Toward a Nuclear Weapons Convention: A role for Canada

Tasneem Jamal Nuclear Weapons

Report on the Expert Seminar held April 11 and 12, 2011 in Ottawa The expert seminar “Toward a Nuclear Weapons Convention: A Role for Canada” held in Ottawa, April 11 and 12, 2011, included participants from the academic community and civil society, as well as diplomats, parliamentarians, and government officials. The discussions addressed a broad range of legal, political, security, …

Libya and R2P

John Siebert Africa, Americas, Defence & Human Security

Briefing 11-2 Author John Siebert The NATO implementation of a no-fly zone to protect Libyan civilians, which began on March 19, has now explicitly morphed into regime change by bombing runs. The intensive daylight bombing of Tripoli on June 7 and recent statements by Canadian government ministers confirm the fundamental confusion between the goals of civilian protection and regime change. …

Why Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft? Program costs rise and benefits carry risks

Kenneth Epps Conventional Weapons, Defence & Human Security

Briefing 10-3 Author Kenneth Epps For what may become the most expensive procurement program in Canadian history, the government of Canada has provided a sparse rationale for procuring a future stealth fighter aircraft without competition. The costs of the announced purchase continue to rise, life-cycle expenses are likely to be much higher than floated estimates, and industrial benefits are not …

Pentagon Orders with General Dynamics in Canada Exceed $1-Billion

Kenneth Epps Americas, Conventional Weapons

Author Kenneth Epps The Ploughshares Monitor Summer 2010 Volume 31 Issue 2 Following recent major Canadian military industry acquisitions, US corporation General Dynamics has emerged as the dominant recipient of Pentagon contracts brokered by the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC). The crown-owned Canadian Commercial Corporation has reported that three subsidiaries of US-based General Dynamics Corporation together won more than $1-billion in Pentagon …

U.S. Policy and the Arms Trade Treaty

Tasneem Jamal Americas, Conventional Weapons

Author Rachel Stohl Working Paper 10-1 Unlike their nuclear counterparts, conventional weapons have been relatively unregulated in international forums. Because the global trade in conventional arms is a necessary and integral part of global security and international commerce, States have been hesitant to place conditions on and criteria for the transfer of conventional weapons. Global agreements on conventional arms have …

Practical Steps to Zero Nuclear Weapons: Conference Report

Tasneem Jamal Nuclear Weapons

Sponsored by the Canadian Network to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, the Canadian Pugwash Group, Physicians for Global Survival, Project Ploughshares and World Federalist Movement Canada, the report outlines recommendations made during “Practical Steps to Zero Nuclear Weapons,” a conference held in Ottawa in January 2010. In light of the shift in global thinking for a nuclear weapons-free world, a position championed …