Anita Anand says Canada will contribute $5 million to support international efforts to identify and eliminate remaining chemical weapons in Syria.

The funding will go to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons through Canada’s Weapons Threat Reduction Program, part of a broader push to prevent the future use of banned weapons.

Global Affairs Canada says the money will help the OPCW verify the scope of Syria’s former chemical weapons program, investigate past use and prepare for the safe destruction of any remaining stockpiles.

Officials say the work supports accountability efforts and aims to reduce risks to civilians, while contributing to long-term stability in the region.

The OPCW oversees implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, which prohibits the development, production and use of chemical weapons and has been adopted by 193 countries, including Canada.

Canada’s Weapons Threat Reduction Program is part of the Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction and has supported international efforts for more than two decades to secure and dismantle chemical weapons, including those linked to the Syrian government.

Canada works with the OPCW through its permanent mission in The Hague and through international co-ordination on non-proliferation, counterterrorism and accountability initiatives.