The federal government needs to increase the transparency of arms exports to ensure the weapons are not used in violation of human rights or agreements with Canada, a House of Commons committee heard on Tuesday. Jean-Christophe Boucher, an assistant professor in political science at the University of Calgary, told the Foreign Affairs and International Development Committee that the Canadian government has not been transparent on granting export permits for firearms, which could raise concerns about how the weapons are used. According to Boucher, over 60 percent of Canada’s defence productions are exported, which is why the government should continue to pursue exports and the development of the defence industry. However, in Boucher’s September 2020 survey on what Canadians believe is the most important factor when it comes to selling military equipment, most (31 percent) are concerned about respect for human rights, followed by respect for international law (22 percent). Around …