Canada

Support for Mine Action

Last updated: 17 November 2022

In 2021, Canada contributed C$20.4 million (US$16.3 million) to mine action projects in seven countries and one other area, as well as to global activities.[1] Canada’s mine action funding in 2021 doubled compared to 2020.

As in 2020, the majority of its contribution went to clearance and risk education activities, representing 80% of Canada’s total funding (C$16.2 million/US$12.9 million). No funding specifically allocated to victim assistance projects was reported in 2021 or 2020.

Contributions by recipient: 2021[2]

Recipient	Sector	Amount (C$)	Amount (US$)
Iraq	Clearance and risk education	13,609,146	10,858,650
Global	Advocacy and capacity-building	1,804,307	1,439,645
Colombia	Clearance and risk education	1,631,294	1,301,599
Burkina Faso	Capacity-building	1,298,490	1,036,057
Ukraine	Capacity-building	1,095,000	873,693
Nagorno-Karabakh	Clearance	505,975	403,714
Sri Lanka	Clearance and risk education	378,579	302,066
Cambodia	Risk education	69,607	55,539
Lao PDR	Risk education	9,436	7,529
Total		20,401,834	16,278,492

Mine action assistance approach

Canada’s support to mine action is part of its development assistance and peace and stabilization programming.

In June 2022, Canada announced new humanitarian assistance to address emerging needs in Ukraine since the invasion by Russia on 24 February. This included C$15 million (US$11.7 million) in demining equipment and support to capacity-building, clearance, and risk education activities.[3]

In May 2022, Canada announced a C$46.5 million (US$36.2 million) contribution to support 15 projects in Chad, Iraq, Kenya, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, and Tajikistan, as well as in the Central Asia region.[4] This included mine action support, notably:

A total of C$10 million (US$7.8 million) for projects aiming to conduct clearance and risk education activities in Iraq, implemented by Tetra Tech, and to develop the capacity of Iraqi mine action operators, implemented by the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS).
Approximately C$1 million (some US$777,000) to address the impact of explosive ordnance contamination in northwest Syria through clearance and risk education activities, implemented by Syria Civil Defence (also known as the White Helmets).

Five-year support to mine action

From 2017–2021, Canada’s support to mine action totaled approximately C$71 million (US$55.7 million). In comparison, Canada provided C$54.7 million (US$46.4 million) during the previous five-year period from 2012–2016. This represents a 30% increase when expressed in national currency terms, although after conversion into United States (US) dollars this represents only a 20% increase.

Summary of contributions: 2017–2021[5]

Year	Amount (C$)	Amount (US$)	% change from previous year (US$)
2021	20,401,834	16,278,492	+94
2020	11,252,282	8,383,460	-4
2019	11,599,428	8,741,749	-23
2018	13,569,977	11,348,982	+4
2017	14,167,739	10,911,690	-18
Total	70,991,260	55,664,373	N/A

Note: N/A=not applicable.

[1] Average exchange rate for 2021: C$1.2533=US$1. United States (US) Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 3 January 2022.

[2] Canada Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report (for calendar year 2021), Form J. See, Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Database.

[3] Prime Minister of Canada, “Additional Canadian support for Ukraine announced at 2022 G7 Summit,” 28 June 2022. Average exchange rate for June 2022: C$1.2804=US$1. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Monthly),” 1 July 2022.

[4] Government of Canada, “Canada’s stabilization projects in the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia,” 11 May 2022. Average exchange rate for May 2022: C$1.2859=US$1. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Monthly),” 1 July 2022.

[5] See previous Monitor reports.