Canada
Support for Mine Action
In 2014, Canada contributed C$8,462,841 (US$7,663,534)[1] to mine action projects in seven countries. This represents a 4% decrease from its 2013 contribution, and a decrease of more than C$22.5 million (US$22.5 million) compared to 2010.
The largest contributions went to Ukraine and Iraq—representing 52% of Canada’s total funding.
Between 2010 and 2012, Cambodia was one of the main recipients of Canada’s support to mine action (with a combined total of $6.2 million). However, in 2013 Canada did not provide any funding to Cambodia, and in 2014 just more than $600,000 was granted to HALO Trust to conduct clearance. Due to the significant drop in Canadian funding, the Cambodian Mine Action Centre had to reduce its capacity by 300 deminers, slowing down the pace of demining work.[2]
Canadian mine action funding to Afghanistan was discontinued in 2012, although in previous years it was a major recipient of Canada’s mine action support with US$11.3 million in 2010 and US$5 million in 201—representing respectively 60% and 30% of Canada’s total contribution.
In May 2015, Canada announced that it would provide additional funding to support development and stabilization initiatives in Iraq, including C$2 million (about US$1.7 million) to address the threat posed by explosive remnants of war.[3]
Contributions by recipient: 2014[4]
|
Recipient |
Sector |
Amount (C$) |
Amount ($) |
|
Ukraine |
Capacity-building |
2,932,200 |
2,655,257 |
|
Iraq |
Capacity-building |
1,458,978 |
1,321,179 |
|
Lao PDR |
Clearance and victim assistance |
1,160,632 |
1,051,011 |
|
Colombia |
Victim assistance |
1,108,834 |
1,004,106 |
|
Vietnam |
Clearance |
1,009,961 |
914,571 |
|
Cambodia |
Clearance |
692,236 |
626,855 |
|
Croatia |
Clearance |
100,000 |
90,555 |
|
Total |
|
8,462,841 |
7,663,534 |
From 1999 to 2011, Canada had been one of the top 10 mine action donors each year, which has not been the case since 2012 as a result of Canada’s declining support to mine action.
From 2010–2014, Canada’s support to mine action totaled C$71.3 million ($69.6 million), with contributions fluctuating greatly from C$31 million ($30.1 million) in 2010 to C$8.5 million ($7.7 million) in 2014.
Summary of contributions: 2010–2014[5]
|
Year |
Amount (C$) |
Amount ($) |
% change from previous year ($) |
|
2014 |
8,462,841 |
7,663,534 |
-4 |
|
2013 |
8,181,468 |
7,943,173 |
17 |
|
2012 |
6,762,110 |
6,765,493 |
-60 |
|
2011 |
16,873,468 |
17,066,317 |
-43 |
|
2010 |
31,037,693 |
30,139,535 |
61 |
|
Total |
71,317,580 |
69,578,052 |
N/A |
Note: N/A = not applicable
[1] Average exchange rate for 2014: C$1.1043=US$1. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 2 January 2015.
[2] Mark MacKinnon, “Harper’s world: Canada’s new role on the Global Stage,” The Globe and Mail, 28 September 2015.
[3] Prime Minister of Canada, “Canada support additional development and stabilization initiatives in Iraq,” 2 May 2015. Exchange rate for 4 May 2015: C$1.2108=US$1. US Federal Reserve, “Foreign Exchange Rates (weekly),” 11 May 2015.
[4] Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, 30 April 2015.
[5] See previous Monitor reports.