Key
developments since May 2000: Canada has continued to play its leadership
role in promoting universalization and full implementation of the Mine Ban
Treaty. It coordinated the Universalization Contact Group, and co-organized
regional conferences in Mali, Mongolia and Poland. It took responsibility for
work related to operationalizing Article 8 on compliance. It promoted stockpile
destruction, including co-organizing seminars in Buenos Aires and Budapest. It
has served as co-rapporteur of the Standing Committee on Victim Assistance. The
government contributed US$14.6 million to mine action programs.
Canada signed and ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 3
December 1997. National implementation legislation was enacted in November
1997.[1] The treaty entered
into force for Canada on 1 March 1999.[2]
Canada submitted its third
Article 7 transparency report on 30 April 2001, covering the period from 15
March 2000 to 15 February 2001. The report included information submitted in
the new optional Form J, listing Canadian contributions, both governmental and
non-governmental, to the care, rehabilitation, and social and economic
reintegration of mine-affected regions and peoples between 1998 and
2001.[3]
Canada played an
active role in helping to organize the Second Meeting of States Parties in
September 2000 in Geneva. Its delegation was led by Ambassador for Mine Action,
Daniel Livermore. In its statements to the meeting, Canada was the only country
to condemn new use of antipersonnel mines by signatories to the Mine Ban Treaty
and urged “these states to clarify these matters quickly and in a manner
consistent with the political and moral obligations they undertook when they
signed this
Convention.”[4]
Canada’s condemnation of mine use was not restricted to treaty
signatories: “Beyond the immediate community bound by this Convention,
mines are still being used by governments and non-state actors to an extent that
merits our collective condemnation.... We call upon all states, signatory and
non-signatory alike, to work cooperatively to clarify compliance issues in a
manner that will build greater respect for the norms we have worked so long and
hard to
create.”[5]
Canada was
one of ten states elected as vice-presidents of the Second Meeting of States
Parties and it has actively worked to ensure that the location of the annual
meetings of States Parties rotates among mine-affected countries. To this end
Canada provides logistical and financial support to offset the costs incurred by
hosting these meetings.[6]
At
the Second Meeting of States Parties, Canada supported the amendment of the
Article 7 reporting format to include “Form J,” an additional form
for State Parties to voluntarily report on other measures, especially those
taken to provide assistance for the care, rehabilitation, and social and
economic reintegration of mine victims.
Carole and Brian Isfeld, the
parents of a Canadian peacekeeper killed by a landmine while conducting mine
clearance in Croatia, took part in the Second Meeting’s opening ceremony
and other activities organized to raise awareness of the needs of victims and
survivors. Mines Action Canada (MAC), the coalition of Canadian NGOs active in
the landmines issue, was represented on the official Canadian delegation.
Canada has condemned new use of antipersonnel mines on several occasions and
has raised the issue in bilateral and multilateral discussions. As past co-chair
of the Standing Committee on the General Status and Operation of the Convention,
Canada emphasized the issue of clarification of compliance with Mine Ban Treaty
obligations. Canada hosted a meeting of interested parties in November 2000 and
subsequently took the lead in coordinating and preparing recommendations aimed
at operationalizing Article 8 on compliance. At the intersessional Standing
Committee meetings in May 2001 Canada presented a report with a series of
recommendations related to operationalization of Article 8 and other means
available to States Parties to clarify matters related to
compliance.[7] Canada
recommended that the Standing Committee consider further work on the
issue.
Canada has continued to play a leadership role in the development and
execution of the intersessional work program. It was a very active participant
in all of the intersessional Standing Committee meetings in December 2000 and
May 2001. It is currently co-rapporteur of the Standing Committee on Victim
Assistance, Socio-Economic Reintegration and Mine Awareness. It established the
Universalization Contact Group, which was officially recognized at the Second
Meeting of States Parties. In its capacity as coordinator of the
Universalization Contact Group and facilitator of efforts to further articulate
the operationalization of Article 8 of the Convention, and at the invitation of
the President of the Meeting of States Parties, Canada has participated in the
work of the Coordinating Committee of Co-Chairs, established at the Second
Meeting of States Parties.
Lack of participation by some in the
intersessional Standing Committee meetings has been an ongoing concern. In
response, a group of donors led by Canada established a sponsorship fund to
support the participation in meetings related to the Convention of delegates
from mine-affected and other states in need. The Geneva International Centre for
Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) administers this fund. The GICHD also receives
project-oriented funding from Canada.
Canada sponsored and voted in support
of UN General Assembly Resolution 55/33V, as it had done on similar pro-ban
resolutions in previous years.
In October 2000, following Lloyd
Axworthy’s decision to retire from politics, John Manley, formerly the
Minister of Industry, was appointed Canada’s new Minister of Foreign
Affairs and International Trade. In his first major address abroad, in March
2001, Manley praised the Mine Ban Treaty while noting the need for continued
international commitment in this area. In reference to both the ban treaty and
the lack of consensus surrounding the establishment of an international criminal
court he stated, “We can, we must pursue these agendas in a coherent and
coordinated manner.”[8]
In April 2001, Manley stated that human security issues, including measures to
curb the trade in small arms, to stop the use of child soldiers and efforts to
remove landmines remained priorities for the
government.[9]
In late May
2001, Minister Manley
re-appointed[10] Senator Sheila
Finestone as Special Advisor on Landmines to “provide advice to [the
minister] on landmines in the foreign policy context, to personally represent
the Minister at international meetings relating to landmines and to meet with
members of Canadian civil society in order to learn of their concerns regarding
the issue.”[11] The
Senator will work with legislators, under the auspices of the
Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), to build awareness on the mine ban treaty,
build support for its ratification, and stress the need for financial support
for mine action programs.[12]
The Canadian government continues to provide support and funding to
international NGOs that raise awareness of the global landmine problem,
including the ICBL and its Landmine Monitor initiative. Landmine Monitor
Report 2000 as well as the initiative itself were referred to by government
officials in numerous press releases, speeches, reports, internal and
international meetings and media interviews, as a key resource for mine action.
