27 March 2012
Seoul, South Korea
Nuclear terrorism remains one of today's most significant global security challenges. Canada continues to be a leader in international efforts to enhance nuclear security, combat nuclear terrorism and prevent terrorist organizations from acquiring weapons and materials of mass destruction and related expertise.
On March 27, 2012, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced a renewed commitment of $367 million over five years (2013-2018) to Canada's Global Partnership Program (GPP). This demonstrates Canada's continued leadership and commitment to strengthening global security by combatting the threat of nuclear, radiological, biological, and chemical terrorism. The renewed investment will allow Canada's GPP to continue investing in projects worldwide that have a tangible, positive impact on Canadian and global security.
Established in 2002 and managed by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, the GPP is the main mechanism through which Canada supports international efforts to enhance nuclear security and combat weapons of mass destruction (WMD) proliferation and nuclear terrorism. This work supports Canada's participation in the 24-member Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction, a collaborative international initiative that was formed at the 2002 G-8 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, to address the proliferation and terrorist use of weapons and materials of mass destruction through concrete projects.
Since 2002, Canada's Global Partnership Program has invested more than $820 million on programming related to nuclear security, chemical weapons destruction, biological security and safety, nuclear submarine dismantlement and WMD scientist engagement. Past successes include:
- Upgrading physical protection at ten Russian nuclear sites;
- Installing radiation detection equipment at key points of entry in Ukraine;
- Upgrading security at three biological containment laboratories in Central Asia;
- Providing essential equipment and infrastructure to two chemical weapons destruction facilities in Russia; and
- De-fuelling and dismantling 15 Russian nuclear-powered submarines.
Future WMD threat reduction programming will be implemented across the Americas, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia with a focus on four priority areas identified by G-8 Leaders at the Summits in Muskoka (2010) and Deauville (2011):
- Nuclear and radiological security;
- Biological security;
- Scientist engagement; and
- Support for the implementation of the United Nations' Security Council Resolution 1540.
GPP programming will continue to support Canada's broader non-proliferation and counter-terrorism objectives, including its obligations within various treaties (Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Chemical Weapons Convention, Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention), international organizations (International Atomic Energy Agency, World Health Organization), and multilateral initiatives (Proliferation Security Initiative, Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism). It will also support peaceful uses of nuclear and biological technologies worldwide by mitigating associated security risks.
