Key developments since May 2003: Canada has sustained and even
intensified its global efforts in support of the Mine Ban Treaty, with a view to
ensuring the success of the first Review Conference—the Nairobi Summit on
a Mine-Free World. It is acting as a Friend of the President-designate for the
Review Conference, assisting with substantive preparations and documentation.
In 2003 and 2004, Canada co-sponsored regional meetings and made bilateral
visits to many countries to promote the Mine Ban Treaty. Canada has served as
co-rapporteur of the Standing Committee on Stockpile Destruction since September
2003, and has continued its role as coordinator of the Universalization Contact
Group. Government contributions to mine action programs in its fiscal year
2003/2004 increased significantly to C$33.6 million (US$24.5 million), up from
C$24.2 million in 2002/2003.
Key developments since 1999: Since the Mine Ban Treaty was opened for
signature in Ottawa on 3 December 1997, Canada has played a critical leadership
role in promoting universalization and effective implementation of the treaty.
It has been key to the development and execution of Mine Ban Treaty structures
and processes. Canada served as the first co-chair of the Standing Committee on
General Status and Operation of the Convention from May 1999 to September 2000,
as co-rapporteur then co-chair of the Standing Committee on Victim Assistance
and Socio-Economic Reintegration from September 2000 to September 2002, and as
co-rapporteur of the Standing Committee on Stockpile Destruction since September
2003. It has devoted more time and resources to bringing additional countries
on board the treaty than any other State Party, including by establishing and
coordinating the Universalization Contact Group. It has sponsored regional
meetings to promote the Mine Ban Treaty in Afghanistan, Armenia, Croatia,
Malaysia, Mali, Mongolia, Poland, Thailand, Tunisia, Ukraine, and elsewhere.
Canada has also taken the lead in facilitating discussions regarding compliance
matters. It has provided assistance for stockpile destruction in numerous
countries. Canada has championed the government-NGO partnership that has
characterized the Ottawa Process and Mine Ban Treaty work program. Canada
provided about C$134 million (US$90.7 million) to mine action from 1999-2003.
In November 2002, the Canadian Landmine Fund was renewed with a five-year
funding commitment.
Mine Ban Policy
Canada was the first government to sign and ratify the Mine Ban Treaty
(Ottawa Convention) on 3 December 1997. National implementation legislation was
enacted in November 1997 and the treaty entered into force for Canada on 1 March
1999.[1] Canada appended to its
ratification an understanding with respect to joint
operations.[2]
Previously, Canada had announced on 17 January 1996 an immediate moratorium
on the production, transfer, and operational use of antipersonnel
mines.[3] The Ottawa Process
was launched in October 1996 when, at the close of a global conference convened
by the government, then-Minister of Foreign Affairs Lloyd Axworthy challenged
governments to return to the Canadian capital in December 1997 to sign a treaty
banning antipersonnel mines.[4]
An intensive 14-month period of demarches, bilateral, and multilateral meetings
and negotiations with governments and NGOs followed the announcement.
Since 1999, Canada has played a leadership role in developing and
implementing the Mine Ban Treaty structures and processes, including the annual
Meetings of States Parties, the intersessional work program and Standing
Committees, the Coordination Committee, the Implementation Support Unit, the
Sponsorship Program, and the Contact Groups. Canada served as the first
co-chair of the Standing Committee on General Status and Operation of the
Convention from May 1999 to September 2000, as co-rapporteur then co-chair of
the Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and Socio-Economic Reintegration
from September 2000 to September 2002, and as co-rapporteur of the Standing
Committee on Stockpile Destruction since September 2003.
Canada has been an active contributor to the Coordinating Committee of States
Parties since its inception. It proposed and has chaired the Universalization
Contact Group. It has participated in the Article 7/Article 9 Contact Group, and
contributed extensively to the Resource Mobilization Contact Group. Canada has
also taken the lead in facilitating State Party discussions regarding compliance
matters. Canada was the initial coordinator of the Sponsorship Program, which
provides funds and assistance to enable mine-affected states and others to
participate in the Mine Ban Treaty meetings. Canada has also championed the
government-NGO partnership that has characterized the Ottawa Process and Mine
Ban Treaty work program, and has promoted extensive involvement by the
International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) and Mines Action Canada (MAC).
On 13 April 2004, Canada submitted its annual Article 7 transparency report,
for the period 8 April 2003 to 1 March 2004. It included the optional Form J.
This was the country’s sixth Article 7
report.[5]
International Promotion of the Mine Ban Treaty
In 1998, Canada established a Mine Action Team (ILX) within the Department of
Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) and appointed an Ambassador for
Mine Action.[6] Both
initiatives have been central to the continuation of Canada’s crucial
leadership role in ensuring effective implementation and universalization of the
Mine Ban Treaty.[7] The Mine
Ban Treaty serves as a central reference point in Canadian foreign policy,
particularly with respect to its efforts to promote and institutionalize the
concept of human security.
In 2003 and 2004, Canada co-sponsored and/or funded a number of regional
meetings and seminars to familiarize states with the Mine Ban Treaty’s
aims and obligations, including in Azerbaijan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, China,
Republic of Congo, DR Congo, Djibouti, Ecuador, Indonesia, Kenya, Laos,
Perú, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates. Between
1998 and 2002, Canada cosponsored/funded Mine Ban Treaty-related meetings in
countries such as Afghanistan, Argentina, Armenia, Croatia, Hungary, Malaysia,
Mali, México, Mongolia, Poland, Thailand, and Tunisia.
