CNANW

Letter to PM Carney: Canada should convene a meeting of Stockholm Initiative and NPDI members

The Right Honourable Mark Carney                                       February 27, 2026
Prime Minister of Canada
80 Wellington St.
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2

c.c. The Hon. Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs
c.c. The Hon. David McGuinty, Minister of National Defence

Dear Prime Minister,

The purpose of this letter is to propose that Canada convene a meeting of member states of the Stockholm Initiative on Nuclear Disarmament (SIND) and the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative (NPDI), in preparation for the 2026 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference.

Background

As you know, the NPT entered into force in 1970, enjoys almost universal adherence with 190 states parties and is widely considered to be the central pillar of the nuclear arms control and disarmament architecture. The 11^th Review Conference of the Treaty will be held in New York from April 27 to May 22 this year.

Regrettably, nuclear weapons states (NWS) that are party to the Treaty have failed to fulfil Article VI of the NPT that commits states parties to “pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to the cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament, and on a treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control”.  Indeed, all nine nuclear weapons states are modernizing and expanding their nuclear arsenals and there is evidence that the world may be entering a new period of nuclear weapons proliferation.

It is critically important that NPT States Parties come together at the Review Conference to delineate and commit to action that will reverse the nuclear arms race and lead to the eventual elimination of nuclear weapons.

As a NATO member state, Canada is party to NATO’s nuclear security doctrine. Even so, for the fifty-six years that the Treaty has been in force, successive Canadian governments have pressed NPT nuclear armed states to act on their legally binding obligation to disarm. In recent years, Canada has been an active member of the Stockholm Initiative for Nuclear Disarmament and the Non-proliferation and Disarmament Initiative which, between them, involve twenty-two non-nuclear armed states, most of them ‘middle powers’.

A Proposal

Your recent historic speech in Davos noted the potential of middle powers with shared values to strengthen the rules-based international order and to advance peace and security throughout the world.

To this end, the Canadian Network to Abolish Nuclear Weapons proposes that the Government of Canada host a meeting of members of the SIND and NPDI in advance of the NPT Review Conference to develop strategy to make the Conference itself as successful as possible, and to plan for the longer term.

As noted by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists when they recently advanced the hands of the metaphorical Doomsday Clock to 85 seconds to Midnight, the stakes for humanity have never been higher.

Our warm thanks to you and your colleagues for your kind consideration of this proposal.

Sincerely,

Earl Turcotte, Chairperson, Canadian Network to Abolish Nuclear Weapons
Peggy Mason, President, Rideau Institute
Cesar Jaramillo, Chairperson, Canadian Pugwash Group
Dr. Jorge Filmus, President, Science for Peace
Dr. Paul Heidebrecht, Director, Project Ploughshares
Dr. Edward (Ted) Jackson, Chairperson, the Group of 78
Dr. Erika Simpson, President, Canadian Peace Research Association
Dr. John Guilfoyle, President, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (Canada)
Rosemary Keenan, Chairperson, Hiroshima – Nagasaki Day Coalition
Keith Wyton, President, Peace Train Canada
Dr. Richard Denton, Friends of Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention

Turcotte: Canada Can Do Better than More Defence Dollars and Golden Dome

“Canada Can Do Better than More Defence Dollars and Golden Dome” in The Hill TIme Feb 11, 2026

ND4 Letter to Prime Minister Carney: Appeal for Action toward Nuclear Abolition

The ND4 are four prominent Canadian nuclear weapons abolition groups: Canadian Network to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, Canadian Pugwash Group, Canadian Leadership for Nuclear Disarmament, and Project Ploughshares.

November. 18, 2025

The Right Honourable Mark Carney
Prime Minister
House of Commons
Ottawa, Canada

Dear Prime Minister Carney,

RE:  Appeal for Action toward Nuclear Abolition

We are a group of nineteen Canadian NGOs active in the field of international security and disarmament.  Having just concluded a roundtable in Ottawa on October 23 under the title “Advancing Nuclear Disarmament in a Chaotic World”, we wanted to share with your government some of the prominent themes and proposals for action that emerged from the discussion.

