Resolution on Canada and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

Approved by the Science for Peace Board, 5 November 2018

Noting that there are approximately 15,000 nuclear weapons in the world;

Deeply concerned about the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons;

Stressing the risks related to the existence of nuclear weapons;

Realizing the plans by nuclear-armed states to retain indefinitely and modernize their nuclear arsenals;

Recalling the obligations of states parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) to “pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament, and on a Treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control”;

Despairing the absence of progress in nuclear disarmament by nuclear-armed states; and the growing threat of nuclear war.

Remembering the unanimous motion adopted by Canadian Members of Parliament and Senators in 2010 that “encourages the Government of Canada to engage in negotiations for a nuclear weapons convention as proposed by the United Nations Secretary General” and “to deploy a major world-wide Canadian diplomatic initiative in support of preventing nuclear proliferation and increasing the rate of nuclear disarmament”;

Observing Canada’s support for the 2014 Inter-Parliamentary Union’s resolution entitled, “Toward a Nuclear Weapons-Free World”, that “recommends that parliaments urge their government to start negotiations on a nuclear weapons convention or on a package of agreements to help achieve a nuclear weapon free world.”;

Welcoming the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW);

Resolved, that Science for Peace call on the Government of Canada to promptly sign, ratify and faithfully implement the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and urge other nations to work immediately to prohibit and eliminate nuclear weapons.

Actions

1. Monthly meetings to educate ourselves on the issues and develop strategies to move nuclear disarmament forward

2. Timely and informative email exchanges keeping us up to date

3. Letter writing to, and meetings with MPs and Global Affairs Canada, to encourage the Canadian government to sign and ratify the TPNW

4. Op-eds and letters to the editor in newspapers to raise public awareness of Canada’s wrong-headed position on the TPNW

5. Petitions garnering public support for Canada to sign and ratify the TPNW

6. Encouraging financial institutions to divest from nuclear weapons producers

7. Engaging and networking with other activist groups across Canada on nuclear weapons issues

8. Membership in the Canadian Network to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (CNANW)

9. Partnership in the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), winner of the 2017 Nobel Prize for Peace

For a copy of the text and background information on the TPNW see Reaching Critical Will at: reachingcriticalwill.org/disarmament-fora/nuclear-weapon-ban

For campaign reports and treaty news see ICAN at: www.icanw.org/

For scholarly data, analysis and research on the TPNW see the Nuclear Ban Monitor at: www.banmonitor.org/