Tariff (goods from Xinjiang)
Bans imports of goods manufactured in Xinjiang on forced-labour grounds.