Mr. Speaker, Canadians have been asked to present a paper to the North Atlantic Assembly this spring raising awareness of the worldwide problem of land mines. It will highlight the growing technological gap between land mines and the methods currently available for clearing them.
With 119 million anti-personnel land mines in 71 countries all over the world, 20 are being put in place for every 1 removed. Land mines prevent the reconstruction of basic infrastructure, keeping these countries dependent on foreign aid.
Canada has one of the most advanced technologies in mine detection and removal in the world and a foreign affairs minister who has been recognized with a Nobel Peace Prize nomination for his leadership in this area.
I thank David Saint, Major Harry Burke and Lieutenant-Colonel Normand Levert at the Department of National Defence and John Evans at DRE Suffield for their enthusiastic assistance in the preparation of the report. I also thank Susan Howell and Eric Walsh in the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Canada must continue to lead the way in this subject.