Canada

Support for Mine Action

Last updated: 14 November 2023

In 2022, Canada contributed C$29.4 million (US$22.6 million) to mine action projects in six countries, one other area, and in the Sahel region, as well as to global activities.[1]

Most of Canada’s contribution went to clearance and risk education activities, representing 82% of its total funding (C$24.2 million, or US$18.6 million). Support was also provided for advocacy and capacity-building. As in 2020 and 2021, Canada did not report funding specifically allocated to victim assistance projects in 2022.

Contributions by recipient: 2022[2]

Recipient	Sector	Amount (C$)	Amount (US$)
Iraq	Clearance, risk education	19,075,947	14,658,020
Burkina Faso	Capacity-building, risk education	2,291,853	1,761,067
Sri Lanka	Clearance, risk education, capacity-building	1,728,579	1,328,246
Colombia	Clearance, risk education	1,631,294	1,253,492
Global	Capacity-building, advocacy	1,595,879	1,226,279
Sahel region	Clearance	1,225,395	941,598
Ukraine	Capacity-building, risk education	1,095,000	841,402
Nagorno-Karabakh	Clearance	505,975	388,793
Lao PDR	Capacity-building, risk education	259,436	199,351
Total	-	29,409,358	22,598,248

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 Russia’s invasion of the country 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 development 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 clearance and risk education projects in Iraq implemented by Tetra Tech, and for a project to develop the capacity of Iraqi mine action operators implemented by the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS).
Approximately C$1 million (US$780,000) to address the impact of explosive ordnance contamination in northwest Syria through clearance and risk education activities implemented by Syria Civil Defence.

Five-year support to mine action

From 2018–2022, Canada’s support to mine action totaled approximately C$86.2 million (US$67.3 million). In comparison, Canada provided C$62.2 million (US$50.6 million) during the previous five-year period from 2013–2017. This represents a 39% increase when expressed in national currency terms and a 33% increase in United States (US) dollars.

Summary of contributions: 2018–2022[5]

Year	Amount (C$)	Amount (US$)	% change from previous year (US$)
2022	29,409,358	22,598,248	+39
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
Total	86,232,879	67,350,931	N/A

Note: N/A=not applicable.

[1] Average exchange rate for 2022: C$1.3014=US$1. United States (US) Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 9 January 2023.

[2] Canada Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report (for calendar year 2022), 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 Support for Mine Action country profiles. ICBL-CMC, “Country Profiles: Canada,” undated.