In December 2000 Lieutenant-General (Retired) Gordon Reay, a key advisor to
the Canadian government on landmines, died in Croatia as a result of injuries
sustained in a car accident.[13]
He was in Croatia to assist with the establishment of a mine action coordination
mechanism in South East Europe under the Stability Pact for South Eastern
Europe. In March 2001, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
announced a Can$100,000 contribution to the “Reay Group” of the
Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe to support mine action in the
Balkans.[14]
International Promotion of the Mine Ban Treaty
Canada continues to work for full universalization
and effective implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty and on numerous occasions in
a variety of venues senior government officials mentioned the landmines issue in
their statements and remarks in 2000 and 2001.
In June 2001, Prime Minister
Jean Chrétien said, “We realize that our seriousness in addressing
the global landmine problem will be measured by our commitment over the long
term to implement the Ottawa Convention. Personally, I am committed to ensuring
the Convention’s success because I am convinced it is making a difference
in the lives of countless individuals and communities around the
world.”[15]
In a
joint statement issued by Prime Minister Chrétien and Russian President
Vladimir Putin on 12 December 2000, Russia confirmed “its positive
approach towards the [Mine Ban Treaty] and its intent to join it in due
course.” Canada reiterated its willingness to collaborate with the Russian
Federation in “joint endeavors” on humanitarian demining and
destruction of landmine
stockpiles.[16] In June 2001
Canada’s Minister of Defence, Art Eggleton, discussed the Mine Ban Treaty
with Russian officials in Moscow, but Canadian Defence officials reportedly said
that they did not believe there would be any changes in Russian
policy.[17]
In April 2001
prior to the opening of the Summit of the Americas in Québec City, Pierre
Pettigrew, Minister for International Trade, said he believed that one of
Canada’s key roles during the FTAA negotiations was the promotion of
Canadian values and cited the Mine Ban Treaty as an example of “Canadian
values influencing global
governance.”[18]
In
April 2001 Manley mentioned contentious issues between Canada and the US on the
human security agenda and said, “Nonetheless, the previous administration
stated that it would join the Convention by 2006 if suitable alternatives to
anti-personnel mines could be found. We hope that President Bush and his
Cabinet will apply political will – and the unparalleled technological
capacity of the United States to moving this deadline
forward.”[19]
In May
2001, Manley visited Kosovo and Bosnia where he met Canadian troops serving with
SFOR. During the visit he stated that Yugoslavia’s announcement that it
intended to accede to the Mine Ban Treaty was a cause for
optimism.[20]
Through the
Mine Action Team (ILX) at the Department of Foreign Affairs and International
Trade (DFAIT), the government continues its strategic work on key areas of the
Mine Ban Treaty.[21]
In
September 2000, the landmine issue was one of eight conference caucus issues
included in the Conference on War-Affected Children in Winnipeg,
Canada.[22]
In February 2001,
Canada and France provided funding for the Seminar on Universalization and
Implementation of the Ottawa Convention in Africa, hosted by the government of
Mali in Bamako, and attended by more than 200 delegates from the
region.[23] In cooperation with
African governments, Canada offered to establish a program to promote the
adoption of national legislation measures, taking into account the programs
already established by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in
this area. It co-chaired a session on military doctrine and alternatives.
Canada also expressed an interest in contributing to a voluntary fund to assist
with stockpile destruction efforts in Africa and offered to provide planning
assistance and experts to countries requesting assistance.
In June 2001,
Canada and the Mongolian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the
Landmine Monitor researchers for Mongolia, organized the “Sharing Our
Future in a Mine Free World” Conference in Ulan Bator, the first meeting
on landmines to be held in Mongolia. At the meeting Canada presented a paper on
landmine alternatives, supporting changes in military doctrine.
Canada
actively supports stockpile destruction efforts abroad, by providing funds as
well as organizational and logistical support for stockpile destruction
initiatives. Canada provided funding and technical support to the UN Mine
Action Service to establish a Stockpile Destruction Database, housed at the
UN.[24]
In November 2000,
Canada and Argentina, with the support of the OAS, hosted a regional seminar on
stockpile destruction in the Americas, held in Buenos Aires. At the end of this
meeting, the “Managua Challenge” was issued, which includes a
challenge to States Parties of the region to complete stockpile destruction by
the time of Third Meeting of State Parties, as well as a call for States Parties
to meet their obligation to submit Article 7 reports and a call for treaty
signatories to ratify.[25]
In February 2001, Canada and Hungary organized a technical conference to
examine safe methods of destroying the PFM “butterfly” antipersonnel
mine, which is stockpiled mainly by former Warsaw Pact
countries.[26]
Following
discussions first started in 1998, Canada signed a framework agreement with
Ukraine in March 2001 for the destruction of Ukraine’s antipersonnel mine
stockpile, which primarily consists of Soviet-era PFM and PMN
mines.[27] Ukraine’s
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anatoly Zlenko, signed the agreement during an
official visit to Ottawa on 26 March
2001.[28] Under the basic
provisions of the framework agreement Canada will provide financial assistance,
subject to contribution limits, while Ukraine will provide all available
technical data, designate destruction sites and transport the mines to those
sites. Both governments, in coordination with other donor governments, will
select project managers to oversee the destruction process and establish a
Coordinating Committee comprised of representatives designated by Canada,
Ukraine, the project managers and donor countries. The agreement requires that
the destruction is carried out in compliance with environmental laws in the
Ukraine.
