For the second time, September 8-26, 1998, Project Ploughshares conducted a series of Roundtables on the subject of nuclear weapons for community leaders and interested citizens across Canada. The first such exercise, in 1996, produced a national report recommending that Canada formally review its policies on nuclear weapons. This recommendation was accepted by the Government of Canada and a review launched by Parliament's Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

On the eve of publication of the Parliamentary Committee's report, Project Ploughshares carried out a second set of Roundtables in 16 cities in all 10 provinces to discuss the current non-proliferation crisis and to consider ways to encourage stronger Canadian Government policies for nuclear weapons abolition and deeper public support for such policies.

The Roundtables were attended by 384 persons representing a wide range of Canadians: MPs, members of provincial legislature, mayors, municipal counsellors, school board members, a former Lieutenant Governor, a survivor of the Nagasaki bombing, business and religious leaders, academics and educators at all levels, students, peace group activists and military experts, health professionals, artists and environmentalists.

The participants attended by invitation, and each person received a 55-page Briefing Book: "Nuclear Weapons: The Problem, The Solution, Canada's Role." Each Roundtable lasted two-and-a-half hours. It began with a short video recalling the scenes of the aftermath of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and then showing military and political leaders speaking out against nuclear weapons.

A presentation at most of the Roundtables was made by Douglas Roche, O. C., former Canadian Ambassador for Disarmament and Chairperson of the Canadian Network to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. At one point in the tour, Mr. Roche was appointed by the Prime Minister as Senator from Alberta and absented himself for a few days. His place was taken by Ernie Regehr and Bill Robinson of Project Ploughshares.

There was virtually a unanimous call at the Roundtables for Canada to join the New Agenda Coalition (NAC), a new initiative of eight middle-power States now pressing the Nuclear Weapons States (NWS) to commit themselves unequivocally to the elimination of nuclear weapons and to immediate practical steps and negotiations required for elimination.

Since the core of NAC's program is contrary to NATO's policy, which holds that nuclear weapons continue to be "essential," Canada has, so far, refused to join in with NAC. The Roundtable participants specifically asked the Canadian Government to vote for the NAC resolution at UNGA 53, and to work to get nuclear weapons out of NATO.

While deploring the nuclear weapons testing by India and Pakistan, participants pointed out that the real problem continues to be the reluctance of the NWS to agree to commence negotiations leading to the elimination of nuclear weapons. Special attention was paid to the determination of the United States to retain the strategy of nuclear deterrence as a cornerstone of its military doctrine, and to ways to encourage the U.S. to accept its responsibilities to uphold humanitarian law.

Congratulating the Canadian Government for its leadership role in the development and now implementation of the Landmines Treaty, participants urged Canada to play a similar leadership role in the abolition of nuclear weapons. They noted this would be much harder than the landmines issue, but that the new mechanism of NAC buttressed by the Middle Powers Initiative, a network of prominent international NGOs specializing in nuclear disarmament, provides a way for Canada to work in the good company of like-minded States, and with a supportive international NGO community.

Canadian public opinion, though strong in numbers (92 percent of Canadians favour Canada playing a leading role in international work for nuclear disarmament), is weak in expression. The NGO community in Canada needs to re-mobilize, break the silence and educate the public about the breakdown in the non-proliferation regime.

More work needs to be done in exploring communications innovations. The potential of the Internet was emphasized. Young people are growing up oblivious to the continuing dangers of nuclear weapons. Special efforts must be made to include nuclear weapons issues in school curriculums.

While the issues of nuclear power and nuclear weapons are inextricably linked, participants preferred to keep public and government attention sharply focussed on the top priority: the elimination of nuclear weapons. The $8 trillion so far spent on nuclear weapons has deprived countless people of resources needed for economic and social development, which are the key to attaining human security. It was suggested that the "right to peace" be more fully explored as a human rights issue.

The Roundtables gave their approval to this Program of Action as suggested by Project Ploughshares:

a) Advocate immediate steps to reduce nuclear threat.

b) Support negotiation of a Nuclear Weapons Convention.

c) Renounce the "nuclear umbrella."

d) Provide leadership in co-operation with like-minded states.