With the Ottawa Treaty under threat, an expert warns landmines won't keep Europe safe

OTTAWA — An expert who has disposed of bombs in some of the world’s most dangerous places says European governments pinning their security hopes on landmines are turning to an ineffective tool that will only spread misery and hunger.

“It’s an outdated technology that can quite quickly be rendered useless,” said Gary Toombs, a senior explosive disposal technician with the charity Humanity and Inclusion.

“The use of anti-personnel mines really doesn’t warrant the impact that it will have in the longer term, for the short-term gains that it may have.”

Anti-landmine advocates are urging Canada to step up efforts to convince European countries to remain in the 1997 Ottawa Treaty, which Canada brokered to end the use of anti-personnel landmines around the world.

The treaty led most of the wo