Canadian supporter questions Minister Finley on deportation of U.S. Iraq War Resisters

Canadian supporter questions Conservative Immigration Minister Diane Finley on deportation of U.S. Iraq War Resisters

Ottawa, Canada

On Friday, August 15, 2008, a Canadian supporter of U.S. war resisters challenged Canadian Immigration Minister Diane Finley to explain why she is deporting U.S. war resisters to court martial and military prison.

64% of Canadians want the war resisters to stay here, 82% of Canadians are against the Iraq war, and on June 3, 2008, the Canadian Parliament passed a motion calling on the government to halt the deportation of war resisters.

With the recent decision to deport Jeremy Hinzman, the first war resister to come to Canada, the question remains: does the minority Conservative government support democracy in Canada or does it support the Iraq war?

War Resisters Support Campaign (Canada)
http://www.resisters.ca/

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Copyright / Droit d'auteur © 2008

War Resisters Support Campaign /
Campagne d'appui aux résistantEs à la guerre

Intrinsic Audiovisual Productions

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• war
• resisters
• minister
• diane
• finley
• stephen
• harper
• conservative
• peace
• iraq
• soldier
• canada

[emperorinsaino]

She implied they were breaking Canadian law, and from what I know of the what he was talking about, those people haven't.

[WarResistersCanada]

Harper's government is ignoring a decision by Parliament on June 3rd to allow all war resisters to stay. We elected Parliament to represent us, they voted to let war resisters stay, but Finley and Harper want to deport all the resisters to court martial and jail in the U.S.

[bob4851]

Um, please check the motion agian. It was not to let war resisters stay but to look into the issur further

[WarResistersCanada]

Actually the motion states: "immediately implement a program to allow conscientious objectors and their immediate family members (partners and dependents), who have refused or left military service related to a war not sanctioned by the United Nations and do not have a criminal record, to apply for permanent resident status and remain in Canada; and that the government should immediately cease any removal or deportation actions that may have already commenced against such individuals."

[WarResistersCanada]

There were extensive debates "looking into the issue" in Parliament and the Immigration Committee itself in 2007 and 2008. Parliament made a decision, 137 to 110 on June 3rd, and that is to allow U.S. Iraq War Resisters to stay. We as a campaign did "look into the issue" and were there for the debates and votes in Parliament.

[Ghost77Riders]

NO TO SENDING THEM BACK!!!!!!

[xmaynoonax]

i love canada!! XDD america are the ones that do most wars but i still like both xP

[Katharsis2006]

This is disgraceful. Majority of Canadians support the war resisters, the parliament has decided in favour of these soldiers, yet our government is deporting them. This is frustrating!

[jazi0919]

all of u canadians who support my brother.u are awesome! i really wish the americans here would show some respect for jeremy and the others. my brother has really made a life for himself there, he's not hurting anyone. he will face persecution if he is deported back, not only by the government, butif and once there is time served & he is free, theres no telling how civillians will treat him or what may happen. PLEASE LET HIM STAY IN CANADA!MY NEICE AND NEPHEW NEED A FATHER!!THAT LADY IS WACK!

[shas1814]

Well done! Deporting Hinzman is contrary to the spirit of the UN vote against this immoral invasion of Iraq. If this government ignores the Canadian constitution, ignores the resolutions of the Canadian Parliament, ignores the recommendations of the Canadian Senate, ignores the decisions of the United Nations, ignores the expressed wishes of the Canadian people, to whom IS this government accountable? To George W. Bush, evidently. And that is unacceptable. Turn up the volume!

[uscomputing]

It is absolutely ridiculous that she is ignoring what the majority of the people agree with, and that she won't address this important issue directly. According to the deportation, it was passed because they don't believe war resisters will face persecution at home.

Unfortunately, persecution in the legal sense is exactly what will happen. There is a possibility, though extremely unlikely, that a resister will be punished with death. A prison sentence is more likely. Isn't that persecution?

[joshit7]

i am a fellow proud canadian and i just wanted to say thank you to the people who made the video . that took courage