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e-3777 (Foreign affairs)

E-petition
Initiated by Henry Evans-Tenbrinke from Hamilton, Ontario

Original language of petition: English

Petition to the Government of Canada

Whereas:
  • AUKUS, the military pact including Australia, the UK, and the USA, in which the USA will sell nuclear submarines and other military technology to Australia, violates the UN’s Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty by spreading nuclear weapons technology to, and raising military tensions in, the Asia-Pacific region;
  • The Maritime Union of Australia and the Electrical Trades Union, representing over 76,000 workers, objected to AUKUS, stating respectively, “The secret pact unnecessarily escalates conflict with China” and “will require significant offshore maintenance, undermining Australia’s sovereign capability”;
  • The Australian Green Party recently declared it would “not proceed with the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine deal” and would "pour the money saved from defence spending back into the community”; and
  • Two former Australian prime ministers, Kevin Rudd and Paul Keating, respectively slammed AUKUS as a “foreign policy and national security debacle" which may make "Australia [...] even more dependent on the United States”.
We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to not only refuse any participation in the AUKUS pact but also to strongly condemn AUKUS as a breach of the UN’s Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and a dangerous escalation of military tensions with the People's Republic of China and in the Asia-Pacific region.

Response by the Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada

Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Rob Oliphant

Canada remains steadfast in our work with our regional and global partners to enhance the security of the Indo-Pacific region, to support the rules-based international order, and in our goal of advancing the implementation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

As detailed in the Indo-Pacific Strategy, Canada is committed to taking action to preserve our collective interests in the Indo-Pacific, which is experiencing challenges to the rules-based order which has underpinned 70 years of peace and stability. As such, Canada views AUKUS as complementary to our interests in the region.

Canada is confident in the ability and authority of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to work with AUKUS partners to develop and implement relevant safeguards measures for the cooperation envisioned under the agreement.

Canada will continue our long tradition of collaboration with likeminded partners to enhance the security and stability of the Indo-Pacific Region.

Open for signature
January 24, 2022, at 11:51 a.m. (EDT)
Closed for signature
May 24, 2022, at 11:51 a.m. (EDT)
Presented to the House of Commons
Matthew Green (Hamilton Centre)
February 15, 2023 (Petition No. 441-01146)
Government response tabled
March 31, 2023
Photo - Matthew Green
Hamilton Centre
New Democratic Party Caucus
Ontario