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Canada

Canada signed and ratified the Convention on 3 December 1997, with the Convention entered into force for Canada on 1 March 1999.

Obligations under the Convention

Notwithstanding the obligation to destroy all stockpiled anti-personnel mines, the Convention permits the retention of the minimum number of anti-personnel mines absolutely necessary for the development of and training in mine detection, mine clearance, or mine destruction techniques.

As of 2020, Canada reported having retained 1,649 anti-personnel mines for these permitted purposes.  Canada retains live anti-personnel mines to study the effect of blast on equipment, to train soldiers on procedures to defuse live anti-personnel mines and to demonstrate the effect of landmines. For example, live mines help determine whether suits, boots and shields will adequately protect personnel who clear mines. The live mines are used by the Defence department’s research establishment located at Suffield, Alberta and by various military training establishments across Canada

In its initial transparency report submitted on 27 August 1999, Canada reported that it had completed the destruction of all stockpiled anti-personnel mines in 1997.

In total, Canada reported having destroyed 92,551 mines.

Canada has not reported any areas under its jurisdiction or control in which anti-personnel mines are known or suspected to be emplaced.

Article 6 of the Convention indicates that “Each State Party in a position to do so shall provide assistance for mine clearance and related activities […], the care and rehabilitation, and social and economic reintegration, of mine victims and for mine awareness programs […], the destruction of stockpiled anti-personnel mines, […] with a view to ensuring the full and prompt implementation of agreed assistance programs.”

In this regard Canada routinely engages in such cooperation and assistance. The latest statement on Article 6 for this State Party can be found on this page.

Annually and no later than 30 April, each State Party is to update information covering the previous calendar year. The latest Article 7 reports for this State Party can be found on this page.

Each State Party is to take all appropriate legal, administrative and other measures, including the imposition of penal sanctions, to prevent and suppress any activity prohibited to a State Party under this Convention undertaken by persons or on territory under its jurisdiction or control.

Canada reported having established national implementation measures or that it considers existing legislation to be sufficient. 

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