November 1st, 2022
Letter to Ministers Freeland, Joly, and Sajjan regarding Canada’s support for mine action in Ukraine
November 1, 2022
The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, PC, MP
Deputy Prime Minister of Canada
c/o Department of Finance, Office of the Minister
90 Elgin St.
Ottawa, ON K1A 0G5
The Honourable Mélanie Joly, PC, MP
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Global Affairs Canada
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, ON K1A 0G2
The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, PC, MP
Minister of International Development
Global Affairs Canada
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, ON K1A OG2
Dear Ministers,
We are writing to you today regarding Canada’s support for mine action in Ukraine. As you know, due to Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine, the scale of mine contamination is expected to be vast and deadly. Canada should be prepared to support Ukraine in the long term with consistent multi-year funding for demining action.
Last week, MP Heather McPherson had the honour of co-sponsoring a Parliamentary reception for demining organizations. In their presentation to members of all parties, these organizations highlighted the heartbreaking realities faced by the Ukrainian people because of the use of landmines and other ordinances by troops of the Russian Federation.
Halo Trust, an international partner of Mines Action Canada, records that since 2014, there have been 2,000 casualties in eastern Ukraine due to landmines and unexploded ordinances. While many of these landmines were planted since 2014, some of these unexploded ordinances date back to the Second World War. Russia’s recent illegal invasion has only added to the problem of contamination of munitions, as new areas have been contaminated, with shelling adding to the problem of unexploded ordinances. As of June 2022, Human Rights Watch documented the use of at least seven types of antipersonnel mines by Russian forces in at least four regions of Ukraine: Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kyiv, and Sumy.
Agricultural land in Ukraine appears to be especially highly contaminated, resulting in a lost harvest and many casualties among agricultural workers. The Government of Ukraine estimates that 10% of all farmland is now contaminated with unexploded material. Ukraine is known as the breadbasket of Europe – and global food security is at risk due to this contamination of agricultural land.
The New Democratic Party strongly supports the following recommendations to the Government of Canada:
• Increase multi-year funding for mine action in Ukraine, including risk education, clearance and victim assistance;
• Provide support to Ukraine to finish destroying their stockpiled landmines;
• Forcefully condemn the use of landmines by Russian forces at every opportunity;
• Coordinate with allies to support mine action in Ukraine and lead a global campaign to clear the land;
• Ensure funding for Ukraine is new funding and not taken from existing international development priorities or projects.
Ministers, as you know, most landmine casualties are civilians, including children, and landmines often serve as lethal barriers to development for years or decades after a conflict. Globally, there were at least 7,073 casualties from landmines in 2020.
Mine action will be foundational to reconstruction and rebuilding in Ukraine. It will save lives today and for decades to come.
Canada can and must do more to help with demining efforts.
We look forward to working with you on this essential project.
Sincerely,
The Hon. Jagmeet Singh, MP
Leader of the New Democratic Party
Burnaby South
Heather McPherson, MP
Foreign Affairs Critic
International Development Critic
Edmonton Strathcona
Alexandre Boulerice, MP
Deputy Leader, New Democratic Party
Rosemont – La-Petite-Patrie
Alistair MacGregor, MP
Agriculture and Food Critic
Cowichan – Malahat – Langford
Charlie Angus, MP
Timmins – James Bay
Rachel Blaney, MP
North Island – Powell River
Taylor Bachrach, MP
Skeena – Bulkley Valley
Lisa Marie Barron, MP
Nanaimo – Ladysmith
Richard Cannings, MP
South Okanagan – West Kootenay
Laurel Collins, MP
Victoria
Bonita Zarrillo, MP
Port Moody – Coquitlam
Blake Desjarlais, MP
Edmonton – Griesbach
Randall Garrison, MP
Esquimalt – Saanich – Sooke
Leah Gazan, MP
Winnipeg Centre
Matthew Green, MP
Hamilton Centre
Carol Hughes, MP
Algoma – Manitoulin - Kapuskasing
Lori Idlout, MP
Nunavut
Gord Johns, MP
Courtenay – Alberni
Peter Julian, MP
New Westminster – Burnaby
Jenny Kwan, MP
Vancouver East
Brian Masse, MP
Windsor West
Lindsay Mathyssen, MP
London – Fanshawe
Daniel Blaikie, MP
Elmwood – Transcona