Ontario workers in 'grey area' as Canada considers scrapping sale of arms to Saudis
Londoners weighing ethical consideration against livelihoods, says Rev. Kevin George
As Ottawa considers the future of trade with Saudi Arabia over alleged atrocities committed by the kingdom, the livelihoods of workers in London, Ont. hang in the balance.
Rev. Kevin George says he sees his parishioners struggle, as they weigh their financial security with what is happening abroad.
"Very few people would sit down and say: 'Well, you know, we don't care what happens to children in Yemen or the people of the Middle East,'" said George, who works with St. Aidan's Anglican Church in the city.
"But at the same time, you know, we're also all going to be deeply concerned about what goes on here," he told The Current's Anna Maria Tremonti.
"As much as I might be concerned about a child overseas, I need to be concerned about a child of that person here in London, whose education, or activities, or even food on the table is also critically important."
The city is home to a General Dynamics factory which produces light armoured vehicles (LAVs). Those vehicles are sold to Saudi Arabia in a $15-billion deal that was agreed by Stephen Harper's Conservative government in 2014, and got final approval from Trudeau's Liberals when they came to power. Speaking to CTV on Sunday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that the federal government is reviewing export permits, in an effort to find a way out of the deal. General Dynamics warned that cancelling it could cost billions.
The deal means jobs and stability for thousands in London, but alleged human rights abuses by Saudi Arabia have put pressure on the federal government to review it. The Saudis have faced international criticism for their role in the war in Yemen — which the United Nations said is putting millions of people at risk of starvation — and the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in October.
London City Councillor Shawn Lewis said the effects of a closure would be widely felt.
"You're going to see families struggling to pay the mortgage or pay the rent, struggle to pay the grocery bill," he told Tremonti.
George said it's a difficult issue, that leaves people in a grey area.
"But there are parts of it, I think that we know — from a moral perspective — are not that grey at all," he said.
Click 'listen' near the top of this page to hear the full conversation.
Produced by Ines Colabrese and Imogen Birchard.