Canada Pledges $100 Million to Implement Global Ban on Anti-personnel Landmines

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien today announced that Canada will contribute $100 million over the next five years to help meet the goals of the Treaty banning anti-personnel landmines. Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy signed the Treaty for Canada this morning at the international Treaty-Signing Conference and Mine Action Forum in Ottawa.

"Canada has been a leader in making this international agreement to ban landmines a reality, and now we must be a leader in the efforts to make it work," said the Prime Minister. "I hope our continuing efforts will inspire other countries to make similar commitments so the implementation of the treaty can move ahead quickly."

The Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti- Personnel Mines and on their Destruction enters into force when 40 countries ratify it, expected within two years. Canada was the first to sign the Treaty along with South Africa and Norway, in recognition of the key role the three countries played in the Ottawa Process, a fast-track process which brought the vision of a ban to reality in just 14 months.

Following Canada's signature, the Prime Minister presented Canada's instrument of ratification to United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, making Canada the first country to ratify the Treaty.

Canada's financial contribution will go towards implementing Ottawa Process II, an agenda for action which will be presented at the end of the Ottawa conference. A key goal of the process is greatly expanded humanitarian assistance for landmine victims, to help with their medical care and to help rebuild their lives. Other goals include working towards universal adherence, early entry into force of the Treaty, and assistance to countries which lack the means to fully implement their commitments under the Treaty to clear mines and eliminate stockpiles.

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