Madam Speaker, the hon. member for Notre-Dame-de-Grâce is to be congratulated for his work nationally and with international organizations in bringing about security and stability to this planet.
A few weeks ago the 176 member nations of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, or the NPT, together took a historic decision to extend the life of this key international treaty indefinitely, which is unquestionably the most important international arms control agreement in existence.
The indefinite and unconditional extension of the NPT was a key Canadian objective. This treaty is vitally important to Canada for three essential reasons. First, the NPT establishes a barrier to the further proliferation of nuclear weapons. This is the treaty's most fundamental purpose and its most outstanding success. Canada and the world are more secure as a result.
Second, the treaty commits all states to work toward disarmament, including nuclear disarmament. Our long term goal is the complete elimination of nuclear weapons.
Third, the treaty provides the framework for the peaceful uses of nuclear energy by establishing a system of effective international safeguards. Our exports of nuclear technology under safeguard agreements have helped to sustain an industry that employs 20,000 Canadians directly and 10,000 Canadians indirectly.
Canada played a leading role at the NPT review and extension conference by marshalling the support of over 100 countries from all regions of the world for a resolution to indefinitely extend the treaty.
With the continued existence of the NPT no longer in question we have laid down the basis for long term security and stability, the essential elements necessary for further reductions in global nuclear inventories.
We have now turned the corner. The cold war is over and we are on the road to a world with fewer and fewer nuclear weapons. We have a long way to go, but we are on the right track. Without the NPT the world would be a much more dangerous place and Canadians would be much less secure.
We can be justly proud of the key role Canada played in securing the benefits of the NPT now and for future generations to come.