Today, Monday March 3, Elizabeth May, MP for Saanich–Gulf Islands and Co-Leader of the Green Party of Canada, is in New York at the United Nations headquarters for the third meeting of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. She travelled to New York by train with 12 members of Peace Train Canada and singer-songwriter Christophe Elie. Elizabeth is not attending as a representative of Canada’s government, but as part of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) Parliamentarians for the TPNW.
Canada is not a signatory to the Treaty, which calls for the comprehensive prohibition of nuclear weapons, and will not be sending an official delegation. Elizabeth believes this is unfortunate as nuclear weapons pose an increasingly existential threat to humanity.
Having a dozen people from Peace Train Canada shows solidarity towards the quest of eliminating nuclear weapons. “It’s been a while since we’ve seen a grassroots peace movement in Canada. We need more solidarity networks like that.”
Below is the letter Elizabeth wrote to the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau on February 26 calling for Canada to sign the treaty before he leaves his role as Prime Minister.
The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister of Canada
February 26, 2025
Re: Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
Dear Prime Minister,
I write with a sense of urgency to call on your government to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons before you leave office as Prime Minister.
Nuclear weapons pose an existential threat to global peace and security, the environment and all of humanity. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, China’s threats to Taiwan – these situations show that our world is becoming increasingly unstable. The threat of nuclear weapons being used once again is becoming more real every day.
The TPNW is the only internationally recognized multilateral disarmament framework that can achieve nuclear disarmament. Although Canada does not possess nuclear weapons of our own, engaging with the TPNW is Canada’s opportunity to be a global leader in moving disarmament forward by influencing our allies with our decisions. Your legacy as Prime Minister and global disarmament movement would both be significantly bolstered by you taking this brave stance before ending your term.
I will be attending the United Nations in New York for the third Meeting of States Parties to the TPNW on March 3. I invite you to join me at the meeting, or send a delegation, and commit Canada to signing onto the TPNW. At the least, Canada must become an observer state to the treaty like Germany and Norway. We cannot afford to sit on the sidelines any longer.
Thank you. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth May, O.C.
Member of Parliament
Saanich-Gulf Islands
Co-Leader of the Green Party of Canada