Canada's Parliament votes to let U.S. Iraq War Resisters stay

House of Commons Votes to Let U.S. Iraq War Resisters Stay in Canada

OTTAWA, June 3 /CNW/ The Opposition parties in the House of Commons joined together today to adopt a recommendation which, if implemented, would make it possible for U.S. Iraq War resisters to obtain Permanent Resident status in Canada. The recommendation was adopted by a majority of Members of Parliament from the Liberal, Bloc Québécois, and New Democratic Parties. The Conservatives voted against the motion.

The motion, which originated in the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration in December 2007, calls on the government to "immediately implement a program to allow conscientious objectors and their immediate family members...to apply for permanent resident status and remain in Canada; and...the government should immediately cease any removal or deportation actions...against such individuals."

Corey Glass, 25, a war resister who came to Canada in 2006 and was recently told to leave Canada by June 12 or face removal to the United States, welcomed the vote. "I'm thankful that the MPs voted to let me and the other war resisters stay in Canada. I'm also thankful to all the Canadians who urged their MPs to support us."

"This is a great victory for the courageous men and women who have come to Canada because they refuse to take part in the illegal, immoral Iraq War, and for the many organizations and individuals who have supported this campaign over the past four years," said Lee Zaslofsky, Coordinator of the War Resisters Support Campaign and a Vietnam War deserter who came to Canada in 1970.

The War Resisters Support Campaign is calling on the Conservative government to respect the democratic decision of the Canadian Parliament and immediately implement the motion and cease deportation proceedings against Corey Glass and other war resisters.

Copyright / Droit d'auteur © 2008

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

Intrinsic Audiovisual Productions

http://www.resisters.ca/

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• War
• Resisters
• Stephen
• Harper
• Dion
• Layton
• Duceppe
• US
• Canada
• Iraq
• Peace

[CadetBrandon]

Id like to welcome all US war resisters to Canada. You are among us, and we are glad to have you.

[shas1814]

Unfortunately this government does not feel obliged to abide by the resolutions of Parliament.

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.

[fireblade185]

@MajBlood typical harper

[FlushitTV]

I can't believe the Conservative Party opposed this motion! What is wrong with Canadians?? Why did they give Harper a majority????

[Chidanandaji]

i got so tired of the biased reporting by CBC, CNN, and BBC that I compiled a blog titled "The Battle For Libyan Oil Fields by Bill Woollam" Just Google that if you care for an entirely different perspective

[Nemesis000000]

@Tennessee44444 Financial aid? Canada is not a 3rd world country

[BobMcCob]

@Tennessee44444 Considering that the US is in debt to Canada, unlikely.

[Macjm321]

if you don't want to fight in Iraq come live here Welcome to all Americans that want to get away from that crazy war.

[faen10]

I love how they go through every voting member by name and position on the bill. I find it old fashioned, like the US Senate.

[SniperViper1000]

@roaringwaterbay Did you know Southern Ontario is more south then your 27 northern states! >:) Who's cold now!

[MajBlood]

How come Harper was not here?

[edsonusa75]

hahaha. The US is broke my friend.