Canada to provide $12-million more for land-mine clearing around world

Canada will announce nearly $12-million in new funding for the elimination of land mines around the world, including in formerly held Islamic State territory in Syria, marking the 20th anniversary of the Ottawa land-mines treaty.

The funding is meant to support the safe return of civilians to Raqqa and southern Syria by removing dangerous explosives left in homes, schools and public areas by the Islamic State. Canada will also support removing mines in Cambodia, Laos, Colombia and Ukraine – countries that are among the most affected by land mines and other explosive remnants of war. Matt DeCourcey, parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, will make the announcement Monday, two decades after the Ottawa Treaty banning land mines came into force.

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