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Canada’s bomb policy reeks of hypocrisy

Imagine a child unwittingly picking an unexploded part of a cluster bomb. It explodes, leaving the child maimed, bleeding, in pain, or dead.

Imagine a child unwittingly picking up a “bomblet” – an unexploded part of a cluster bomb. It explodes, leaving the child maimed, bleeding, in agonizing pain, or dead.

Cluster bombs are explicitly designed to do this. For any parent, grandparent – or anyone who has ever loved a child – to visualize this scenario is appalling.

Of cluster bomb victims, 98 per cent are civilians, and most of these civilians are children.

Many countries have signed a treaty outlawing cluster bombs. (The USA, Russia and China produce and stockpile cluster bombs; they reject this treaty.)

Canada has signed the treaty. But Canada’s ratifying legislation (Bill S-10) is so watered down that it actually helps non-signatory countries use these bombs.

Canada’s treaty negotiator says: “….this legislation is the worst of any of the 111 countries that have so far ratified this treaty.”

Instead of rejecting these horrendous weapons, Canada will indirectly support their use. Ironically, Canada has never used these weapons. Why now become complicit in their use?

Bill S-10 allows non-signatory countries (e.g. the USA) to transport weapons through our territory, allows investments in companies producing weapons, and allows Canadian pilots to drop cluster bombs while assisting non-signatory countries.

Internationally Canada’s stance will be seen as pure hypocrisy.

The Harper government knows what it’s doing. While the children they love play in bomblet-free parks, these legislators are creating a toothless law that supports crippling and maiming children elsewhere.

The House of Commons is no safe haven. A legislator who supports Bill S-10 is personally responsible for any child torn apart by a cluster bomblet as a result of this intentionally insipid legislation. It will be the same as if they had placed it with their own hands.

The only morally acceptable position vis-à-vis cluster bombs is to rid them from this world.

 

Joanna Bell