Nuclear Disarmament

See background on Nuclear Disarmament.

General Board

Honourable Lloyd Axworthy
Minister of Foreign Affairs
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6

Hon. Bill Graham, Chair
Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade (SCFAIT)
Fax: (613) 996-9607

Hon. Colleen Beaumeir, Vice-chair SCFAIT
Fax: (613) 995-6796

Hon. Bob Mills, Vice-chair SCFAIT
Fax: (613) 995-6831

November 25, 1998

Dear Mr. Axworthy, honourable committee chair and vice-chairs,

The Mennonite Church Canada is profoundly concerned about Canada’s policy and actions regarding nuclear weapons. We are a Christian denomination of over 36,000 members across the country.

As Mennonites, we struggle to be communities of grace, joy and peace. We believe that peace is the will of God, and we are called to seek justice and make peace. As people of faith, we seek to promote justice and security through nonviolent social action. Our Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective states "we do not prepare for war, or participate in military service" and calls us to "witness against all forms of violence." The continued threat of nuclear weapons is a horrific form of violence.

We note that the Government abstained from voting on the recent United Nations resolution put forward by the New Agenda Coalition. Among other things, this resolution called on states to "commit themselves unequivocally to the elimination of their respective nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons capability and to agree to start work immediately on the practical steps and negotiations required for its achievement." We would have wished that you could have agreed fully with the resolution. Under the circumstances, we commend the decision by the Government to at least abstain from the vote. Abstaining meant resisting pressure from nuclear weapons states to vote "No." This is a sign of hope.

Though Canada does not possess nuclear weapons, Canada does find itself under the "nuclear umbrella" of the United States and NATO, of which we are a member. It is our conviction that international security must be sought through the building of trust between and among peoples and states. We have spoken to the government several times in the recent past on this issue:

• a December 15, 1994 letter to the Minister of Defense asked that Canada withdraw from organizations such as NATO and NORAD which support the use of nuclear weapons,
• a January 10, 1996 letter to the Prime Minister expressed concern over Canada’s involvement in the nuclear industry and urged strong actions be taken to signal Canada’s opposition to the nuclear testing by France and China,
• an April 26, 1996 letter to the Prime Minister urged Canada to actively support nuclear non-proliferation by refusing to accept other countries’ nuclear waste and by refusing to use plutonium fuel in Canadian nuclear reactors.

We now call on the Government of Canada to take the following further steps, to promote a more truly peaceful security:

• support and take leadership in international efforts to negotiate the elimination of all nuclear weapons,
• join the New Agenda Coalition of middle power states to further this aim,
• support steps to "de-alert" existing nuclear weapons,
• work to bring change to NATO’s nuclear policy; such as a review and revision of current policy, the adoption of a policy of no-first-use, and the eventual commitment to eliminate the nuclear dimension of NATO policy.

We suggest a number of avenues for addressing our concerns. Canada has recently received a seat on the Security Council of the United Nations. In this capacity, Canada ought to take leadership on nuclear abolition. Closer to home, the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade has been charged with reviewing Canada’s nuclear policy and will be making recommendations to the Government in the very near future. We hope that our suggestions will be included in their report.

We are not alone in our concerns and our request. The International Court of Justice has ruled in July 1996 that states have an obligation to conclude negotiations leading to complete nuclear disarmament. Separate statements by 55 retired military leaders and by 116 international civilian leaders call for steps leading to the eventual elimination of nuclear weapons. According to a March 1998 poll by the Angus Reid Group, 93% of Canadian support Canada’s involvement in negotiations to abolish nuclear weapons.

We assure you of our prayers and support as you take further positive steps.

Sincerely,

Dr. Helmut Harder
General Secretary, Mennonite Church Canada

Dr. Robert J. Suderman
Executive Secretary, Resources Commission

Jeremy Bergen
Director, Peace and Justice Ministries

cc. Members, Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Mennonite Central Committee Canada, (Ottawa Office)