Canada has co-sponsored and voted in favor of every annual pro-ban UN General
Assembly Resolution since 1996. In addition, Canadian officials have worked to
ensure the inclusion of pro-landmine ban language in the final declaration of
key regional and global meetings and summits.
Canada has played a central role in supporting the annual meetings of States
Parties, especially those held in the mine-affected States Parties of Mozambique
(1999), Nicaragua (2001), and Thailand (2003). It is supporting costs
associated with the government of Kenya’s hosting of the 2004 Nairobi
Summit for a Mine-Free World—the first Review Conference of the Mine Ban
Treaty. It is a “Friend of the President-designate” for the Review
Conference. In that position it is assisting with substantive preparations for
the conference, and in particular is responsible for drafting the “Review
of the Operation and Status of the Convention: 1999-2003” document.
Canada’s Ambassador for Mine Action, Ross Hynes, participated in the
opening ceremonies for the Road to Nairobi Summit launch at Nicosia, Cyprus on 8
December 2003. In addition Canada’s High Commissioner to Kenya was the
opening speaker at a 31 March 2004 event in Nairobi to mobilize the diplomatic
community, corporate sector and NGO community to support the Nairobi Summit for
a Mine Free World. Speaking in Ottawa to a joint Parliamentary session of
Canada’s Senate and House of Commons, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan
noted that the “very name of this city has become synonymous with the
treaty to ban anti-personnel
landmines.”[8]
Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs at the time, the Honorable Bill
Graham promoted the Mine Ban Treaty on numerous occasions in 2003 and 2004,
including in an address to the Canada-France Chamber of Commerce where he said,
“We take pride in our international accomplishments, such as convincing a
majority of countries to sign the landmine
treaty.”[9] Graham
welcomed the humanitarian mine action funding increase announced by the United
States as part of its new landmine policy on 27 February and noted, “We
will continue working with our US colleagues to encourage them to adopt policies
consistent with the international standard set by the Ottawa
Convention.”[10] On 29
July 2004, when the US announced its intent to pursue negotiations on an
international ban on the sale or export of non-self-destructing landmines
through the Conference on Disarmament (CD), Canada noted that the 42 CD member
states that are already part of the Mine Ban Treaty “will not be in a
position to enter negotiations on a lesser ban, aimed at arresting trade in one
category of antipersonnel mines alone but implying the acceptability of trade in
other categories of these weapons.”
[11]
Canada continued its support of civil society initiatives to promote the
treaty, including by supporting the ICBL and its Landmine Monitor
initiative.
Canada was among the first and one of the most vocal countries to name
publicly the states where new use of mines has been reported. It has publicly
condemned mine use by Angola, Burma, Russia, India, Pakistan, and the former
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
Canada has continued to prioritize and promote support for stockpile
destruction efforts, contributing C$799,728 (US$602,494) in its fiscal year
2003/2004 to assist other countries to destroy their stockpiles. Between 1999
and 2004, recipients of this financial, technical, and in-kind support have
included Afghanistan, Albania, Argentina, Bangladesh, Belarus, Chad, Chile,
Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Honduras, Mauritania, Mozambique, Moldova,
Perú, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Tajikistan, Uganda, Ukraine, and
Yemen.
Domestic Promotion and Awareness of the Mine Ban Treaty
The Canadian affiliate of the ICBL, Mines Action Canada , together with the
Canadian Red Cross (CRC), and the Youth Mine Action Ambassador Program (YMAAP)
has held a Canadian Landmine Awareness Week (CLAW) every March since the first
anniversary of entry into force of the Mine Ban Treaty in March 2000. The March
2004 CLAW saw over 110 events in 30 cities. The mayors of Ottawa, Montreal,
Port Moody, and St. John’s made proclamations, as did provincial ministers
in Nova Scotia and Manitoba. MAC arranged a national speaking tour by ICBL
members from Burundi, Cambodia, Nepal, Georgia, and Sri Lanka, including ICBL
Youth Ambassador Song Kosal.
The Youth Mine Action Ambassadors Program, a joint program of MAC, CRC and
ILX established in 1998, continued to raise public awareness, build public
support for mine action and raise funds in 2003 and
2004.[12] It also continued to
promote a mine action technology competition for universities organized by MAC,
which is now in its sixth year. In August 2004, one former entrant had a
prototype cooling system for mine detecting dogs tested in Bosnia by the
Canadian Centre for Mine Action Technologies (CCMAT).
In April 2004, MAC and YMAAP launched an international program entitled Youth
LEAP (Leadership, Education and Action Program), which is providing eight young
Canadians to assist the ICBL and the International Committee of the Red Cross
(ICRC) in six countries. The program will also provide capacity building
training for youth and ICBL member organizations working with youth in mine
action in three countries in the former Soviet Union and three countries in
Southeast Asia. Youth LEAP is supported by the Canadian International
Development Agency (CIDA) and ILX.
