Let us give meaning to our words and let us build a path to a better way of life for our nation's future, our children. Mr. Speaker, it has been estimated that there are 110 million uncleared anti-personnel land mines around the world. Each year two million to five million new mines are deployed, maiming 2,000 victims per month. Over the last 50 years land mines have probably inflicted more death and injury than nuclear and chemical weapons combined. With only 23 nations supporting a global ban on the use of anti-personnel land mines, they have become the weapon of choice in guerrilla type operations.
Land mines are indiscriminate in their action.
The United Nations has estimated that land mines are ten times more likely to kill or injure a civilian, primarily women and children, after a conflict, rather than during combat situations. Last week at a meeting of the North Atlantic Assembly I was named Special Rapporteur for the Science and Technology Committee to present a paper on anti-personnel land mines at their next session. I am very pleased to have been chosen to represent Canada in this forum and proud of Canada's lead role in the struggle to achieve a global ban on these weapons. Mr. Speaker, there is no justification for child poverty in Canada. Among all industrialized countries, only the United States has a worse record than Canada.