whare is my pen???

An Important Message to the Government of Canada about U.S. Iraq War Resisters
January 26, 2009 The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, PC, MP, Prime Minister The Honourable Jason Kenney, PC, MP, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 Dear Prime Minister, Minister, and Members of the Government Caucus:
On June 3, 2008, the House of Commons passed a motion calling for the government to: “...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.” That motion further recommended that the government should: “...immediately cease any removal or deportation actions that may have already commenced against such individuals.” Since then, on July 15, you allowed Robin Long, a United States soldier who had fled to Canada after refusing to take part in the Iraq War, to be deported. Upon his return to the U.S., Robin was punished for acting on his objections to this unsanctioned war by refusing to fight and for speaking out while he was in Canada. He is now serving a 15-month jail sentence as a prisoner of conscience and was given a felony conviction that will cause him hardship for the rest of his life—including preventing him from visiting his Canadian son in Ontario—because you did not stop him from being deported. Canada has a well-founded tradition of welcoming war resisters such as Robin and the estimated 200 other U.S. soldiers who have sought refuge here since the Iraq War began.		Now more than ever, it is obvious that Canada made the right decision not to take part in this unnecessary conflict and even you, Mr. Prime Minister, have agreed that the Iraq War is "absolutely an error". Amnesty International wrote to you, Minister Kenney, earlier this month to communicate its condemnation of the, "...forced removal from Canada of individuals who conscientiously express their opposition to serving with U.S. forces in Iraq" because it "does not generally believe that there are reasonable options open to individuals who conscientiously object to military service with U.S. forces in Iraq." As a country, Canadians continue to face a major economic crisis that demands the utmost attention. Members of Parliament need not be distracted from the task at hand by matters that should have been solved previously, nor should time be wasted re-taking decisions that have already been taken by our democratically elected representatives and are supported by the majority of Canadians. With five Iraq War resisters—Chris Teske, Cliff Cornell, Kimberly Rivera, Patrick Hart and Dean Walcott, most of them combat veterans—facing deportation before the end of this month, we write to respectfully urge you to take action on behalf of the 64 per cent majority of Canadians who agree to give these U.S. soldiers, their immediate families and all Iraq War resisters who are here, the opportunity to remain in Canada as permanent residents. Please implement the June 3, 2008 motion in support of war resisters today.
Yours Sincerely, (add your name)
Ursula M. Franklin C.C. FRSC University Professor Emerita, Senior Fellow Massey College Lawrence Hill Writer Anton Kuerti, OC, PhD Internationally renowned solo pianist Michelle Landsberg, OC Award-winning writer, social activist and feminist Stephen Lewis Former UN Ambassador Mary Jo Leddy, CM, PhD Writer, theologian and activist Tony Clarke Executive Director, Polaris Institute Michael C. Klein, MD Emeritus Professor of Family Practice and Pediatrics, Universityof British Columbia Elizabeth E. May, OC Leader, Green Party of Canada Judy Rebick CAW Sam Gindin Chair in Social Justice and Democracy, Ryerson University John Hagan, PhD, FRSC University Professor Emeritus, University of Toronto Alex Atamanenko Member of Parliament, B.C. Southern Interior Govind Rao McMaster University Dale Dewar (Dr.) Clerk, Canadian Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) Camilo Mejia Chairperson of the Board, Iraq Veterans Against the War (U.S.) Fred Franklin Jean Symes Vera Frenkel, FRSC, RCA Artist-in Residence, University of Toronto, Governor General's Award Laureate Mike Ford Musician (formerly of Moxy Fruvous) Ali Kazimi Film-maker/Asst. Professor, York University Dee Knight former editor, AMEX-Canada (1968-74), founding organizer and board member, National Council for Universal & Unconditional Amnesty (1973-77) John B. Chadwick