Canadian company pauses shipments to Israeli defence firm after sending GPS antennas last weekend

Calian GNSS, a company based in Ottawa, has decided to halt shipments of GPS antennas to Elbit, an Israeli defense firm, after initially sending some last weekend, as reported by CBC News. This decision comes after recent concerns raised by the Canadian government and other sources regarding the region’s stability.

Shelley MacLean, the corporate communications director at Calian, stated, “Given recent announcements by our Government and others regarding continued concerns for the region, Calian has paused this shipment and all future shipments until further notice.” The decision was made following the release of a report by four NGOs that analyzed Israeli import data and shipping records, raising questions about the Canadian government’s claims of not allowing arms shipments to Israel since January 2024.

According to Calian, one shipment had already made its way from Ottawa to a facility in Montreal, where Elbit would collaborate with the Canada Border Services Agency for export. However, all future shipments are now on hold. Both Calian and Global Affairs Canada emphasized that GPS antennas have various civilian applications and are not solely intended for military purposes.

Global Affairs Canada confirmed that GPS antennas are common civilian technology and are not typically subject to export controls. Despite Elbit being a defense contractor, it also manufactures products for civilian commercial activities. Elbit Systems, which describes itself as a “leading global defense technology company,” did not provide a response to CBC News’ request for comment.

In response to Calian’s decision to pause shipments, activist Rachel Small from the group World Beyond War claimed that the company only stopped the shipments after being caught “red-handed.” Small expressed concerns that the GPS antennas destined for Elbit’s ‘Electronic Warfare and Signal Intelligence’ facility could potentially contribute to fueling Israel’s military activities. She called for accountability and a halt to all military goods shipments to Israel.

Yara Shoufani from the Palestinian Youth Movement echoed these concerns, highlighting the lack of clear mechanisms for monitoring the end use of military cargo sent to Israel from Canada. Elbit previously faced backlash in Canada when the organizers of the Giller Prize severed ties with sponsor Scotiabank due to protests over the bank’s affiliation with Elbit.

The decision by Calian to pause shipments of GPS antennas to Elbit reflects growing scrutiny and concerns over the use of such technology in military applications. This move underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in the export of goods with potential dual-use capabilities.