No one would dispute that we are experiencing a turbulent time in international affairs with long standing norms for responsible state behaviour being eroded and, in some cases, openly flouted. A dangerous arms race dynamic is underway amongst rival powers and the norm of nuclear non-proliferation is under great stress. The proponents of nuclear weapons are ascendent and the supporters of nuclear restraint and disarmament are struggling to have their voice heard.

It is all the more crucial therefore during this period of great power competition for middle powers such as Canada to exert a moderating influence and work to reinforce the multilateral system and the rule of law. The following are a few proposals for Canada to consider championing as we collectively navigate the treacherous waters ahead.

A key near term goal is to help ensure a successful eleventh review conference of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) which will be held in April/May of next year. The NPT has often been described as the “cornerstone” of the global nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament regime. After two consecutive review conferences have failed to agree outcome documents (2015 and 2022) much is at stake for demonstrating a significant collective result from the gathering next spring. Canada in concert with the Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament Initiative (NPDI), a grouping of non-nuclear weapon states, has pressed for an enhanced transparency and accountability procedure to be applied to the nuclear weapon states’ obligation to nuclear disarmament under Article VI of the treaty. The five nuclear weapon states have consistently ignored this proposal. The vast majority of NPT members cannot allow their rightful demand for accountability to be brushed aside again. We suggest that Canada in concert with like-minded states make acceptance of the transparency and accountability plan a sine qua non for agreeing to any outcome document from the review conference.

Within NATO we would encourage the government to promote the adoption by the Alliance of a “No First Use” doctrine. Such a policy adjustment would sharply restrict any consideration of use of nuclear weapons if the Alliance was attacked. Given its massive conventional military superiority NATO must avoid threatening a nuclear response to non-nuclear attacks against its members. By curtailing the scope of its nuclear deterrent, the Alliance would be fulfilling the NPT obligation from the 2000 review conference to reduce the saliency of nuclear weapons in security policies and help stem the pressure on the crucial norm of nuclear non-proliferation that current actions (e.g. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine) have created.

A treaty covering the fissile material essential for nuclear weapons has been an agreed objective of the international community for decades, but to date no actual negotiations have been initiated. This has been a result of the treaty being traditionally assigned to the 65 nation Conference on Disarmament in Geneva. The CD however is a moribund forum not having been able to agree and implement a program of work for over a quarter of a century. Canada has had a proud history as a leader in the effort to conclude a treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons. It is time however for Canada alongside other friends of the treaty to delink this negotiation from the CD and seek to authorize the commencement of negotiations via a resolution of the UN General Assembly that would not be subject to a veto.

President Trump in January of this year announced an ambitious “Golden Dome” project that would ostensibly protect the United States from all types of missiles from all corners of the globe. In our view, “Golden Dome” in its strategic ballistic missile defence aspect is a seriously problematic proposal. On the grounds of feasibility, effectiveness, cost and the risk of incentivizing a nuclear arms race the scheme should be dismissed. Moreover, its planned deployment of space-based interceptors would also obliterate the non-weaponization of outer space a long-standing position of successive Canadian governments. We urge the government to continue only with the existing plans for NORAD modernization in cooperation with the United States and stay well clear of the more fanciful aspects of the project which would represent a financial “black hole” for our limited defence resources.

Finally, we would like to encourage the government to remain active in efforts to reform the UN’s disarmament machinery. The abuse of the consensus rule has led to the wishes of the vast majority of member states being stymied by the opposition of a few. The trend of the General Assembly to adopt ever more declaratory resolutions, despite their repetitive nature, rather than authorize relevant action needs to be curbed. We applaud the calls for reform contained in the Canadian statement to UNGA’s First Committee on Disarmament and International Security and offer the government our support in carrying these reform efforts forward.