In December 2003, the Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade (COAT) published a
report questioning the practices of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board,
which it said could be in violation of the Mine Ban Treaty by its possible
investment in some US-based companies that used to produce components for
antipersonnel mines.[13] In
response to a parliamentary question, the Minister of Foreign Affairs stated,
“The CPPIB investigated this matter directly and through third parties,
and found no evidence that the companies cited are involved in the production of
anti-personnel mines. Furthermore, the CPPIB has indicated that it would divest
itself of the shares of any company found to be engaged in such
activity.”[14]
ICBL Issues of Concern
Canada was a frequent and forceful contributor to States Parties discussions
on matters of interpretation and implementation related to Articles 1 and 2 of
the Mine Ban Treaty in the first years after entry into force. It has engaged
less actively in recent years on often contentious issues regarding joint
military operations with non-States Parties, the meaning of the prohibition on
“assisting” banned acts, transit of antipersonnel mines by
non-States Parties across State Party territory, and antivehicle mines with
sensitive fuzes and antihandling devices.
Joint Military Operations, “Assist,” and Transit
Canada’s position on joint military operations with a non-State Party
who may use antipersonnel mines was presented in great detail in Landmine
Monitor Report 2001.[15] The
Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) reiterated this position in
February 2002 in response to various media reports and questions surrounding
Canadian Forces (CF) operating in cooperation with the US in
Afghanistan.[16]
In response to a media inquiry on the issue, a CF spokesperson confirmed DND
regulations that even if Canadian Forces are being commanded by other
nationalities, they will not be allowed to participate in the use of, or
planning for the use of, antipersonnel landmines. The official stated,
“Canadian soldiers will not be involved at all in using anti-personnel
landmines in Afghanistan....We can't be in any way, shape or form involved in
their use.”[17]
In December 2001, then Defence Minister Art Eggleton told the ICBL that
“when participating in combined operations with foreign states, Canada
will not request, even indirectly, the use of anti-personnel mines and will not
agree to rules of engagement that authorize their use by the combined force.
This would not, however, prevent states that are not signatories to the
Convention from using anti-personnel mines for their own national purposes,
including in
Afghanistan.”[18]
During consultations in February and June on a Standing Committee
co-chair’s Non-Paper on this issue, aimed at facilitating agreement on
conclusions for the Review Conference, Canada requested several amendments which
were seen by ICBL as weakening the document.
Canada’s position is that transfer (import/export) of antipersonnel
mines is prohibited under the Mine Ban Treaty, but not transit of the weapon.
According to a 13 February 2002 statement by DND, “The Convention does not
prohibit the transit of anti-personnel mines, which is defined as the movement
of anti-personnel mines within a state, or from a state, to its forces abroad.
Canada, however, discourages the use of Canadian territory, equipment or
personnel for the purpose of transit of anti-personnel
mines.”[19] Only one
other State Party has publicly agreed with this legal interpretation, and many
have explicitly stated that transit is banned.
Antivehicle Mines with Sensitive Fuzes 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.”[20]
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.”[21]
Government officials reiterated that Canada has destroyed its stock of
antivehicle mines equipped with tilt rods: “[B]ecause 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.”[22]
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.[23]
Convention on Conventional Weapons
Canada is a State Party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) and
its Amended Protocol II on landmines. It attended the Fifth Annual Conference
of States Parties in November 2003 and submitted its annual Article 13 report on
29 September 2003. It has regularly attended previous annual meetings and
submitted its required reports. Canada supported the creation of the new
protocol on explosive remnants of war (Protocol V) in November 2003.
Production, Transfer, Stockpiling and Use
Canada ceased production of the “Elsie” antipersonnel mine in
1992.[24] Production and
transfer of antipersonnel mines in Canada is prohibited under national
legislation.[25]
On 3 November 1997, the Canadian Prime Minister, Jean Chretien, together with
ICBL and MAC, destroyed the last of Canada’s stockpile of 90,000
antipersonnel mines at a ceremony in Ottawa.
Although not codified in Canadian law, Canadian policy is to maintain no more
than 2,000 mines for training purposes and the testing of clearance
technologies. This policy has been stated several times by the Ministers of
National Defence and Foreign Affairs and is noted in the government’s
Article 7 reports. It consumed 183 antipersonnel mines for permitted purposes
between August 1999 and March
2004.[26] As of 1 March 2004,
Canada retained 1,928 antipersonnel
mines.[27] During this
reporting period seven antipersonnel mines were used “in countermine and
humanitarian demining procedures and equipment and for training of Canadian
Forces personnel. Specifically these mines were expended in the course of
Canadian Forces preparatory training for peace
operations.”[28] Canada
has stated that it “retains live anti-personnel mines to study the effect
of blast on equipment, to train soldiers on procedures to defuse live
anti-personnel mines and to demonstrate the effect of landmines,” and has
provided additional details about the use of its retained
mines.[29]
The Canadian Forces are prohibited from using antipersonnel mines under the
Mine Ban Treaty and Canada’s national implementation legislation.
