(OTTAWA) - Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada, expressed serious concern over Stephen Harper’s failure to engage India President Narendra Modi in a discussion on how to gain India’s support for the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NNPT).
“Canada’s trade in nuclear materials with India is a direct violation of the NNPT, yet we resumed trading equipment and fissionable materials with India in 2013,” said Ms. May. “India has indicated a willingness to pursue a comprehensive plan for a nuclear-free world, and has voluntarily adopted a ‘no first use’ policy. I call on Stephen Harper to stop encouraging defiance of the NNPT.”
“Canadians support peace and democracy. Selling uranium to India could cause us to violate the NNPT if India uses it to manufacture weapons, and make us part of the global insecurity problem,” said Lorraine Rekmans, the Green Party’s Indigenous Affairs Critic and candidate for Leeds – Grenville – Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes.
Daniel Green, Deputy Leader of the Green Party of Canada, added, “When India exploded its nuclear device in 1974 using Canadian technology, Canada ceased all exports of nuclear material to India, and India continued to develop a nuclear weapons program. India is not a signatory to the International Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. It would be unacceptable for Canada to renege on its commitments to this treaty, which is indispensable to our global security.”
“Although India has yet to sign the NNPT or the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, Canadian firms began to sell equipment and uranium to them in 2013. Stephen Harper needs to stop violating our international commitments,” said Bruce Hyer, Deputy Leader of the Green Party of Canada and Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay – Superior North.
Lorraine Rekmans continued, “Canada must promote peace and security abroad. In the upcoming review of the NNPT on April 29, we must work with our allies to bring all stakeholder nations into an improved NNPT.”
Ms. May concluded, “The 2015 Conference of the Parties Review of the NNPT will be held from the 29th of April to the 22nd of May 2015 at UN Headquarters in New York. Once again India, Pakistan, and Israel will be absent from this important forum. Instead of violating the treaty, Canada must move to a more active and assertive role in the NNPT Conference Review on April 29.
“We must explore constructive ways to bring India, as well as Pakistan and Israel, into a strengthened NNPT framework.”
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For additional information or to arrange an interview, contact:
Julian Morelli
Director of Communications
Green Party of Canada
cell: (613) 614 4916
office: (613) 562 4916 (224)
[email protected]
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Background: India and the NNPT
India has refused to join the NNPT since it was created in 1970, as the treaty allowed the original five nuclear states to expand their stockpiles of weapons while constraining other signatories.
Canada banned all exports of nuclear materials to India in the 1970s, after India used a CANDU research reactor to develop its first experimental nuclear weapon.
The export ban was lifted with the Canada-India Nuclear Cooperation Agreement in 2013, in violation of Canada's obligations under the NNPT. At the time, Harper's minister Lawrence Cannon simply said, ‘India has been in the penalty box long enough.’ The 2013 agreement allows Canadian firms like Cameco to export and import nuclear materials, equipment and technology to and from India to facilities subject to safeguards applied by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Increased imports from Canada will enable India to undertake the expansion of its capacity to generate electricity – India’s goal is to increase the generation of electricity from nuclear energy from 3% today to 50% by 2050. Unfortunately, increased uranium imports permit India to continue its nuclear weapons program outside the NNPT structure with its own internal uranium supplies.