3. Nuclear Convention
Given that: we live with more than 30,000 nuclear weapons, the only weapons of mass destruction not yet banned by international agreement, and that 92% of Canadians want their government to play a leading role in achieving a ban on nuclear weapons, just as it did in banning landmines;
will you, if elected, press the Government of Canada to work urgently with other governments for an international convention that would ban nuclear weapons as biological and chemical weapons are banned?
Bloc Québécois
The Bloc Québécois is in favour of immediately stopping nuclear proliferation and is for its eventual abolition. They will continue their work to impel the Government of Canada to ratify all accords taking such a direction. The Bloc Québécois would also like the Government of Canada to provide technical aid in managing plutoni um left over from disarmament. They are however opposed to managing this residue on Canadian soil because they believe firmly that immobilisation and treatment at the source is more efficient and truer to the spirit of non-proliferation.
Canadian Alliance Party
The Canadian Alliance supports implementing a NATO defence and deterrence strategy with the lowest number of nuclear weapons possible in keeping with an effective defence. We support and would encourage the continuation of the arms reduction proce ss between the United States and Russia.
However, the elimination of nuclear weapons is not realistic under present international realities - nor under any foreseeable circumstances. One cannot simply "wish" that nuclear technology would disappear from t he planet. We should not support unilateral disarmament by NATO given the reality that other potentially hostile states will continue to acquire nuclear and non-nuclear weapons of mass destruction. We believe that it is essential for NATO to continue to m aintain a limited nuclear arsenal with which to deter possible aggression. We believe this is the responsible course of action for anyone who cares about peace and understands how it is maintained in the real world and by the lessons of history.
Liberal Party
The Liberal government is committed to the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. The central instrument of our government\rquote s non-proliferation and disarmament policy is the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). We will continue to promote the NPT to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons and invigorate efforts to roll-back nuclear proliferation where it has occurred. In addition, our government supports rapid progres s on START implementation and a further negotiation within the framework, including conclusion of reduction measures on tactical nuclear weapons.
The Liberal government will continue to work through NATO and engage members of the New Agenda Coalition to pursue shared nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation objectives. Canadians and all members of the international community continue to have a deep and abiding stake in this human security issue - and our government is committed to making further progress to reduce and eliminate nuclear weapons.
New Democratic Party
No response, but the platform says that the party will: "Actively support negotiation and adoption of an international treaty to eliminate all nuclear weapons based on the model convention adopted by the United Nations in 1997."
Progressive Conservative Party
No response, nothing relevant in party platform.