Canadian nuclear weapons: the untold story of Canada's cold war arsenal.John Clearwater, Dundurn Press (Toronto), 1998, 400 pp., ISBN ISBN abbr. International Standard Book Number ISBN International Standard Book Number ISBN n abbr (= International Standard Book Number) → ISBN m 1-55002-299-7, $23.99. In 1968 Canada signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty as a non-nuclear weapon state. But, like several other NATO NATO: see North Atlantic Treaty Organization. NATO in full North Atlantic Treaty Organization International military alliance created to defend western Europe against a possible Soviet invasion. members, Canada was a non-nuclear state with a difference. From 1963 until 1984, Canada's armed forces were both trained to use and equipped with American-owned nuclear weapons. Canadian Nuclear Weapons tells the story of the four nuclear weapons systems that were deployed by Canada during those years: the BOMARC BOMARC Boeing and Michigan Aeronautical Research Center) surface-to-air guided interceptor missile, the Honest John short-range battlefield rocket, the thermonuclear bombs carried on Canadian Starfighters, and the Genie air-to-air rocket An air-to-air rocket or air interception rocket is an unguided projectile fired from aircraft to engage other flying targets. They were used briefly in World War I to engage enemy observation balloons and in and after World War II to engage enemy bombers. . Most of these weapons were phased out by 1972, but the Genies, designed to shoot down Soviet bombers, remained in service with the Canadian squadrons at Bagotville, Quebec Bagotville is a town in Quebec. See also CFB Bagotville and Comox, British Columbia Comox is a town located on the eastern side of Vancouver Island, British Columbia in the Comox Valley. Comox has a population of approximately 12,200 people[1] and is home to the Canadian air force base CFB Comox and HMCS Quadra Sea Cadet training facility. until mid-1984. Illustrated with photographs and diagrams, Canadian Nuclear Weapons contains far more detailed information about Canada's nuclear arsenal than has ever been made public previously. Peace activists will find the description of surveillance of the anti-nuclear movement particularly interesting. As the author notes, "both the civilian and military authorities feared and distrusted those who disagreed with their nuclear policies and the nuclear deployments. The RCMP were therefore called out both to provide security at the various nuclear bases and to spy on the people and groups involved in peaceful and constitutionally-guaranteed protest ... Freedom is indivisible INDIVISIBLE. That which cannot be separated. 2. It is important to ascertain when a consideration or a contract, is or is not indivisible. When a consideration is entire and indivisible, and it is against law, the contract is void in toto. 11 Verm. 592; 2 W. , but this concept was lost on the government and its security forces." Canadian Nuclear Weapons does not discuss the political and physical support (NATO policy work, training, components, etc) that Canada provides to the US nuclear arsenal. Canada may "see itself as a nuclear virgin," as the author suggests, but the Canadian position on nuclear weapons is still far too promiscuous to justify that view. Can we look forward to Volume II of the story? |
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