Mr. Speaker, September 26 will be the first observance of the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. The intent is to raise awareness of the more than 16,000 nuclear weapons still in existence and the urgent need for global action.
In 2008, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a five-point proposal on nuclear disarmament.
In 2010, the Conservative government supported an NDP motion endorsing the UN plan and committing to engage in negotiations for a nuclear weapons convention and to deploy a major worldwide Canadian diplomatic initiative to prevent nuclear proliferation.
A model nuclear weapons convention already exists as a UN document, and three-quarters of the states have voted to commence comprehensive negotiations. Canada should join this majority initiative.
More than 700 recipients of the Order of Canada have voiced support for the initiative.
I urge the Prime Minister to show leadership and act on this commitment.