https://declassified.library.utoronto.ca/files/original/34e462b0bfab591fd2d0fa809df22bb9.pdf 22c312cac1549c50faf68f4d997851b7 PDF Text Text Access to ,n rmation Act D. L. (1)/D .H^i'I^M^b 5 a e A1l ev enrdteurdthe f° e la ioi sur racc s a l n rmation O/USSEA/H .^KB^n's'o'te^a c c : SSEA USSEA Parl.Secty, P&L * '' f° CONFIDENTIAL September 2 1 , 1964 a/-//-/ MEMORANDUM FOR THE MINISTER Parliamentary Questions Future of Canada's Nuclear Role Attached for your consideration is a draft statement which you might wish to use in dealing with the series of questions by Mr. Churchill, Mr. Douglas and others on whether the Government is taking action to "negotiate out" of Canada's nuclear role. The most recent exchange on this, you will recall, took place when you took notice of Mr. Churchill's last question on the subject. 2. I also attach the copy which Mr. Hellyer sent you of his letter to the Prime Minister on this subject. I assume that if you think something along the lines of this text might meet the Government's requirements in the House, you will wish to show it to the Prime Minister and Mr. Hellyer. When that stage is reached, I think it might be wise for departmental officials to show the text to their opposite numbers in National Defence. -<£f Qrhi^.'y"j' M. C. 000704 �D D (l)/D,H.W.Kirkwood/ae c!c!: SSEA USSEA Press & Liaison Parliamentary Sec Document disclosed under the Access to Information Act Document divulgue en vertu de la Loi sur I'acces a I'informati September 2 1 , 196** ANSWER BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS TO A PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION The Future of panada* g Nuclear Role Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister and other members of this Government, both before and aln.ce taking office, have made very clear their position concerning nuclear weapons. We considered It necessary that Canada fulfil the commitments which it had undertaken with respect to four weapons systems— the Bomarc, the Voodoo, the CFVIO1* and the Honest John—acquired by the previous Government. We have taken the action necessary to this end. At the same time, we made It clear that Canada's defence policy should be reviewed in order to determine how we can make our most effective military contribution to the prevention of war and the preservation of peace. In this connection we reaffirmed the policy of previous Governments that Canada should not itself become a nuclear power through the manufacture of nuclear weapons or by having national control over nuclear weapons. We also Indicated that we would not expect an expansion of Canada's nuclear role, and that some diminution of that role might be anticipated. The results of our review of defence policy are embodied in the Defence White Paper of last March. The objectives which we are pursuing are clearly set out in that document, and guide not only the Government's planning of Canada's defence 1 « .2 000705 �Document disclosed under the Access to Information Act Document divulgue en vertu de la Loi sur I'acces a I'information - 2 - arrangements but our consultations with our allies concerning defence matters. These natters have also been discussed in the Parliamentary Committee on Defence. Canada, as a member of NATO, has a responsibility to co-operate with its allies in Implementing the most effective defence arrangements for the area covered by the Treaty including north America. In this objective we cannot in good conscience Ignore commitments undertaken for Canada before we came into office* Those commitments involved expensive weapons systems, whose acquisition could be justified economically only if retained in operational service over a number of years. What ve must do is to ensure that, as changes In weapons systems become possible, the roles accepted for Canada are the best possible in terms both of the needs of the alliance and of the distinctive interests and capabilities of Canada. This we are doing* This Government, for example, has introduced changes in the role of the Air Division committed to NATO in Europe. Arrangements have been made to equip the CF-IO^ squadrons to deliver conventional as well as nuclear bombs. In this way Canada Is helping to increase the range of choice available to Saceur In his response to possible attack, thus reducing the requirement to respond with nuclear weapons or nothing. As the Hon. Member for Winnipeg South Centre is undoubtedly aware, consultations on these matters with allied governments are continuous. If and when there are any changes in policyi they will be announced in the usual way. 000706 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context CDNW18120 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived "Defence - Conventional and Nuclear Armaments - Nuclear Weapons Policy,” RG25-A-3-c, File number: 27-11-1, File part: 1, Library and Archives Canada (LAC) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource LAC ATIP A-2017-00249 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Crown Copyright Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Canada Declassified Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource ENG