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441-01718 (National defence and military operations)
PETITION TO THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA
Whereas:
- Governments and companies are rapidly developing weapons systems with increasing autonomy using new technology and artificial intelligence;
- There are serious humanitarian, legal, military, technical, and ethical concerns about autonomous weapons systems that detect and apply force to a target based on sensor inputs, rather than an immediate human command. In these systems the specific object to be attacked, and the exact time and place of the attack, are determined by sensor processing, not by humans; and
- There is growing consensus internationally that new international law is needed to address the concerns surrounding autonomous weapons systems.
We, the undersigned, residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to:
- Prohibit the domestic development, importation and use of autonomous weapon systems that do not allow for meaningful human control;
- Develop national regulations so that other autonomous weapon systems will be used only with meaningful human control; and
- Take an active leadership role in international negotiations to prohibit autonomous weapons systems through new international law under the auspices of the United Nations General Assembly or another inclusive multilateral forum.
Response by the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Rob Oliphant
Canada has been an active participant and supporter of the Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) on Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (LAWS) within the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW). Through this multilateral forum, Canada has advanced a number of key priorities and interests, such as the importance of compliance with international humanitarian law at all stages of a weapon system’s lifecycle, the need to address the risk of inherent biases in autonomous systems, and the importance of meaningful human control. In November 2023, the CCW will consider a new mandate for the GGE on LAWS, and Canada looks forward to continuing the work in this important forum. It is our aspiration that the new mandate focus on results and outcomes that build on the previous substance discussed in the GGE.
Beyond the GGE on LAWS, Canada was pleased to support the new United Nations General Assembly resolution on LAWS, which will task the United Nations Secretary General with gathering views to compose a report and to have LAWS added as an agenda item at next year’s UNGA. The subject of autonomy in weapon systems was also referenced by the UN Secretary General in the New Agenda for Peace, calling for the conclusion of a legally binding instrument by 2026. Canada takes note of this recommendation, and additional regional efforts being conducted to advance discussions on LAWS.
The world is changing at a rapid pace, and there is a need to ensure that the speed of technological advancements in weapon systems does not outpace the speed of balanced policy development. Canada will continue to engage with all stakeholders, including civil society, academia and industry, to ensure a thorough understanding of the challenges and issues at play.
- Presented to the House of Commons
-
Elizabeth May
(Saanich—Gulf Islands)
October 4, 2023 (Petition No. 441-01718) - Government response tabled
- November 20, 2023
Only validated signatures are counted towards the total number of signatures.