Canadian lawmaker says he was demoted after backing Israel arms export bill

Canadian Liberal lawmaker Sean Casey said he was removed from his position as parliamentary secretary to the minister of veterans affairs after supporting opposition-sponsored legislation to tighten Canada’s arms export controls, CBC News reported.

Casey, who represents Charlottetown in Prince Edward Island in the House of Commons, said his party’s whip warned him in March that backing the bill would lead to his dismissal from the post.

The legislation, introduced by New Democratic Party MP Jenny Kwan, sought to close loopholes that allow Canadian-made military equipment to be sold to other countries and later reach Israel.

Casey said he supported the measure to reflect concerns raised by voters in his constituency, although the bill ultimately failed to pass in the House of Commons.

He was one of 15 Liberal MPs who voted for the legislation, but the only one among them serving as a parliamentary secretary. Casey said he learned of his removal during a call from the prime minister’s office on Thursday.

Quebec MP Sophie Chatel was named as his successor a day later.

Kwan described the episode as troubling, saying it raised questions about whether Liberal MPs were genuinely free to vote according to the wishes of their constituents.