A Critical Moment - How to Support US War Resisters

From the National Campaign here's a Video
of Bob Rae's speech in support of war resisters at the Toronto rally
for our January 26th day of action                     And From Beth Guthrie, Please read the following from the national campaign, and come to
our regular meeting this Thursday, March 13, 7 p.m. in the NDP room at
the Tolpuddle Co-op, 380 Adelaide St. N. As well as the initiatives
outlined in Michelle's message, we have 2 peace rallies to attend, this
Sat. in Sarnia and Sun here at Richmond/Central at 1 p.m., and 2 major
fundraising concerts to promote. If you can get your friends to fill a
page of the petition, print it off, contact me, and I will pick it up.
We'll forward them to Sue Barnes and/or Glen Pearson for presentation
to Parliament. (NOTE: the petition is attached to this post)

A CRITICAL MOMENT:
How to Support US War Resisters

RECENT MOMENTUM

The
War Resisters Support Campaign has been busy at work since our victory
at the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration where a motion
to give U.S. war resisters sanctuary in Canada passed in December.

The
Campaign has already won the support of the New Democratic Party (NDP),
the Bloc Québécois, and a number of principled Liberal M.P.s. Momentum
is building towards a vote in the House of Commons this spring on the
motion that passed in committee.

Lobbying meetings have been
recently held with Liberal Deputy Leader Michael Ignatieff, Liberal
Foreign Affairs Critic Bob Rae, Liberal Immigration Critic Maurizio
Bevilacqua, and many others. The results have been generally positive
so far, although Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion and the Liberal Party of
Canada have yet to take a position on the issue.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

* March 28th - "Stop-Loss" hits theatres nationwide

Kimberly
Peirce, director of the acclaimed film "Boys Don't Cry," is releasing
her new feature film "Stop-Loss" (MTV Films) in theatres across North
America. The film is about U.S. soldiers from the Iraq war encountering
problems with their contracts with the military, namely forced
re-enlistment through the policy of "stop-loss." The main character,
Sgt. Brandon King (played by Ryan Phillippe) considers coming to Canada
as an option. This is an opportunity to raise the issue of U.S. war
resisters in Canada with Entertainment media and the press in light of
buzz around this major motion picture release.

* April 2nd - War resister Joshua Key’s appeal goes before Federal Court

While
the Immigration and Refugee Board turned down Joshua Key’s refugee
claim, the Federal Court has agreed to hear his appeal on April 2nd.
Josh and his family arrived in Canada on March 8, 2005. Josh is the
author, along with Lawrence Hill, of The Deserter’s Tale (House of
Anansi, 2007). The hearing will be held at 9:30 am at the Federal
Court, at 180 Queen Street West in Toronto.

* Some time in April – Debate and vote on Motion to allow U.S. War Resisters to stay in Canada

NDP
M.P. Olivia Chow will be presenting the motion that passed at the
Standing Committee to the House of Commons and it will be voted on at
this time. Lobbying efforts will culminate in this crucial vote in
Parliament. Below are suggestions on what you can do at this time to
pressure our government to pass this motion.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO SUPPORT

Here are a few things you can do:

(1.) NEW PETITION REQUIRES SIGNATURES
– Please immediately gather as many signatures as possible on the new
petition (attached) and submit to your local Member of Parliament
(preferably Liberal) to show there is public pressure mounting to pass
the motion in April.

(2.) CALL, WRITE OR FAX YOUR M.P. –
Find out where your Member of Parliament stands on the motion to let
U.S. war resisters stay in Canada (motion attached). Particular focus
is needed on members of the Liberal Party, and on Liberal Leader
Stéphane Dion and Prime Minister Stephen Harper as well:

Hon.
Stéphane Dion, M.P.
Liberal and Opposition Leader
Phone: (613) 996-5789
Fax: (613) 996-6562
E-mail: Dion.S@parl.gc.ca

The Right Hon. Stephen Harper, Prime Minister
Phone: (613) 992-4211
Fax: (613) 941-6900
E-mail: pm@pm.gc.ca

To find your M.P. using your postal code:
http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Compilations/HouseOfCommons/MemberByPostalCode.aspx?Menu=HOC

Please let the campaign know about your efforts – send us a report:
E-mail: resisters@sympatico.ca

Produced and distributed by the War Resisters Support Campaign
http://www.resisters.ca/

Attachment	Size
Petition-War Resisters-2008.01.pdf	82.11 KB