Canadian Forces personnel participating in combat operations in Afghanistan
possess Claymore-type mines that are not prohibited under the Mine Ban Treaty
when used in a command-detonated mode. The government has stated that Canadian
Forces were deployed to Afghanistan with the, “C19 Command Detonated
Defensive Weapon” and that “Canadian Forces in Afghanistan are
instructed to act in accordance with the provisions of the Ottawa
Convention.”[30]
Mine Action Funding
Canada's activities in humanitarian mine action builds off the Mine Ban
Treaty’s framework, and almost without exception, are intended to
facilitate its universalization and full implementation. Government activities
in mine action go beyond provision of funds to include promotion of regional and
international cooperation, provision of technical and administrative support,
and donations of equipment for clearance activities and protection of deminers.
In Canada’s most recent fiscal year (1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004),
government funding for mine action totaled C$33,582,581 (US$24,475,151), an
increase of 38 percent from the previous year. This increase is due in part to
a renewal announced on 29 November 2002 of the Canadian Landmine Fund (CLF) for
another five years, with an allocation of C$72 million; the bulk of this is
scheduled for allocation in the first two years. Between 1997 and 2004, most of
Canada’s mine action funding came from the CLF, which was established by a
five-year C$100 million allocation announced in December 1997. Increasingly,
however, the bilateral divisions of the Canadian International Development
Agency (CIDA) have been more active in support of mine action programs around
the world.
For the five-year period 1999/2000 to 2003/2004, Canada provided about C$134
million (US$90.7 million) to mine action globally.
In FY 2003/2004, Canada spent US$24.5 million in support of mine action
activities in 38 countries, nine more countries than in 2002/2003. Fifteen new
countries received Canadian mine action assistance (Albania, Azerbaijan,
Bangladesh, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Republic of Congo, Cyprus, Djibouti, Finland,
Georgia, Guatemala, Iraq, Perú, Serbia and Montenegro, and Somalia).
Significant funds were spent in two countries for the first time: Iraq ($3.64
million – no funds spent 2002/2003) and Tajikistan ($1.27 million –
up from $139,000 in 2002/2003). Three major recipients saw their Canadian
funding increase substantially from 2002/2003: Afghanistan ($7.3 million, up
from $5.94 million), Bosnia and Herzegovina ($1.33 million, up from $979,000),
and Cambodia ($1.2 million, up from $690,000), while support for Mozambique fell
to $874,000 from $1.3 million in 2002/2003.
Canadian Mine Action Recipients (FY
2003/2004)[34]
Country
Can$
US$
Country
Can$
US$
Afghanistan
10,023,050
7,296,780
Georgia
94,725
69,860
Albania
200,000
145,600
Guatemala
255,000
185,640
Angola
470,535
342,549
India
47,240
34,391
Azerbaijan
13,720
9,988
Iraq
5,000,000
3,640,000
Bangladesh
17,100
12,449
Jordan
65,520
50,000
Belarus
64,404
46,887
Lao, PDR
235,705
171,593
BiH
1,827,772
1,330,618
Lebanon
2,710
2,000
Burkina Faso
40,000
29,120
Mozambique
1,200,000
873,600
Cambodia
1,632,533
1,188,485
Nicaragua
490,000
356,720
Chad
383,501
281,999
Perú
31,216
22,725
Chile
494,175
359,759
Poland
6,593
4,800
Colombia
450,000
327,600
Serbia & M.
33,594
24,456
Congo, Rep.
44,806
32,619
Somalia
65,000
47,320
Congo, DR
66,580
50,899
Sri Lanka
105,676
76,932
Croatia
27,837
20,265
Sudan
1,563,460
1,149,100
Cyprus
325,000
236,600
Tajikistan
1,747,525
1,272,198
Djibouti
12,284
8,774
Uganda
99,596
72,506
Eritrea
195,000
150,000
Ukraine
55,898
40,694
Finland
7,596
5,530
Yemen
162,780
118,503
TOTAL
27,558,131
20,088,559
In FY 2003/2004, Canada increased its support to integrated mine action (from
$4.9 million to $9.83 million), research and development (from $1.3 million to
$2 million), mine risk education (from $365,000 to $443,000), information
activities including impact surveys (from $359,000 to $870,000), coordination
(from $1.9 million to $4.54 million), advocacy and prevention, including
stockpile destruction (from $2 million to $2.62 million). In FY 2003/2004,
Canada decreased its support to demining (from $3.16 million to $1.1 million)
and victim assistance (from $2.19 million to $463,000).