Canada was active in the December 2000 establishment of the
Partnership for Peace (PfP) “Trust Fund for Anti-Personnel Landmine
Stockpile Destruction in
Europe.”[29] The fund
operates under NATO’s Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council
(NATO/EAPC).[30] Each stockpile
destruction project under the PfP requires a sponsor country, which is
responsible for the project’s execution, particularly with regard to
funds.
Canada and NATO delegates led discussion on stockpile destruction
under the PfP Trust Fund for Stockpile Destruction at the 18-19 June 2001
regional meeting, “Understanding the Ottawa Convention,” in Warsaw,
Poland. Canada helped to organize this meeting. The fund operates within the
framework of NATO, while the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) acts
“as a political roof” for dialogue among member
countries.[31] A Canadian
General engaged participants in discussion on military utility and alternatives
to antipersonnel
mines.[32]
In July 2001, the
first project to be initiated under the PfP was announced, which will assist in
the destruction of Albanian landmine stockpile over a 16-month
period.[33] Canada is the lead
sponsor country for this project, which has an overall estimated cost of
US$790,000, and support from six other donors (Austria, Belgium, The
Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom). Hungary will provide
additional funds for an independent third party verification and quality
assurance of the project.[34] A
second project in Moldova will be sponsored by the Netherlands.
Domestic Promotion and Awareness of the Mine Ban Treaty
On 3 December 2000, activities were held marking
the anniversary of Canada’s signature and ratification of the Mine Ban
Treaty. In Ottawa, the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation (VVAF), a US NGO
and a co-founder of the ICBL, held a sold out Landmines Concert which featured
six internationally known
singer-songwriters.[35] Mines
Action Canada and the Canadian Landmine Foundation organized a special
“Gold Circle” reception with the musicians. At the concert, the
former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lloyd Axworthy, received the first US
Senator Patrick Leahy Humanitarian Award from VVAF for his role in the global
campaign to ban landmines.
During March 2001, several events and activities
took place to mark the anniversary of the entry into force of the ban treaty in
Canadian Landmine Awareness Week (CLAW). MAC organized a breakfast for
parliamentarians, and brought mine action workers and advocates from Bosnia,
Cambodia, Lebanon, Mexico, Mongolia, Norway and the US to participate in events
in 18 cities across Canada. The Youth Mine Action Ambassadors organized
conferences, workshops, vigils and other
activities.[36] The
ICBL’s Youth Ambassador, Cambodian mine survivor Song Kosal, and Foreign
Affairs Minister Manley launched a Virtual Classroom on Landmines for Canadian
students, a cooperative initiative of DFAIT and Industry
Canada.[37]
The Mines
Action Canada coalition is the largest coordinated body working with Canadian
NGOs on all aspects of mine action. Several Canadian NGOs that had not
previously been active officially became MAC partners in the reporting period.
Recent MAC activities include a capacity building workshop on support to
landmine victims in February 2001, work on the issue of cluster bombs, the
launch of an internal newsletter for coalition partners, a revamped website and
a variety of efforts to support youth in Canada and abroad in mine action and
related activities.
In April 2001, Song Kosal toured western Canada
speaking out about the global landmine problem in several events, and during her
visit MAC initiated a project to support youth initiatives in mine-affected
countries. MAC continues to collaborate with DFAIT and the Canadian Red Cross
in the Youth Mine Action Ambassadors Program (YMAAP).
MAC’s
Technology Competition is now in its third year. Results from last year’s
competition prompted interest from the Department of National Defence and the
Canadian Centre for Mine Action Technologies, and winning entries garnered broad
media attention and greater interest from Canadian universities.
Mines Action
Canada is one of the most active members of the ICBL. It serves on the ICBL
Coordinating Committee and the Landmine Monitor Core Group. MAC coordinates
Landmine Monitor research activities in the Americas region and is responsible
for the development and upkeep of the Landmine Monitor database.
CCW
Canada is a State Party to the Convention on
Conventional Weapons (CCW) and its landmine protocols and submitted its annual
Article 13 report on 23 November 2000. In a statement to the Second Annual
Conference of States Parties to Amended Protocol II in December 2000, Canada
again emphasized the importance of the Mine Ban Treaty as the best method to
advance a total ban on antipersonnel mines and to promote mine action. Canada
proposed that the CCW examine the humanitarian impact of all explosive remnants
of war.[38] Included in use of
the term “explosive remnants of war” were cluster bomb submunitions
and antivehicle mines.
In a statement to the plenary, Canada said,
“While international best practices with respect to anti-personnel mines
lie within another Convention that has been accepted by many more States than
Amended Protocol II, Canada believes that the Amended Protocol II has an
important place in international arms control. It is an instrument that Canada
continues to support as a means for reducing the humanitarian impact of mines
other than anti-personnel
mines.”[39]
Canada
urged States Parties to comply with CCW Protocol II, called on states to make
known any questions they may have regarding compliance with the protocol, urged
full and effective participation of NGOs and international organizations in the
CCW meetings and called on states to make their annual reports submitted under
Article 13 available to all interested
organizations.[40] Although the
CCW has no legal commitment to landmine survivors, Canada noted that States
Party to it “have a moral obligation to assist in their care,
rehabilitation and social and economic reintegration” and urged them to
respect the memories of mine victims by “diligently working to ensure that
further progress can be made” within the
CCW.[41]
Production and Transfer
Production and transfer of antipersonnel mines in
Canada is prohibited under national legislation.
