On
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 15 – in the event of a NEGATIVE decision by the
Supreme Court of Canada in the appeal by US war resisters:
JOIN THE PROTESTS DEMANDING THAT
the Canadian Government
enact a
provision giving refuge to
US War Resisters
TORONTO:
Thursday November 15
5:00 P.M.
Federal Court Building
330 University Avenue (just north of Queen St. W., Osgoode subway)
OTTAWA:
Thursday November 15
5:30 P.M.
Human Rights Monument
(corner of Elgin and Lisgar streets, just South of Laurier St).
CHECK BACK later for other locations...
KEEP
UP THE PRESSURE on our politicians!
Now that two opposition parties - the New Democratic Party (NDP) and
the Bloc Québécois - support a provision for asylum for U.S. war
resisters, it’s time to put pressure on the opposition Liberals and
the minority government of Stephen Harper to “Let them stay!”
Contact your Member of Parliament (M.P.) and these key members of
government and lobby them to let the war resisters stay in Canada:
The Right Hon. Stephen Harper, Prime Minister:
Phone: (613) 992-4211
Fax: (613) 941-6900
E-mail:
pm@pm.gc.ca
The Hon. Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration:
Phone: (613) 954-1064
E-mail:
Minister@cic.gc.ca
The Hon. Stéphane Dion, Leader of the Opposition (Liberal):
Phone: (613) 996-5789
E-mail:
Dion.S@parl.gc.ca
Michael Ignatieff, Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Liberal):
Phone: (613) 995-9364
E-mail:
Ignatieff.M@parl.gc.ca
The Hon. Maurizio Bevilacqua, Opposition Critic for Citizenship and
Immigration (Liberal):
Phone: (613) 996-4971
E-mail:
Bevilacqua.M@parl.gc.ca
And contact your own Member of Parliament.
To find your local M.P., by your postal code or by name:
http://www.canada.gc.ca/directories/direct_e.html
KEY QUESTIONS TO RAISE:
- will you or your party support a provision that will allow
U.S. War resisters to stay in Canada?
- if yes, what will you do as a Member of Parliament to make sure
this provision is adopted in the House of Commons?
- will you meet with members of the War Resisters Support Campaign
and war resisters themselves to discuss this issue in person?
KEY POINTS TO HIGHLIGHT:
- a recent poll showed that over 64.6% of Ontario residents
think war resisters should be allowed to stay in Canada – including
a majority of Conservative and Liberal voters.
- Canada did not send troops into combat in Iraq because it was not
sanctioned by the United Nations. Since we didn’t join the war, we
should support the soldiers who refuse to participate in this
illegal and immoral war.
- U.S. war resisters face imprisonment, harsh treatment and even the
death penalty if returned to the United States. No one should face
this punishment and persecution for following international law and
refusing to participate in violations of that law.
- For LIBERALS, remind them of the Trudeau legacy of allowing
Vietnam war deserters and dodgers to come to Canada.
- For CONSERVATIVES, remind them that in the 2007 poll of Ontarians,
52% of Conservative voters said “let them settle in Canada.”
Please let the campaign know about your efforts – send us a report:
E-mail: resisters@sympatico.ca
* * *
It is more urgent than ever that we send a message to the Canadian
government that Canada needs to welcome US men and women who refuse
to participate in the illegal and immoral war in Iraq. There are
three actions you can take today to help support the war resisters.
Petition
Add your name to the petition calling for the federal government to
make a provision to allow war resisters to stay in Canada. Initial
signatories include June Callwood, David Suzuki, Maude Barlow,
Shirley Douglas, Naomi Klein, Ann-Marie MacDonald, and many others.
You can
add your name at
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/resister/petition.html.
You can also
download a hard copy of the petition.
Contact the
federal government
It is urgent that everyone who supports the right of US war
resisters to stay in Canada immediately contact both Prime Minister
Stephen Harper and Minister of Citizenship & Immigration Diane
Finley and demand that they make a provision to allow U.S. war
resisters to stay in this country.
-
Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Fax 613-941-6900
Email
pm@pm.gc.ca
- Minister of Citizenship & Immigration Diane Finley
Phone 613-954-1064 (between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.)
Email:
Minister@cic.gc.ca
Mail:
The Honourable Diane Finley, P.C., M.P.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 1L1
Write a
letter to the editor
Letters to the editor are an important piece of the public debate on
this issue. The majority of Canadians opposed the war in Iraq and
support the provision of sanctuary for US soldiers. Send a copy of
your letter to the campaign to
resisters@sympatico.ca. |
