The Non-Proliferation Treaty, NATO and Canada: The Future of Nuclear Weapons

This joint seminar of the Canadian Pugwash Group and Science for Peace was held on Saturday March 18, 2000 at the International Student Centre, University of Toronto. In addition to members of the Pugwash Group and Science for Peace, it was attended by Dr. David Viveash from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade on behalf of Mr. Lloyd Axworthy. The participants were pleased to have an opportunity to exchange views with him on the role that Canada can play in the vital task of achieving the eventual total abolition of nuclear weapons.

It was pointed out that in spite of the end of the Cold War the nuclear powers still insist that these weapons are necessary for their security.

The American National Missile Defence (NMD) could possibly lead to a new arms race, and the Canadian government should oppose it as strongly as possible and refuse to participate in any phase of this project (See the article by Paul Hamel elsewhere in this Bulletin).

A report on the conference was prepared by the rapporteur, Walter Dorn, and incorporated in a letter to Prime Minister Jean Chretien signed by Douglas Roche for the Canadian Pugwash Group and Mel Watkins for Science for Peace. This letter is available in the Science for Peace office.