There were no changes in
government policy on the issue of transfer versus transit of antipersonnel mines
in Canadian territory during the reporting
period.[42] Government
officials are preparing a response to detailed questions submitted by Human
Rights Watch at the intersessional Standing Committee meetings in May 2001,
which may address the issue of transit of antipersonnel mines in Canadian
territory by other States as well as joint military
operations.[43]
Stockpiling and Destruction
Canada completed destruction of all operational
stockpiles of antipersonnel mines in 1997, with the exception of those retained
for training purposes and the testing of clearance
technologies.[44]
According
to the third Article 7 report, submitted 30 April 2001 reporting for the period
15 March 2001 to 15 February 2001, Canada retained a total of 1,712 mines,
including four Italian-made SB33; 962 Canadian-made C3A2; 480 US-made M16A1/2;
40 PMA-1, 27 PMA-2, and 25 PMA-3, all manufactured in the former Yugoslavia; 79
PP-M1-NA1 made in the former Czechoslovakia; 15 VS 50, ten VAL M69, and eight VS
MK2, all made in Italy; and 62 PMN-2, transferred from
Georgia.[45] According to the
Article 7 report, Canadian forces also transferred four mines from UNMAC in
Kosovo for training purposes, including two PROM-1, one MRUD, and one
PMR-2A.
The numbers of Claymore mines stockpiled by Canada is unknown and
this information has not been reported in any of the Article 7 reports submitted
to date. Canada does not report on Claymore munitions in its Article 7 report
because it views reporting on command detonated Claymore munitions or other
weapons not banned by the treaty as not required for reporting under Article 7.
Canadian officials told Landmine Monitor, “While Canada possesses Claymore
munitions, it holds only the equipment possible for deploying these weapons in
command detonated
mode.”[46]
Antivehicle Mines and Antihandling Devices
At a technical meeting on antivehicle mines with
sensitive fuzes and antihandling devices sponsored by the ICRC in March 2001,
Canadian officials re-stated Canada’s position that “anti-handling
devices, other than those which activate when an attempt is made to tamper with
or otherwise intentionally disturb an anti-vehicle mine, and anti-vehicle mines
with fusing devices which cause mines to function as anti-personnel mines, fall
under Article 2 of the Ottawa Convention and are thus prohibited by the
Convention.”[47]
At
the meeting of the Standing Committee on General Status and Operation of the
Convention in May 2001, Canada stated, “Conceivably there are both
antihandling devices that would function in such a way as to make them
prohibited under the Convention and those that are permitted. Therefore, while
all antihandling devices might be considered “dangerous,” Canada
does not accept the argument that all antihandling devices could be activated by
unintentional disturbance. Canada is currently undertaking work to better
explain what we consider to be antihandling devices that would conceivably be
banned by the Convention and those that we would consider not banned by the
Convention.”[48]
Government
officials reiterated that Canada has destroyed its stock of tilt rod equipped
antivehicle mines. “In addition, because they could be inadvertently
detonated by a person, the Canadian Forces considers tilt rod activated
anti-tank mines to be anti-personnel mines and thus banned by the Ottawa
Convention.”[49]
The
government also supported the position, expressed by other countries, that
pressure-activated antivehicle mines should have a minimal activation threshold
of no less than 150 kilograms. According to government officials, “Canada
does stock a pressure-activated anti-tank mine that functions at a pressure
greater than 150 kilograms. Canada also possesses a magnetically fused anti-tank
mine with a factory set self-neutralizing capability. After the factory set
number of days the mine self-neutralizes and deploys a flag for detection and
removal
purposes.”[50]
Use
The Canadian Forces are prohibited from using
antipersonnel mines under the Mine Ban Treaty and Canada’s national
implementation legislation.
Joint military operations
ICBL and MAC concerns regarding the issue of joint
military operations involving states not party to the treaty, and the Canadian
government’s position on the issue, were discussed in Landmine Monitor
Report 2000.[51] At the May
2001 intersessional Standing Committee meeting Canada provided extensive
details:[52]
“For
Canada, this subject is relevant in addressing matters related to
interoperability as a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. With
this in mind, in 1998 - even before the Convention entered in to force - the
Chief of the Defence Staff communicated the following to all Canadian Forces
personnel:
Participation in Combined Operations: Canada may participate in combined
operations with a state that is not Party to the Convention. Canadian
contingents may not, however, use anti-personnel mines and the Canadian Forces
may not request, even indirectly, the use of anti-personnel mines by
others.
Rules of Engagement: When participating in combined operations with foreign
forces, Canada will not agree to Rules of Engagement which authorize the use by
the combined force of anti-personnel mines. This would not, however, prevent
States that are not parties to the Convention from using anti-personnel mines
for their own national purposes.
Operational Plans: When engaged in combined operations with foreign forces,
Canada will not agree to operational plans which authorize the use by the
combined force of anti-personnel mines. While Canadians may participate in
operations planning as members of a multinational staff, they may not
participate in planning for the use of anti-personnel mines. This would not
prevent a state that is not a Signatory to the Convention from planning for the
use of anti-personnel mines by its own forces.
Command and Control: The use of anti-personnel mines by the combined force
will not be permitted in cases where Canada is in command of a combined Force.
Likewise, if Canadian Forces personnel are being commanded by other
nationalities, they will not be allowed to participate in the use of, or
planning for the use of anti-personnel mines. Were Canadian Forces personnel to
engage in such activities they would be liable to criminal prosecution under
Canadian law.
“Canada takes its obligations under the
Convention seriously and will continue to engage in a dialogue with interested
parties in order to better clarify how Canada’s understanding of the term
‘assist’ relates to the operations of the Canadian Forces.