We convey the above suggestions for priority action as part of Canada’s foreign and security policy with respect and in anticipation of receiving your reaction to them. We remain at the disposal of your ministers and officials for further discussion of these ideas.

Sincerely yours,

Earl Turcotte, Chairperson, Canadian Network to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (a group of 18 national and regional organizations)
Cesar Jaramillo, Chairperson, Canadian Pugwash Group
Alex Neve O.C., Chairperson, Canadian Leadership for Nuclear Disarmament
Branka Marijan, Interim Executive Director, Project Ploughshares

UPCOMING CNANW and related October 2025 events in Ottawa

Thursday October 23, 4:00 to 6:00 PM
Award presentation to Hon. Douglas Roche, O.C.
by Canadian Leadership for Nuclear Disarmament (CLND)
for Distinguished Service in Nuclear Disarmament
followed by Mr. Roche’s Lecture entitled “Creative Dissent: A Politicians’ Struggle for Peace”
This is a public event with registration required using this link.

Friday, October 24 from 9:30 AM to 5:15 PM 
Conference on “Canadian Security Interests and Trump 2.0”
Co-sponsored by Canadian Pugwash Group (CPG) and University of Ottawa Centre for
International Policy Studies (CIPS)
This is a public event with registration required using this link.

Saturday October 25
8:45 AM to 10:15 AM: CNANW Annual meeting
Participants:  Members of CNANW member groups
Location:  Brittany Salon, Cartier Place Hotel.
Registration required (link)

10:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Canadian Pugwash Group (CPG) AGM
Participants: CPG Members
Location: Brittany Salon, Cartier Place Hotel
Registration required (link)

12:00 – 1:00 PM:  Lunch
Location: Alembic Restaurant, Cartier Place Hotel
Participants:  everyone at CNANW/CPG meetings
Registration required (link)

1:00 PM – 3:45 PM CNANW/CPG Nuclear Disarmament Advocacy Forum
This year’s theme “Effective Advocacy for Nuclear Disarmament: Understanding Your Adversary” is intended to strengthen capacity to advocate in support of nuclear disarmament; in particular, understanding and making the most effective case against the doctrine of nuclear deterrence.
Contributors:  Mr. Guy Roberts (recorded), former official with NATO and the US Defence Department on nuclear weapons policies,
three Ambassadors to Canada or their representatives, and Mr. Alex Neve OC, Chairperson, Canadian Leadership for Nuclear Disarmament
Location:  Brittany Salon, Cartier Place Hotel
Public event for those who register in advance.
Registration required (link)

4:00 – 5:00 PM:  CPG Board Meeting
Location:  Brittany Salon, Cartier Place Hotel
Participants:  CPG Board Members
We do hope to see you in Ottawa in October for what promises to be an informative and
stimulating series of events. Safe travels to all!

The Douglas Roche Common Security Project: Invitation to a Youth Competition

If you are a 4th year undergraduate and/or graduate Canadian university student, this invite is for you.

The Canadian Network to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (CNANW) in partnership with Canadian Pugwash Group are pleased to invite you to a youth competition to award three bursaries in the amount of $2,500 each for the production of an essay and/or video. The outcome is to explore the move from a world where some nations possess and rely upon nuclear weapons, to a global security paradigm based upon a Common Security framework, without nuclear weapons.  

You will find here the application letter with all the details: CNANW 2025 Douglas Roche Common Security Project – Application October 2025

The dates to remember are as follows:

The deadline for submission is December 1, 2025, 12:00 pm ET.

The selection committee aim to announce the three successful candidates on January 1, 2026, 12:00 pm ET.

The three selected participants will have four months, to 1 May 2026, to present their completed project. 

For any additional information, please contact Dr. Sylvie Lemieux, CNANW Steering Committee member and Board member of Group of 78, at slemieux3599@rogers.com  or Dr. Arnd Jurgensen, CNANW Steering Committee member and Board member of Science for Peace at ajurgensen@sympatico.ca.

We are looking forward to your application.

Regards,

The Douglas Roche Common Security Project Committee