Mr. Speaker, I welcome the opportunity to respond to the hon. member for Davenport on the subject of Canada's position on nuclear testing.
I can assure the hon. member that today, November 21, 1995, Canada's position on nuclear testing rests on a bedrock of Canadian tradition in support of a comprehensive test ban treaty. On this issue, as the hon. member said, our position has been consistent and clear. It remains unchanged to this day: no testing by any nuclear weapons state.
The government has repeatedly stated Canada's deep commitment to the early conclusion of a comprehensive test ban treaty. Such a treaty should prohibit all nuclear testing regardless of size, in all environments for all time. For Canada, this remains our most important and immediate arms control and disarmament priority.
Last week, in the first committee of the United Nations General Assembly, Canada voted in favour of a resolution strongly deploring nuclear testing. Canada was also a lead co-sponsor of the resolution which calls for the early completion of an effective CTBT. Together these resolutions represent Canada's firm position on testing.
Canada played a leading role in securing the indefinite extension of the treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons last May. The indefinite extension of the NPT provides the foundation for real disarmament.
Among the decisions agreed by all the countries of the NPT review conference, was the need to complete a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty no later than 1996.
Canadian actions since then have been calibrated to ensure that everything possible is done to meet the commitments taken in May and to reinforce the integrity of the non-proliferation treaty.
Canada's active role in the CTBT negotiations in Geneva and our efforts to develop the necessary political support for the early conclusion of the CTBT within multilateral fora such as the OAS and the recent Commonwealth heads of government meeting have been buttressed by the welcomed announcements made by the U.S.A., U.K. and France that they support a zero threshold comprehensive test ban treaty. A zero threshold CTBT would ban all tests for all time.
We believe that these public affirmations by three of the five nuclear weapon states will greatly assist the negotiations in reaching an early and successful conclusion to the CTBT.
In conclusion, let me repeat yet again that Canada's position on nuclear testing is clear and firm. We oppose all testing and remain committed to a CTBT in 1996.