“To this end we look forward to reviewing the list of questions about
joint operations prepared by Human Rights Watch to determine how in the future
it may be possible for Canada to provide further information on this
matter.”
Research and Development
The January 2001 meeting minutes of the Canadian
Centre for Mine Action Technologies (CCMAT) note that a recommendation was made
to the Minister of Defence that further work on alternatives be removed from
CCMAT’s mandate.[53]
Canadian officials have actively pursued military-to-military discussions
outlining the questionable military utility of antipersonnel mines, advocating
for the adaptation of military procedures and changes in doctrine combined with
improved surveillance, monitoring and data transmission as viable alternatives
to antipersonnel mines.[54]
Technological Developments in Mine Action
CCMAT supports research and development of mine
action technologies and current activities focus on a few promising technologies
developed with the Centre’s support, for example, surrogate
mines[55] and testing and
evaluation of mechanical mine clearance methods and
equipment.[56]
A PMN
version of the surrogate mine has been developed. The reproduction mines were
displayed at the UXO Countermine Forum in New Orleans in April 2001 and copies
have since been sold to the US and to the UK. The PROMAC BDM-48 Brush deminer,
developed by Pro-Mac with the assistance of CCMAT, was field tested in
Thailand’s Sa-Kaeo province in June 2001 by the Thailand Mine Action
Center (TMAC).[57] CCMAT is
supporting the development of test and evaluation facilities in the
Balkans.[58]
Canada is
conducting a limited market study that focuses on five to eight products
developed with the assistance of
CCMAT.[59] The study will
attempt to identify market access, viability to field users, development and
purchase costs and other factors. The CCMAT Executive Committee agreed that if
the study results show there are no commercial markets for successful products
there could be a recommendation made for direct procurement of those
products.
CCMAT is part of the European Commission International Testing and
Evaluation Program[60] and the
Demining Technology Information Forum (DTIF). CCMAT hosted a DTIF workshop to
review mine action technologies, at the University of British Colombia in
Vancouver in June 2001.[61] The
CCMAT will host another DTIF workshop to develop a standard methodology for the
testing and evaluation of mechanical assistance equipment. The workshop is
tentatively scheduled for October 2001 in
Alberta.[62]
Guigné
International of St John’s, known for its underwater sonar technology, is
testing a system for finding landmines underwater in Croatia. Testing is being
undertaken with support from the Canadian government and the European
Commission.[63]
Mine Action Funding
Canada’s contributions to mine clearance
efforts are extensive and include: building local capacities; supporting survey
and mapping work; providing protective gear and technical advice; providing mine
detection dogs; providing other detection equipment; and engaging in research
on, and testing and marketing of, new technologies for humanitarian mine
clearance.[64] Canada also
contributes to mine awareness and victim assistance programs in mine-affected
countries: support for mine awareness education programs, building local
capacity in health care and rehabilitation, and supporting socio-economic
reintegration programs for mine victims, including vocational rehabilitation
training.[65]
The Canadian
Landmine Fund, established in 1997 with total funds of Can$100 million to be
allocated over a period of five
years,[66] is entering its
fourth year.
Almost all of Canada’s mine action funding comes from
this fund. Other Canadian government funding includes support by the Canadian
International Development Agency (CIDA) in Afghanistan and
Kosovo/Balkans.
In Canada’s most recent fiscal year (1 April 2000 to 31
March 2001), total Canadian funding from all sources for mine action assistance
was Can$22.6 million or US$15.2 million.
This includes Can$21.8 million
(US$14.6 million) in government
funding:[67]
Mine
Clearance $6.1 million (US$4.1 million)
Information $5.2 million (US$3.5
million)
Research & Development $4.1 million (US$2.7 million)
Advocacy
& Prevention $2.3 million (US$1.5 million)
Victim Assistance $2 million
(US$1.3 million)
Integrated Mine Action $1 million
(US$707,000)
Coordination $507,000 (US$342,000)
Stockpile
Destruction $365,000 (US$246,000)
Mine Awareness $300,000
(US$200,000)
Total $21.8 million (US$14.6 million)
It also includes $886,000 (US$597,000) in funding from non-governmental
sources:
Victim Assistance $777,000 (US$523,000)
Mine
Clearance $103,000 (US$69,500)
Mine Awareness $6,000
(US$4,000)
Total $886,000 (US$597,000)
Canadian Mine Action Funding (1 April 2000 to 31 March
2001)[68]
Development of landmine curriculum for use in Canadian schools, an
Electronic Mine Action Workbook, and production of “Measured Steps: The
Global Movement to Ban Landmines” video for domestic outreach activities.
See Below.
The Canadian Landmine Foundation (CLF) actively promotes the United
Nations Association “Adopt-A-Minefield” program in Canada. CLF
utilizes funds made available by the Canadian International Development Agency
to provide a three to one match to funds raised by community and student groups,
churches, and service
clubs.[74]
NGO Funded Mine Action
Country
Agency
Purpose
Can$
US$
Mine Clearance
Bosnia & Herzeg.
CLF: Adopt-A-Minefield
Seventeen Rotary Clubs and two Interact Clubs adopted a 59,130 square meter
minefield that includes power lines and the village of Vranici, in southeast
Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Rotary Club of Toronto adopted a 16,325 square
meterminefield located on an important access road connecting three
villages with one another and with the closest market town. This road also
provides access to the main road linking northwest Bosnia and Herzegovina with
Croatia. The Rotary Clubs of Coburg, Port Hope, Brighton, Northumberland
Sunrise, and the Interact Club of West High School in Coburg adopted a minefield
adjacent to the field listed above.
