Working Against Proliferation

CSIS collects information related to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons development programs undertaken by certain foreign governments and by terrorist organizations. With the information it gathers, CSIS develops assessments of potential WMD threats, within Canada or against Canadian interests, which are distributed to the broader security and intelligence community and to other departments and agencies of the Government of Canada.

Through exchange relationships with foreign governments and by working closely with federal government departments and agencies (including Foreign Affairs Canada, the Department of National Defence, the Canada Border Services Agency, the National Research Council, and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission), CSIS shares its knowledge about threats and emerging trends, with the aim of mitigating the threats posed by WMD.

On the broader front, Canada is party to a number of international treaties forbidding the transfer of WMD such as the 1970 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the 1972 Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention. However, these treaties have not deterred non-signatories and certain states that ignore their treaty commitments from attempting to acquire WMD materials and technology. Canada is also actively promoting the development of an effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons and other nuclear explosive devices.

Canada is also a part of several international supplier regimes and cooperation agreements designed to control the transfer of WMD technology and materials to countries of proliferation concern through the strengthening of national export control measures. These include the Australia Group (chemical and biological warfare); the Nuclear Suppliers Group, also known as the London Club (nuclear weapons and related dual-use technology); the Missile Technology Control Regime (missiles and unmanned aircraft capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction); and the Wassenaar Arrangement (transfer of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies).

Date modified: 2005-11-14

Important Notices