Canadian Funding of Mine Action (FY
2003/2004)[35]
Country
Agency
Purpose
Can $
US $
Demining
1,490,520
1,087,400
Cyprus
ITF/UNMAS
Mine clearance
325,000
236,600
Jordan
UNDP/NCDR
National Demining Commission
65,520
50,000
Sudan
UNMAS
Emergency mine clearance
1,100,000
800,800
Dogs
115,000
83,720
BiH
CIDC
MDD training BiH Army
115,000
83,720
Equipment
325,101
236,674
Chad
CIDC
Protective demining equipment
53,501
38,949
Chile
OAS
Technology and equipment
195,000
141,960
Georgia
NAMSA
UXO/mine clearance equipment
65,000
47,320
Sri Lanka
CIDC/FSD
Demining helmets
11,600
8,445
General/Unspecified
3,829,755
2,788,062
BiH
UNDP
Integrated mine action
1,500,000
1,092,000
Cambodia
MAG
Mine clearance in Battambang
45,500
33,124
MAG
FIXOR for mine clearance
69,255
50,418
Various
Mine clearance
1,245,000
906,350
Tajikistan
OSCE/FSD
Demining
970,000
706,160
Integrated mine action
13,490,915
9,830,586
Afghanistan
UNMAS
Support to national mine action
10,000,000
7,280,000
Laos
UXO Lao
Capacity-building via UNDP
200,000
145,600
Mozambique
IND
Capacity building via UNDP
1,200,000
873,600
Nicaragua
OAS
Demining & victim assistance
490,000
356,720
Sudan
UNMAS
Cross-line partnership
225,000
173,000
Tajikistan
Tajik MAC
Capacity building via UNDP
620,000
451,360
Yemen
UNDP
Capacity building
159,980
116,465
Namibia and Mozambique
Canadian Red Cross
MRE and victim assistance
95,935
69,841
Americas
OAS
OAS mine action projects
500,000
364,000
Mine Risk Education
604,769
443,109
Angola
UNICEF
MRE
142,334
103,619
Cambodia
UNICEF
Community-based MRE
100,000
72,800
Chad
UNICEF
Development of MRE strategy
80,000
61,050
Colombia
UNICEF
MRE, Rights of mine survivors
250,000
182,000
Georgia
ICBL
Monitoring MRE
29,725
21,640
Lebanon
LRC
Transportation
2,710
2,000
Coordination
6,230,687
4,545,583
Albania
ITF/UNDP
Develop national strategy
200,000
145,600
Colombia
OAS
Establishment mine action office
150,000
109,200
Croatia
ITF/UNDP
Support to CROMAC
27,837
20,265
Eritrea
UNMAS/
UNMEE
Coordination & technical assistance
195,000
150,000
Iraq
UNMAS
Integrated mine action
5,000,000
3,640,000
Sri Lanka
UNDP
Advocacy
22,690
16,518
Sudan
UNMAS
Info mgmt and coordination
135,160
100,000
International
UNMAS
Core support
500,000
364,000
Information
1,191,995
869,820
Angola
SAC
Landmine Impact Survey
328,201
238,930
BiH
SAC
Landmine Impact Survey
212,772
154,898
DR Congo
UNMAS
Emergency Impact Survey
59,000
45,000
India
IIPDEP
Data collection on mine victims
47,240
34,391
Somalia
SAC
Landmine Impact Survey
65,000
47,320
Tajikistan
FSD/OCSE
Recruitment and training
155,000
112,840
UNMAS
UNMAS
Gender and mine action
167,000
121,576
UNDP
UNDP
Mainstreaming mine action
130,000
94,640
UNDP
Capacity building
26,000
18,928
International
AGRODEV
Evaluation of CIDC
1,782
1,297
Victim Assistance
636,564
463,312
Cambodia
CHA
Support
11,600
8,445
Colombia
CIREC
Rehabilitation
50,000
36,400
Guatemala
OAS–AICMA
Job training
255,000
185,640
Laos
Garneau Int.
Rehabilitation
35,705
25,993
Sudan
UNMAS
Trauma training
100,000
72,800
Uganda
CPAR
Injury prevention
84,259
61,234
CPAR
MRE and peer support
5,000
3,640
International
LSN
Core support
95,000
69,160
Campaign Support
282,596
205,730
Finland
ICBL
LM 03 launch, exhibit, seminar
7,596
5,530
International
ICBL
Core funding
275,000
200,200
Conference Support
370,324
250,597
Azerbaijan
Az. CBL
Monitoring mine action
13,720
9,988
Belarus
ICBL (Bel)
Implementation workshop
13,575
9,883
Burkina Faso
CRC
Regional workshop
40,000
29,120
Rep. Congo (Brazzaville)
Canadian Embassy
Implementation activities
30,606
22,281
DR Congo
ADDIHAC
Events in Kinshasa
7,580
5,899
Djibouti
ASSOVIM
Mine action seminar
12,284
8,774
Sri Lanka
LAUK, Gva Call, SL CBL
Government/LTTE workshop
71,386
51,969
Sudan
Sudan CBL
Planning workshop in Khartoum
3,300
2,500
Africa
ICRC
Regional workshop
35,000
25,480
Americas
OAS/Canada
Regional seminar in Lima
16,747
12,192
Asia
TCBL/TMAC
Pre-5MSP ASEAN seminar
10,076
7,335
Phil. CBL
Workshop on engaging NSA
10,000
7,280
International
GICHD
Sponsorship programme
75,000
54,600
MENA
Arab Network of Researchers
Regional workshop in UAE
31,050
23,296
Domestic Advocacy and Outreach
1,039,760
756,946
MAC
Core funding
279,321
203,346
MAC
LEAP
2,915
2,122
MAC
YMAAP core funding
448,788
326,718
UNA Canada
Disarmament ed. programme
10,000
7,280
CLF
Core funding
298,736
217,480
Monitoring and Compliance
225,000
163,800
International
ICBL
Landmine Monitor
225,000
163,800
Stockpile Destruction
529,654
385,588
Afghanistan
UNMACA
Stockpile destruction
23,050
16,780
Bangladesh
GICHD
Stockpile destruction
17,100
12,449
Belarus
UNDP-NATO
Stockpile destruction
50,829
37,004
Chile
OAS
Stockpile destruction
299,175
217,799
Congo
UNDP
Stockpile destruction
14,200
10,338
S & M
NAMSA
Stockpile destruction
33,594
24,456
Tajikistan
NATO-UNDP
Stockpile destruction
2,525
1,838
Uganda
UNDP
Stockpile destruction
30,483
22,192
Ukraine
UNDP
Stockpile destruction
55,898
40,694
Yemen
Yemen
Stockpile destruction
2,800
2,038
General/Unspecified
179,809
130,901
Perú
Lima seminar sponsorship
31,216
22,725
Poland
Polish RC
IHL Publication
6,593
4,800
International
GICHD
ERW research
10,800
7,862
GICHD
Implementation Support Unit
50,000
36,400
LAUK
ERW Report
51,200
37,274
NSP
Documentary film
30,000
21,840
Research and Development
2,810,278
2,045,883
Cambodia
GeoSpatial Int.