A community-based campaign in the Quinte area of south-eastern Ontario
adopted a 19,972 square meter minefield. Clearance of the field will allow the
irrigation system to be rebuilt. Students at Niagara College adopted a 19,972
square meter minefield adjacent to the field adopted by the Quinte community.
The Rotary Club of Brampton also provided funds.
CLF’s board members and public donations were used to adopt a 19,800
square meter agricultural field in Spike Hamlet. Demining of this area will
enable the local population to return to their homes.
The Rotary Clubs of Coburg, Port Hope, Brighton, Northumberland Sunrise,
and the Interact Club of West High School in Coburg adopted BiH-034-03. Once the
clearance of these fields is complete, these Rotary clubs, in concert with the
Rotary Club of Sarajevo, will implement an artificial foot program as a
follow-on project.
A project in Azerbaijan, reported in the Mine Action Investments database in
1999, but inadvertently omitted from Landmine Monitor Report 2000, tested
the WHO's landmine victim survey and victim assistance tools and distributed
instructional manuals. DFAIT provided Can$64,631 to Physicians for Human Rights
for this initiative.[83]
Transparency
Canada is thorough and transparent in reporting how
mine action funds are allocated both domestically and internationally.
Information is provided in annual reports to Parliament, through press releases,
public events, regular progress reports and publications, on departmental
websites, and through a detailed financial listing available on the UN Mine
Action Investment Database.[84]
On behalf of the four government departments involved in mine action in
Canada, DFAIT ILX reports to Parliament annually on activities and projects
supported by the Canadian Landmine Fund. This year’s annual report,
“Measured Steps: 1999-2000 Report on the Canadian Landmine Fund,”
was presented to Parliament on 1 March
2001.[85] The report provides a
good overview of the landmine issue and international efforts to implement the
treaty, and a description of the numerous steps that the government of Canada is
taking as part of its commitment to the ban treaty, including country-by-country
reports where Canada contributes to mine action programs.
In recognition
that coordination of mine action assistance could be furthered by the
availability of reliable and up to date information, Canada provided funding and
technical support for the Mine Action Investments Donor Database. It also
provided funds for a study on the effectiveness of mine action programs,
“A Study of Socio-Economic Approaches to Mine
Action.”[86]
Casualties
In March 2001, Canadian Forces personnel serving
with the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) were involved in two
landmine incidents.[87] The
first occurred on 13 March when a vehicle drove over a landmine on a road that
had just been cleared by a Canadian Armed Forces mine clearance team. The
vehicle was carrying three Canadian soldiers assigned to protect the team from
attack. There were no injuries. The next day and on the same road another
Canadian vehicle set off a landmine, slightly injuring a
soldier.[88] After the second
incident the commander of the Canadian Forces contingent ordered the troops off
the area roads and the Department of National Defense began investigating the
circumstances surrounding the
incidents.[89] The contingent
was scheduled to return to Canada in June
2001.[90]
[1] See Landmine Monitor
Report 1999, pp. 221-224. Statutes of Canada, Chapter 33, An Act to
Implement the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production
and Transfer of Antipersonnel Mines and on their Destruction; Bill C-22,
Assented to 27 November 1997.
[2] For more details on
Canada’s activities relating to the treaty before 2000 see Landmine
Monitor Report 1999, pp. 219-220, and Landmine Monitor Report 2000, pp.
232-239.
[3] Article 7
Report, Form J, 30 April
2001.
[4] Statement by HE
Daniel Livermore, Canada’s Ambassador for Mine Action, to the Second
Meeting of States Parties, Geneva, 11 September
2000.
[5]
Ibid.
[6] DFAIT,
“Measured Steps, 1999-2000 Report on the Canadian Landmine Fund,”
March 2001, p.15; Statement by HE Daniel Livermore, Canada’s Ambassador
for Mine Action, to the Second Meeting of State Parties, Geneva, 11 September
2000.
[7] Government of
Canada, “Article 8 and the Facilitation and Clarification of
Compliance,” 2 May
2001.
[8] Notes for an
address by the Hon. John Manley, Minister of Foreign Affairs, to the Royal
Institute for International Affairs, London, England, 20 March
2001.
[9] John Ward,
“Manley to focus on US relations,” Canadian Press, 9 April
2001.
[10] Senator Finestone
was first appointed Special Ambassador on Landmines in 1996. Senator Finestone
will retire from the Senate in
2002.
[11] DFAIT, press
release No. 66, “Manley re-appoints special advisor on landmines,”
Ottawa, 24 May 2001.
[12]
Interview with Senator Sheila Finestone, 28 June 2000, Ottawa. Previous IPU
Council resolutions and statements pertaining to landmines can be found at the
IPU website
http://www.ipu.org.
[13]
DFAIT press release No. 274, “Manley expresses condolences over death of
Lieutenant-General Gordon Reay,” Ottawa, 21 December
2000.
[14] DFAIT press
release No. 28, “Manley announces new landmine initiatives on the Second
Anniversary of the Ottawa Convention,” 1 March 2001,
Ottawa.
[15]
“Interview, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien of Canada,” Choices
Magazine, June 2001.
[16]
DFAIT, Joint Statement of the Prime Minister of Canada and the President of the
Russian Federation on Cooperation in the Sphere of Strategic Stability, 12
December 2000, Ottawa.
[17]
Geoffrey York, “Russia flouts landmine vow,” The Globe and
Mail, 4 June 2001.
[18]
Notes for an address by the Honourable Pierre Pettigrew, Minister for
International Trade, to the Hemispheric Trade and Sustainability Forum, Quebec
City, Canada, 17 April
2001.
[19] Notes for an
address by the Hon. John Manley, Minister of Foreign Affairs, to the Canadian
Institute for Strategic Studies, Toronto, 12 April
2001.
