The Canadian NATO Parliamentary
Association has the honour to present its report on the Visit to the USA by
the Science and Technology Committee, July 6-10, 2009. The Canadian
delegation was represented by Senator Pierre Claude Nolin and Mrs. Cheryl
Gallant, M.P.
OVERVIEW
Nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, energy
security, as well as the security implications of new technologies were major
themes of the visit of the NATO parliamentary delegation to Boston, Livermore
and Monterey on 6-10 July. Seventeen members of the Science and Technology
Committee (STC), led by STC Vice-Chairman Senator Pierre Claude Nolin (Canada),
were briefed by and had discussions with eminent American experts and scholars,
and visited leading R&D institutions in the field of defence technology,
including Raytheon, Sandia National Laboratories and the MIT Institute for
Soldier Nanotechnologies.
During the discussions, it was emphasised that President
Obama’s pro-engagement foreign policy approach should help reinvigorate the
global nuclear non-proliferation regime. Experts of the James Martin Center for
Nonproliferation Studies called for a comprehensive discussion within NATO on
the future of nuclear deterrent capability. They strongly supported the
nuclear-free world vision embraced by the new US administration and argued that
nuclear weapons are becoming increasingly obsolete.
Another theme which featured strongly in briefings and
discussions was energy and environmental security. The Assembly delegation was
briefed on a number of technological innovations that could help address the
challenge of developing our economies in an environmentally sustainable
fashion. It was stressed that nuclear energy should be an important part of the
energy mix.
NATO legislators were impressed by the achievements of
the US defence technology sector. All the participants agreed that more should
be done, however, to enhance technological and scientific cooperation between
the United States and its Allies.
Respectfully
submitted,
Mr. Leon
Benoit, M.P.
Chair
Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association (NATO PA)