Development project
161,178
117,338
International
UNMAS
End user technical rep.
26,200
19,074
GICHD
GICHD technology officer
156,900
114,223
Domestic
CCMAT
Research and development
2,466,000
1,795,248
Canada is transparent in reporting on its allocations of mine action funds
both domestically and internationally, providing information 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 Mine Action Investments database. The Mine Action Team
prepares an annual report on activities and projects supported by the Canadian
Landmine Fund, on behalf of the relevant government departments involved in mine
action. The 2002-2003 annual report, “Reclaiming Land, Rebuilding
Lives,” was released during Canadian Landmine Awareness Week in March
2004.[36] In May 2004, Jean
Devlin replaced Earl Turcotte as the Head of the Mine Action Unit of the
Canadian International Demining Agency.
Non-Governmental Funding and Mine Action Activities
In 2003, Canadian NGOs contributed US$920,160 to mine action programs
worldwide. This sum is in addition to the government funding listed above. It
includes $309,126 by the Canadian Landmine Foundation, $275,204 by UNICEF
Canada, $190,714 by the Canadian International Demining Corps, $104,127 by the
Canadian Red Cross, $18,200 by the Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief,
$12,000 by the Falls Brook Centre, and $10,789 by Garneau International.
The Canadian Landmine Foundation (CLF), established in 1999 as a registered
charity, provided $309,126 (C$424,624) in 2003 to mine action projects in
Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Croatia, Mozambique and Vietnam
through a variety of programs, including Canine Demine (in partnership with
CIDC), Adopt-A-Minefield, and the Peacekeepers Demining Fund, as well as
$130,524 (C$179,291) provided by CIDA as matching
funds.[37] On 6 November 2003,
CLF organized a “Night of a Thousand Dinners” fundraising event and
on 11 June 2003 another fundraiser featuring leading Canadian entertainers. It
supported Street Kids International and the Youth Mine Action Ambassador
Program, raising a combined total of $22,869 (C$31,414). The Foundation also
supported the CIDC for the purchase and training of a mine detecting dog and for
a significant clearance project in Bosnia. Through an affiliate arrangement
with the Rotary Club of Toronto, CLF provided $10,841 (C$14,892) for a Jaipur
Foot Center in Afghanistan. Through partnership with Med-Eng and DFAIT, CLF
facilitated the transfer of demining suits valued at $58,240 (C$80,000) to Sri
Lanka. On 11 August 2004, the CLF announced it had entered into an agreement to
operate as part of the global Adopt-A-Minefield Campaign, so that 100 percent of
all campaign donations could be used for landmine action
projects.[38]
UNICEF Canada supported a nationwide mine risk education project in Angola,
with particular focus on the most affected provinces, such as Moxico, Kuando
Kubando, Huambo, Bie, Malanje, Uige and
Huila.[39]
In 2003 and 2004, the Canadian International Demining Corps (CIDC) was active
in five countries.[40] In Bosnia
and Herzegovina, CIDC trained and supplied mine detecting dogs, assisted with a
technical survey, and undertook mine clearance near Tuzla and near Srebenica.
In Croatia, CIDC supplied ten mine detecting dogs and trained CROMAC dog
handlers. In Macedonia FYR, CIDC supplied two mine detecting dog units to
support demining operations by Handicap International. In Chad, CIDC supplied
personal protective equipment. In Sri Lanka, CIDC also supplied personal
protective equipment.
Between 1998 and June 2003, the Canadian Red Cross supported the Dushanbe
Orthopaedic Center in Tajikistan, contributing C$142,314 (US$103,605) in
2003.[41] The CRC also supported
a mine risk education and victim assistance project in Angola, Namibia and
Mozambique designed to increase the capacities of these countries’
national Red Cross societies. In Mozambique, the CRC helped mine survivors
travel to orthopedic clinics in five provincial capitals and provided them with
information on micro-credit projects. In Namibia, CRC funding supported mine
risk education activities in the Kavango region, including theater, puppetry and
community discussion.
Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief (CPAR) continued to operate a Landmine
Survivor and Support Program (SIPP) in Uganda, which combined mine risk
education and capacity
building.[42] The project has a
total three-year budget of $600,600 (C$825,000) with annual budgets of
approximately $200,200 (C$275,000). In 2003, CPAR contributed $54,600
(C$75,000), while CIDA provided the balance.