[20] “Yugoslav
aid could depend on Milosevic fate – Canada,” ONASA
(Sarajevo, Bosnia), 28 May
2001.
[21] ILX was created
within DFAIT in 1998 as the focal point for the government’s mine action
initiatives and
programs.
[22] “The
Agenda for War-Affected Children,” Winnipeg, Canada, 17 September 2000.
http://www.waraffectedchildren.gc.ca/Final_Agenda-e.asp.
[23]
DFAIT, “Seminar on Universalization and Implementation of the Ottawa
Convention, General Report, 15-16 February 2001, Bamako,
Mali.”
[24] See
Anti-personnel Mine Stockpile Destruction Resource Site
www.stockpiles.org.
[25] See
also OAS, “Informe del Secretario General sobre la implentación de
las Resoluciones 1745 (apoyo a la acción contra las minas en Ecuador y
Perú) y 1751 (apoyo a la acción contra las minas en
Centroamérica),” CP/doc.3422/01 rev.1, 7 May
2001.
[26] “Conference
on Destruction of “Butterfly” Landmines,” MTI, Budapest, 2
February 2001; Anti-personnel Mine Stockpile Destruction Resource Site,
http://www.stockpiles.org/index_1.html.
[27]
“Framework Arrangement Between the Government of Canada and the Cabinet of
Ministers of the Ukraine on the Destruction of Anti-personnel Landmines in
Ukraine,” signed in Ottawa on 26 March
2001.
[28] Embassy of Ukraine
press release No. 22, “Visit of Foreign Minister of Ukraine A. Zlenko to
Canada,” Ottawa, 28 March
2001.
[29] NATO press
release, “Chairman’s Summary, Ministerials,” 6 December 2000.
http://www.nato.int/docu/pr/2000/p00-16e.htm ; NATO press communiqué,
“Report on options for Confidence and Security Building Measures
(CSBMs),” 14 December 2000.
http://www.nato.int/docu/pr/2000/p00-121e/rep-csbm.pdf.
[30]
DFAIT press release No. 97, “Manley welcomes destruction of anti-personnel
mines in Albania,” 6 July 2001; NATO. Press Release. “Partnership
for Peace,” 23 April 1999.
http://www.nato.int/docu/comm/1999/9904_wsh/pres-eng/08pfp.pdf.
[31]
NATO Press Release, “Partnership for Peace,” 23 April 1999.
http://www.nato.int/docu/comm/1999/9904_wsh/pres-eng/08pfp.pdf.
[32]
Email, “Poland Seminar Report,” 19 July
2001.
[33] NATO, “NATO
Update,” 25 January 2001.
http://www.nato.int/docu/update/2001/0122/e01256.htm.
[34]
Ibid.
[35] The Concert for a
Landmine Free World featured Bruce Cockburn, Nanci Griffith, Mary Chapin
Carpenter, Steve Earle, John Prine and Emmy Lou
Harris.
[36] In Calgary,
Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, Regina, St. John’s, Sydney,
Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg and other
cities.
[37] The Virtual
Classroom networked classrooms in Ontario, Newfoundland and Quebec with a school
in Ottawa where the Minister, Song Kosal, MAC representatives and international
guests participated in a live video conference to discuss the global landmine
situation and global mine action efforts. DFAIT press release No. 28,
“Manley announces new landmine initiative on the second anniversary of the
Ottawa Convention,” 1 March 2001,
Ottawa.
[38] The Canadian
representative also stated Canada’s support for US proposals for CCW
States Parties to develop minimal detectability standards for antivehicle mines
and for States Parties to extend the scope of the CCW to cover non-international
armed conflicts and States party to the Amended Protocol II to consider
development of a compliance mechanism for
it.
[39] Statement of Canada
to the Second Annual Conference of the States Parties to the Amended Protocol II
to CCW, Geneva, 11 December
2000.
[40]
Ibid.
[41]
Ibid.
[42] See Landmine
Monitor Report 2000, p.
241.
[43] Canadian
delegation, “Intervention on Article 1,” Standing Committee on
General Status and Operation of the Convention, Geneva, 11 May 2001. The
intervention was made orally, but the written text was provided to Landmine
Monitor; Youth Mine Action Ambassador Programme, “Info/Note #005,
Antipersonnel mines and joint operations,” draft, 20 June
2001.
[44] Canada elected to
keep a maximum of 2,000 AP mines under Article 3 of the treaty. Although this
is not codified in Canadian law, the policy has been stated several times by
ministers of National Defence and Foreign Affairs and is noted in the
government’s Article 7
reports.
[45] Article 7
Report, Form D, 30 April
2001.
[46] Email to Landmine
Monitor (MAC) from Kerry Brinkert, DFAIT/ILX, 25 July
2001.
[47] Statement by
Canada, in ICRC, “Report on the Technical Expert Meeting on anti-vehicle
mines with sensitive fuses or with sensitive anti-handling devices,” 13-14
March 2001, Geneva.
[48]
Canadian delegation, “Intervention on Article 2,” Standing Committee
on General Status and Operation of the Convention, Geneva, 11 May 2001. The
intervention was made orally, but the written text was provided to Landmine
Monitor.
[49] Statement by
Canada, in ICRC, “Report on the Technical Expert Meeting on anti-vehicle
mines with sensitive fuses or with sensitive anti-handling devices,” 13-14
March 2001, Geneva.
[50]
Ibid.
[51] See Landmine
Monitor Report 2000, p.
244.
[52] Canadian
delegation, “Intervention on Article 1,” Standing Committee on
General Status and Operation of the Convention, Geneva, 11 May 2001. The
intervention was made orally, but the written text was provided to Landmine
Monitor.
