Honourable Paul Martin                                     Honourable Pierre Pettigrew
Prime Minister of Canada                                   Minister of Foreign Affairs
House of Commons                                             House of Commons
Parliament Buildings                                          Parliament Buildings
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6                                    Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6

FAX:613-941-6900    Email: [email protected]       FAX:613-996-9607    Email: [email protected]

Re: Canadian Participation in Ballistic Missile Defence

Dear Prime Minister Paul Martin - and - Foreign Minister Pierre Pettigrew,

The U.S. withdrawal from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in June 2002 has allowed the Bush administration to commit resources to a multilayered missile defence system, the first ground-based stage of which is now being constructed at sites in California and Alaska, and whose clear purpose, effectiveness and cost remain unknown. Research is progressing toward the inclusion of a space-based component before the end of this decade.

Broad international consensus has been reached that outer space should not be weaponized but should be used for the benefit of all humanity. Some Pentagon planners insist that BMD includes planning for weapons in space. Participation in BMD would undermine the official position of the government of Canada which firmly opposes such weaponization. Canadian arms control efforts at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva would suffer a "credibility gap."

Canada has traditionally sought peaceful solutions to conflicts, and without any credible threat from ballistic missile attack, has no reason to adhere to a BMD program. Canada best pursues its own security through strengthening multilateral arms control and non-proliferation regimes rather than through building missile defences. Canada should urge other nations to move from a strategic to a humanitarian discourse for global security. Giving Canadian political support to BMD would strengthen the U.S. administrationšs resolve in spite of considerable uncertainty and opposition in the U.S. and around the world.

In addition, BMD will lessen trust between nations and likely lead other states to increase their nuclear arsenals. It appears Russia and China are responding to the U.S. BMD effort with new research and testing of new generations of offensive nuclear missiles as precautionary measures.

With or without Canadian participation in BMD there will be a continuing important role for Canadian contributions to continental aerospace surveillance through our participation in NORAD, the Canada-U.S. North American Aerospace Defence Agreement. Canadašs agreement to participate in BMD is not essential to maintaining strong bilateral relations with the U.S.

The Canadian government should respectfully decline involvement in a U.S. Ballistic Missile Defence system. A decision in favour of the rule of law and strengthening arms control globally is in Canadašs interest. Participation in BMD is not.

 



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