The New Brunswick-based Falls Brook Centre has implemented survivor
assistance projects in northern Nicaragua together with local NGOs since
1999.[43] Since CIDA funding
ended in 2003, the projects have continued with the support of Canadian private
donors.
Quebec-based Garneau International operated a UXO victim assistance project
in Laos between November 2000 and June
2003.[44] A second phase
started in April 2004 and is scheduled to continue until March 2007. Between
January and August 2003, Garneau International contributed $10,789 (C$14,820) to
this project.[45]
Research and Development
The Canadian Centre for Mine Action Technologies (CCMAT) of National Defence
acts as Canada’s focal point for demining technologies. CCMAT has
supported the research and development of several new technologies currently
used in mine clearance or undergoing testing and evaluation. In 2003, CCMAT
received C$2,466,000 (US$1,795,248) for operating costs, as well as research
and development in the areas of test and evaluation, detection, protection, mine
neutralization, enabling technologies, medicine, victim assistance and
information management.[46]
In 2003, Canada contributed C$156,900 (US$114,223) to support a research and
development project by GeoSpatial International in Cambodia. Foreign Affairs
Canada and the DND are co-funding a technology officer position at the GICHD for
a period of three years.
The DND has been funding a joint research project by the Canadian and US
militaries and University of Alberta researchers into genetically modifying
plants so they would change colors if the soil was contaminated by TNT or other
chemical compounds commonly used in
landmines.[47]
The Canadian military used a remotely-controlled robotic armored personnel
carrier (IDLS) to detect and destroy landmines around Bagram air base in
Afghanistan.[48] The IDLS has
been operational since August 2003.
Landmine Casualties
While Canada is mine-free, Canadian Forces personnel have been killed or
injured by mines during their work overseas. On 2 October 2003, two Canadian
peacekeepers were killed and three injured in an antivehicle mine incident in
Afghanistan.[49] There are also
unconfirmed reports of a Canadian civilian injured in a landmine or IED
explosion in Algeria in 2003.
Other known Canadian landmine casualties since 1999 include an incident on 28
April 2002 when a Canadian soldier received minor injuries while on patrol in a
US Humvee that hit a landmine near the Kandahar airfield in
Afghanistan.[50] In another
incident on 14 March 2001, a Canadian soldier serving with the UN Mission in
Ethiopia and Eritrea was slightly injured when his vehicle drove over a landmine
on a road that had just been cleared by a Canadian Forces mine clearance
team.[51]
[1] 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. See Landmine Monitor Report 1999, pp.
221-224. [2] “It is the
understanding of the Government of Canada that, in the context of operations,
exercises or other military activity sanctioned by the United Nations or
otherwise conducted in accordance with the international law, the mere
participation by the Canadian Forces, or individual Canadians, in operations,
exercises or other military activity conducted in combination with the armed
forces of States not party to the Convention which engage in activity prohibited
under the Convention would not, by itself, be considered to be assistance,
encouragement or inducement in accordance with the meaning of those terms in
Article 1, paragraph 1(c).”
[3] Government of Canada, News
Release No.5, 17 January 1996 on the announcement of a comprehensive, unilateral
moratorium on the production, export, and operational use of antipersonnel mines
by Canada. [4] For a detailed
description of Canada’s role in the Ottawa Process, see M. Cameron et al,
eds., To Walk Without Fear: The Global Movement to Ban Landmines,
1998. [5] See Article 7 reports
submitted: 22 April 2003 (for the period 2 March 2002–7 April 2003); 24
April 2002 (for the period 16 February 2001–1 March 2002); 30 April 2001
(for the period 15 March 2000–15 February 2001); 27 April 2000 (for the
period 1 August 1999–14 March 2000); 27 August 1999 (for the period 1
January 1999–31 July 1999). [6]
As of 2004, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) is
named Foreign Affairs Canada (FAC).
[7] The Mine Action Ambassador
position has been held by three career diplomats: Jill Sinclair (May 1998-July
1999), Daniel Livermore (August 1999-August 2002), and Ross Hynes (August
2002-present). [8] Address by
Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Canadian Parliament, Ottawa, 9 March, SG/SM/9190,
9 March 2004. [9] Notes for an Address
by Bill Graham, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Canada-France Chamber of Commerce,
Paris, 3 October 2003. [10] Address by
the Bill Graham, Minister of Foreign Affairs, CD, Geneva, 16 March 2004.
[11] Statement by Amb. Paul Meyer,
CD, 29 July 2004. [12] The 2003/2004
program, the sixth year, supported Youth Mine Action Ambassadors in Vancouver,
Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, St. John’s, and
Halifax. [13] Stephen Leahy, “Is
Canada’s Pension Fund Violating Landmine Treaty?” InterPress News
Service, 21 December 2003; Adam Thomlinson, “Guess who’s getting
your CPP Money?” Nepean This Week, 21 November 2003. The Canada Pension
Plan is the national pension program to which all Canadians and their employers
are required to contribute by law. The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board is
the body which invests these funds to ensure there is enough revenue within the
Plan. [14] Letter from the Bill
Graham, Minister of Foreign Affairs to the Bill Blaikie, P.C., M.P., 3 June
2004. [15] See Landmine Monitor
Report 2001, pp. 294-295. See previous editions also for discussion of
Canada’s position on joint operations and its interpretation of
“assist” in Article 1. Landmine Monitor Report 2000, p. 244;
Landmine Monitor Report 1999, pp.
