The Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today tabled in Parliament Canada’s annual report on the Global Partnership Program: A Tangible Canadian Contribution to Reducing the Threat of Weapons of Mass Destruction.

The report presents Canada’s successful contributions to the Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction (Global Partnership). The projects, taking place in the Russian Federation and other countries of the former Soviet Union, include chemical weapons destruction, dismantlement of nuclear powered submarines, nuclear and radiological security, redirection of former weapons scientists and biological non proliferation.

In 2002, at the Kananaskis Summit, the G8 launched the Global Partnership. The G8 and other countries are spending up to US $20 billion over 10 years to prevent the acquisition of weapons and materials of mass destruction by terrorists or those who harbour them. Canada has committed up to $1 billion over 10 years. To date, 23 countries have formerly joined the Global Partnership activities.

To download the Annual report or for more information visit www.globalpartnership.gc.ca