Statement made on 03 December 2008 by Senator Art Eggleton
Hon. Art Eggleton:
Honourable senators, today the Government of Canada signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions. It is the most significant treaty of its kind since the ban on anti-personnel land mines was signed on this same day in 1997.
The treaty bans the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of cluster bombs. It places obligations on countries to clear affected areas, assist victims and destroy stockpiles. It is a significant step toward the elimination of these devastating weapons and will hopefully lead to the alleviation of the human and economic consequences posed by cluster bombs.
Like the Ottawa treaty banning anti-personnel land mines, the Convention on Cluster Munitions will obligate Canada to be a part of the solution to the cluster bomb issue. It will commit Canada to ban the weapon, destroy its stockpiles and support humanitarian mine action around the world that demines affected land and helps victims.
Beyond the diplomatic similarities, clusters bombs and land mines are explicitly linked. Many of the over 70 land mine affected countries are also contaminated by cluster bombs.
The victims of these weapons suffer debilitating physical and psychological injuries. Victims' families and communities are plagued by economic burdens, and the environmental impact of these weapons on their surroundings is significant. They also impede long-term reconstruction of war-torn societies, the return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their homes, and political reconciliation and peace.
For many years, Canadian and international humanitarian mine action organizations have been clearing both land mines and cluster bombs to provide safety, security and prosperity to communities affected by these terrible weapons. I believe it is necessary for the government to detail an action plan that would allow Canada to fulfill its commitment on cluster munitions and land mines.
For the past 10 years, the Canadian Landmine Fund has managed Canada's financial support to mine action around the world. It provided predictable funding to humanitarian organizations that were demining affected areas and helping victims of land mines and cluster bombs. In March 2008, that fund ended and no long-term policy has been put in its place to continue Canada's support for mine action.
Honourable senators, an action plan is needed to ensure that another farmer, mother or child does not become a victim of a land mine or a cluster bomb.