221-223. [16] “The Canadian
Forces and Anti-Personnel Landmine,” DND document BG-02.007, 13 February
2002. [17] David Pugliese,
“Troops could be charged for landmines violations,” Ottawa Citizen,
30 January 2002. [18] Letter ICBL
(Elizabeth Bernstein) from Art Eggleton, Minister of Defence, 20 December
2001. [19] DND document BG-02.007, 13
February 2002. [20] Statement by
Canada, in ICRC, “Report on the Technical Expert Meeting on anti-vehicle
mines with sensitive fuses or with sensitive anti-handling devices,”
Geneva, 13-14 March 2001. [21]
Intervention on Article 2 by Canafa, Standing Committee on General Status and
Operation of the Convention, Geneva, 11 May 2001. Written text provided to
Landmine Monitor. [22] Statement by
Canada, in ICRC, “Report on the Technical Expert Meeting,” 13-14
March 2001. [23]
Ibid. [24] Government news release,
No. 5, 17 January 1996. Other sources indicate production halted in 1994. See
Jane’s Military Vehicles and Logistics, 1994-95, p.
175. [25] Statutes of Canada, Chapter
33, “An Act to Implement the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use,
Production and Transfer of Antipersonnel Mines and on their Destruction entered
into force on 1 March
1999.” [26] Consumption of
retained mines includes: 113 mines used from August 1999 to March 2000; 18 mines
used from March 2000 to February 2001; 33 mines used February 2001 to March
2002; 12 mines used from March 2002 to April 2003; 7 mines used April 2003 to
March 2004. [27] Mines retained
include: 962 Canadian-made C3A2; 478 M16A1/2 and 148 M14 made in the US; 39
PMA-1, 114 PMA-2 and 24 PMA-3, two PROM-1, one MRUD and six PMR-2A all
manufactured in the former Yugoslavia; 63 PP-M1-NA1 made in the former
Czechoslovakia; four SB-33, 14 VS50, 10 VAL M69 and 6 VS MK2, all made in Italy;
57 PMN-2, made in USSR/Russia. Article 7 Report, Form D, 13 April
2004. [28] Article 7 Report, Form D,
13 April 2004. [29]
Ibid. [30] See Landmine Monitor Report
2003 pg. 152, and Landmine Monitor Report 2001, pp.
294-295. [31] Data compiled from
previous Landmine Monitor reports. The figure for 1993-1997 only reflects CIDA
funding. [32] This figure does not
include NGO mine action funding.
[33] This report’s figure did
not specify if this includes NGO mine action
funding. [34] The official exchange
rate is C$1=US$0.728. [35] All amounts
are taken from the Mine Action Investments Database 5 May 2004 and confirmed
through email exchanges with the Mine Action Unit of Foreign
Affairs. [36] DFAIT, “Reclaiming
Land, Rebuilding Lives, 2002-2003 Report on the Canadian Landmine Fund.”
[37] Unless otherwise noted, Canadian
Landmine Foundation information is all derived from: email from Scott
Fairweather, President and CEO, Canadian Landmine Foundation, 3 August
2003. [38] CLF press release, 11
August 2004, as posted to its website www.canadianlandmine.org .
[39] Response to LM Questionnaire by
Betty Nokes, Program Assistant, UNICEF, 29 July 2004, p.
1. [40] Unless otherwise noted, CIDC
information is all derived from: Response to LM Questionnaire by David Horton,
Executive Director, CIDC, 24 August 2004.
[41] Unless otherwise noted, CRC
information is all derived from: Response to LM Questionnaire by Lisa Moreau,
Project Officer, Canadian Red Cross, 20 August
2004. [42] Response to LM
Questionnaire by Tony Rogge, CPAR, 19 August 2004, p. 1.
[43] Email from Jean Arnold,
Executive Director, Falls Brook Centre, 9 August 2003.
[44] Response to LM Questionnaire by
Anne Boisver, Project Manager, Garneau International, p. 1.
[45] Email from Anne Boisvert,
Garneau International, 7 September
2004. [46] Mine Action Investments
database, www.mineaction.org , accessed
31 May 2004. [47] Bill Curry,
“Colour-coding landmine fields,” Ottawa Citizen, 12 January 2004, p.
A5; “Researchers hope for leafy landmine detectors,” CBC News, 15
October 2003; Steve Lambert, “Canada, US cultivate plant that may detect
landmines,” Globe and Mail, 14 October 2003, p.
A6. [48] Matthew Fisher,
“Mine-busting robot impresses UN,” Ottawa Citizen, 20 October
2003. [49] Robin Rowland,
“Canada’s Casualties,” CBC News, 2 October 2003;
“Anti-tank mine killed Canadians, Afghan commander arrested,” CBC
News, 8 October 2003; “Soldier wounded in Afghanistan speaks for the first
time,” CBC News, 29 October
2003. [50] Mike Blanchfield,
“Military mum on latest Afghan mission,” The Ottawa Citizen, 24 May
2002; “Canadian soldiers strike landmine on Afghan road,” CBC News,
23 May 2002. [51] Steven Edwards,
“Landmine blasts hit Canadians, forces ordered off road after second
explosion,” National Post, 15 March 2001.
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