[53] Canadian Centre
for Mine Action Technologies Executive Committee meeting minutes, 22 January
2001, Ottawa.
[54] Statement
by His Excellency Daniel Livermore, Canada’s Ambassador for Mine Action,
to the Second Meeting of State Parties, Geneva, 11 September 2000; DFAIT,
“Measured Steps, 1999-2000 Report on the Canadian Landmine Fund,”
March 2001, p.15; DFAIT, “Seminar on Universalization and Implementation
of the Ottawa Convention, General Report, 15-16 February 2001, Bamako,
Mali.”
[55] Known
officially as “Hi-fidelity Reproduction Mines,” to conform with NATO
terminology, these mines have been developed to react to the same pressure
parameters of the PMA-1, PMA-2, PMA-3 and Type 72A mines and replicate these in
shape, size, weight, fuze principle and trigger
forces.
[56] Telephone
interview with Major Al Carruthers, Manager CCMAT, 18 July 2001; See also
http://www.ccmat.gc.ca.
[57]
James East, “Meet the new air-con mine buster,” The Straits
Times (Singapore), 9 June
2001.
[58] Telephone
interview with Major Al Carruthers, Manager CCMAT, 18 July
2001.
[59] CCMAT Executive
Committee meeting minutes, Ottawa, 22 January
2001.
[60] The government
joined the European Commission, the United States, Belgium, the United Kingdom,
the Netherlands and Sweden in signing a Memorandum of Understanding for the
International Test and Evaluation Program (ITEP) for Humanitarian Demining
Equipment, Processes and Methods on 17 July
2000.
[61] Telephone
interview with Major Al Carruthers, Manager CCMAT, 18 July 2001; See also
Jonathan Manthorpe, “Elusive Killers,” Vancouver Sun, 14 June
2001.
[62] Telephone
interview with Major Al Carruthers, Manager CCMAT, 18 July
2001.
[63] CBC News Online,
“Newfoundland company works on new landmine detector,” webposted 29
December 2000.
[64] Canadian
Delegation to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Note
Number 1550, Vienna, 18 December
2000.
[65]
Ibid.
[66] See Landmine
Monitor Report 2000, p.
245.
[67] Within the
five-year Can$100 million commitment, government funding peaked last year at
Can$26 million.
[68] The
Canadian government’s fiscal year covers the period 1 April to 31 March,
so there are two fiscal year reports in the Landmine Monitor reporting period.
[69] The Landmine Monitor
researcher is responsible for conversion to US dollars using an exchange rate of
1US$ = 0.6733 Can$.
[70]
National Demining
Institute.
[71] Indian
Institute for Peace, Disarmament and Environmental
Protection.
[72] Non-Violence
International.
[73] See
http://www.redcross.ca/english/peace/.
[74]
Email to Landmine Monitor (MAC) from Scott Fairweather, Vice-President, Canadian
Landmine Foundation, 16 July
2001.
[75] Funds raised by
the Canadian Landmine Foundation are matched 3:1 by CIDA. The CIDA contribution
to the Foundationwasreported in the Canada report in Landmine
Monitor Report 2000, page 255. The CIDA portion of this contribution has not
been reported here to avoid double counting, butit should be noted the
total contribution to this Adopt-A-Minefield by the Foundation is
Can$156,085. [76]
Funds raised by the Canadian Landmine Foundation are matched 3:1 by CIDA. The
total contribution to this Adopt-A-Minefield by the Foundation is
Can$52,576.
[77] Funds raised
by the Canadian Landmine Foundation are matched 3:1 by CIDA. The total
contribution to this Adopt-A-Minefield by the Foundation is
Can$32,860.
[78]
Ibid.
[79] Funds raised by
the Canadian Landmine Foundation are matched 3:1 by CIDA. The total contribution
to this Adopt-A-Minefield by the Foundation is
Can$85,374.
[80] Funds raised
by the Canadian Landmine Foundation are matched 3:1 by CIDA. The total
contribution to this Adopt-A-Minefield by the Foundation is
Can$52,576.
[81] ADEILS is
Asociaci\n para el Desarrollo de Iniciativas Locales Sostenibles/Association for
the Development of Local Sustainable
Initiatives.
[82] In April
2001 the CLF held a fundraising dinner in honor of former Foreign Affairs
Minister Lloyd Axworthy for his contributions to the global landmine effort.
The event raised Can$30,000, which will be used to support a mine awareness and
victim assistance project in Gulu district in northern Uganda. Advisory
Committee of the Canadian Landmine Foundation meeting minutes, 26 June
2001.
[83] DFAIT,
“Measured Steps, 1999-2000 Report on the Canadian Landmine Fund,”
March 2001; Mine Action Investments database,
http://webapps.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/mai.
[84]
See UN Mine Action Investment
Database.
[85] The report is
available at DFAIT’s “Safelane” website,
www.mines.gc.ca.
[86] United
Nations Development Programme, “A Study of Socio-Economic Approaches to
Mine Action,” Geneva, March 2001. p.
2.
[87] Steven Edwards,
“Landmine blasts hit Canadians, forces ordered off road after second
explosion,” National Post, 15 March 2001; See Department of National
Defense Archives at
www.dnd.ca/eng/archive/2001/march01/14mine2_n_e.htm.
[88]
Ibid.
[89] National Defence
Media Liaison Office, NR-01.016, “A Canadian Armoured Vehicle Strikes a
Mine,” 14 March
2001.
[90] DFAIT press
release No. 62, “[Secretary of State for Africa] Kilgour to visit Canadian
troops in Ethiopia and Eritrea,” Ottawa, 22 May 2001.