INDEPTH: BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENCE
Timeline
CBC News Online | February 28, 2006
Feb. 23, 2006:
Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor says the Conservative government is open to restarting talks on missile defence with the U.S.
In the first of several planned tests in 2006, an 11-metre-long missile is launched from Alaska's Kodiak Island. The missile travelled about 4,000 kilometres toward the California-Mexico border before splashing down.
Feb. 18, 2006:
In an interview with CBC Radio's The House, Philip Coyle, who was a military adviser to U.S. presidents Jimmy Carter, George Bush Sr. and Bill Clinton, says Canada should stay out of missile defence because its cost is climbing and its reliability is questionable.
January 2006:
During the federal election, the Liberal party's platform includes a promise to negotiate a global deal that would ban weapons in space. The Conservative party's plan supports the U.S. missile defence shield.
June 17, 2005:
Executives from defence contractor Raytheon Co. say they prefer Labrador as the site for an X Band radar installation, the technology that would be the eyes of a missile shield.
March 5, 2005:
U.S. President George W. Bush calls Prime Minister Paul Martin to discuss Canada's decision not to take part in the Americans' anti-ballistic missile defence program. Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew says the call sends a message that both countries should "move on."
March 1, 2005:
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice postpones her visit to Ottawa amid reports of U.S. displeasure with Canada's decision not to back the missile shield program. The trip was originally planned for April, and no new date has been put forward. The U.S. State Department officially denies the link between the decision to defer the trip and Canada's decision to opt out of the missile shield program.
Feb. 24, 2005:
Foreign affairs minister Pierre Pettigrew tells the House of Commons that Canada will not participate in the U.S. missile defence program. Later, Prime Minister Martin tells reporters that Canada will continue to work with the U.S. for the common defence of North America, but efforts won't be concentrated on missile defence.
Feb. 22, 2005:
Frank McKenna, poised to become Canada's next ambassador to the U.S., says Canada is already taking part in the U.S. missile defence program because of its agreement with Norad in August 2004. Later in the day, a senior government official says Ottawa will announce that it will not participate in missile defence.
Dec. 4, 2004:
The Quebec wing of the Liberal party adopts a resolution calling for the federal government to abstain from participating in the BMD plan or any initiative that would lead to the weaponization of space.
Dec. 1, 2004:
In the keynote speech of his visit, Bush again mentions missile defence, saying he hoped Canada and the U.S would move forward together on the issue. Later at a news conference, Prime Minister Martin insists whatever decision his government made would be in Canada's best interests. He again insists that he's against the weaponization of space.
Nov. 30, 2004:
U.S. President George W. Bush raises the issue of Canada's participation in missile defence in his first official visit to Canada. Before the trip, officials said missile defence would not be on the agenda.
Oct. 18, 2004:
The Liberal government agrees to a throne speech amendment that would - among other things - allow for a House of Commons vote on whether Canada should join the U.S. missile defence system. The final decision will still rest with the cabinet.
Aug. 25, 2004:
Then Liberal MP Carolyn Parrish tells reporters Canada should not join a "coalition of the idiots" in supporting Bush's missile defence plans.
Aug. 6, 2004:
Canada signs an amendment that will allow Norad to share information it gathers with people running the U.S. missile defence program. Defence Minister Bill Graham says the Norad amendment is not a step toward Canada joining U.S. missile defence.
July 22, 2004:
The MDA installs the first ground-based interceptor missile at Fort Greely, Alaska.
July 3, 2004:
The Missile Defence Agency dedicates the ballistic missile defence site at Fort Greely, Alaska. The Alaskan ceremonies mark completion of construction, including installation of six interceptor silos for the initial GMD capability.
June 23, 2004:
During the election campaign, Prime Minister Martin promises he will not sign any agreement that allows for weapons to be deployed in space.
Dec. 4, 2003:
Australia joins the U.S. missile defence program.
Nov. 15, 2003:
Paul Martin elected Liberal leader; says Canada must be part of the discussions on U.S. missile defence plans.
May 16, 2003:
Canada expresses interest in starting negotiations with the United States about whether to participate in the missile defence program.
May 14, 2003:
Denmark and Greenland sign an agreement-in-principle to expand Greenland's Thule Base as a link to U.S. missile defence.
Dec. 13, 2001:
President George W. Bush announces the U.S. will withdraw from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty in six months. Earlier in the year, Bush announced plans to go ahead with development of a national missile defence system.
May 1998:
Both India and Pakistan test nuclear weapons.
December 1987:
The U.S. and the Soviet Union sign the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. The treaty eliminated all nuclear missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometres.
1974:
The ABM Treaty is amended to limit the U.S. and the Soviet Union to only one site.
May 18, 1974:
India tests its first nuclear bomb near the village of Pokharan, Rajasthan Desert.
May 26, 1972:
As a result of the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT), the U.S. and the Soviet Union sign the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty. The treaty limited both countries to only two sites with a maximum of 100 anti-ballistic missile launchers.
1968:
Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty, with the Soviet Union, Britain and the U.S. as major signatories, limited the spread of military nuclear technology by agreement not to assist non-nuclear nations in getting or making nuclear weapons.
January 1967:
The Outer Space Treaty bans the introduction of nuclear weapons into space.
Oct. 16, 1964:
China conducts first nuclear test at Lop Nor test site in Xinjiang province.
August 1963:
The Nuclear Test Ban Treaty is signed by the Soviet Union, Britain and the U.S. The treaty prohibits the testing of nuclear weapons in space, above ground and underwater.
Feb. 13, 1960:
France tests its first nuclear bomb.
1957:
The Soviet Union launches the first artificial satellite, named "Sputnik," into Earth's orbit.
Jan. 21, 1954:
The first nuclear-powered submarine, U.S.S. Nautilus, is launched.
Oct. 3, 1952:
Britain tests its first nuclear bomb in the Monte Bello Islands, Australia.
Aug. 29, 1949:
The Soviet Union tests its first nuclear bomb.
Aug. 9, 1945:
The U.S. detonates an atomic bomb, nick named "Fat Man," over Nagasaki, Japan. More than 70,000 people died by the end of the year as a result.
Aug. 6, 1945:
The U.S. detonates an atomic bomb, nick named "Little Boy," over Hiroshima, Japan. The explosion and radiation from the bomb killed more than 140,000 people by the end of the year.
July 16, 1945:
The U.S. tests its first atomic bomb (the Trinity test) at Alamogordo, New Mexico.
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