Introduction: Guide to the Schedule to the Defence Production Act
Navigation for the guide to the schedule to the Defence Production Act
The Controlled Goods Program (CGP), under the authority of Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), is the Government of Canada’s domestic industrial security program that regulates the examination, possession, or transfer of controlled goods within Canada. Controlled goods are primarily defence articles, including some components and their associated technologies (for example, blueprints or technical specifications) that have a military or national security significance, including defense articles that are defined in the United States Munitions List (USML) to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). The Controlled Goods List contained in the Schedule to the Defence Production Act (henceforth referred to as “the Schedule”) is PSPC’s domestic controlled goods list.
Through the registration process and inspection practices of the Controlled Goods Program, the federal government works to mitigate the risk of the proliferation of controlled goods, strengthen Canada’s defence trade controls, and support Canada’s domestic and international security interests. Persons who examine, possess, or transfer controlled goods in Canada must be registered in the CGP and comply with the Defence Production Act and the Controlled Goods Regulations. Individuals are eligible to register in the CGP provided they consent to a security assessment and are ordinarily residing in Canada as either a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident. Businesses are eligible to register in the CGP when they are incorporated or authorized by federal, provincial or territorial law to carry on business in Canada.
United States (U.S.) government officials acting in good faith in the course of their duties and employment and employees of businesses in the U.S. who are registered to access controlled goods under the U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), are exempt from registering in the CGP. Additionally, international students, visitors to Canada and temporary workers (for example, individuals who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents) may be granted exemptions from registration based upon specific conditions that are specified in the Controlled Goods Regulations.
Registration in the CGP supports the U.S. provision of the Canadian exemptions (section 126.5) under the United States International Traffic in Arms Regulations for the licence-free transfer of many ITAR controlled “defense articles” between Canada and the U.S., and among registrants of the CGP.