Retired Navy Lieutenant (officer level O3), Life Member, Veterans For Peace (U.S.) Joyce Smith Tucson, AZ Tzeporah Berman Environmentalist Linda Newton Vietnam Veteran, member, Veterans For Peace, Seattle, WA Collette Lemieux co-chair, Canadian Peace Alliance Calgary, Alberta Dr. Barbara Glancy Portland, OR Bruce L. Beyer Vietnam era war resister, Buffalo, NY Ron Rancourt Chelsea, QC Don Currie Slocan, BC Mel Earley Halifax, NS David Pankratz Director, Institute for Community Peacebuilding, Winnipeg, Manitoba Roger Rolfe Toronto, Ontario Denise and William Conway American War Resisters, 1969, Toronto, Ontario Thomas P. Radcliffe Franciscan Brother, Victoria, BC Nathan Medcalf Burlingon, ON Richard Medernach Saskatoon Peace Coalition, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan David Heap People for Peace, London, Ontario Elenor Taves London, Ontario Julie Peters London, Ontario M. Chuk Montreal, PQ Terry Zehr Valleyview Mennonite Church, London, Ontario Brad Bossack Tumbler Ridge,BC Chris Stroud Halifax, NS Joan Wallace Nanaimo, BC Michelle LeBlanc Fredericton, NB Daniel W Metzger Nelson, BC Hagit Fishman Toronto, Ontario Andrea Meister Chilliwack, BC Karen Palsson Winnipeg, MB Cornelia Maher Augsber, Germany Michael Truscello Hamilton, ON Susan B. Boyd Professor of Law, UBC, Vancouver, BC Reynold Reimer Calgary, AB Sandra Stephenson Teacher, Montreal, PQ Stephen LaFrenie Green Party shadow cabinet - International cooperation/CIDA portfolio Rose DeShaw Kingston, ON Stephen Peppin Oxford University/Research Fellow, Stratford Tina Gauthier Mississauga, ON Allison Smith Greenwich, NS Collin Whitehouse Cobourg, ON David Wade Atchison, Kansas Nebojsa Piha Vancouver, BC Erich Jacoby-Hawkins Green Party shadow cabinet - Human Resources Portfolio, Barrie, ON Catharine Johannson Winnipeg, MB Peter Votsch Mississauga Coalition for Peace & Justice, Mississauga, ON Leonard Sawatsky Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Krista Benoit Ottawa, ON Gillian Ashton Ottawa , ON Chris Ormsby London, ON Jack Bridges Idaho Falls	The Right Reverend David Giuliano Moderator, The United Church of Canada Maude Barlow National Chairperson, Council of Canadians Joy Kogawa, CM, OBC Author Jane Orion Smith General Secretary, Canadian Friends Service Committee (Quakers) Very Rev. Bill Phipps Former Moderator, United Church of Canada Antonia Zerbisias Columnist, Toronto Star Michael Lynk Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Western Ontario Gina Barber Controller, City of London Martin Duckworth Award-winning documentary film-maker M. Jane Pritchard, M.D., C.C. F.P., F.C.F.P. Réjean Robidoux. PhD, FRSC Professor Emeritus, University of Ottawa Donald Lafleur 4th National Vice-President, Canadian Union of Postal Workers Peggy Nash Assistant to the President, CAW James Clark Ontario representative, Canadian Peace Alliance Kelly Dougherty Executive Director, Iraq Veterans Against the War (U.S.) Mrs. Joanne L. Cvar member, Green Party Peace Network Edward Hasbrouck San Francisco, CA Derrick O'Keefe Editor, rabble.ca, Co-chair, StopWar Coalition Vancouver David Fennario Playwright Mary Ellen Davis Award-winning documentary film-maker Velcrow Ripper Film Director b.h. Yael Artist/Film-maker, Professor, Ontario College of Art & Design Chris Cook Managing Editor, Pacific Free Press Dennis W. Mills, PhD U.S. Army (1966-1969), Vietnam Veteran / Veterans for Peace – the Rachel Corrie Chapter 109, Olympia, WA Tana Hastings War Resisters League, Portland, OR Kaim Kassam Calgary, Alberta Ivy Rose Nightscales Williams International Action Center, Seattle, WA Imam Jamal Taleb London Muslim Mosque Judy Wapp Artist/writer, Nelson, BC Pat Garrison Mental health researcher/writer, Slater, SC Frances Smith Toronto, ON Cortney K. Dakin London, Ontario Kaitlyn Lankin Kratz Kitchener, Ontario John L. Whelan Grand Falls-Windsor, NL Mary Ann Steggles Winnipeg, Manitoba Marguerite Warner Winnipeg, Manitoba Hossam Amin Montreal, PQ Richard Lewis LSPIRG, Kitchener, Ontario J.C. Locatelli Halifax, Nova Scotia Alexandra Baron London, Ontario Patricia Hartman Penetanguishine, Ontario Charleen Jongejan Harder Pastor,Valleyview Mennonite Church, London, Ontario Gloriz Janzen London, Ontario Teresa Rutten London, Ontario Ruth Martin London, Ontario Kendall Jongejan Harder Pastor, London, Ontario Dianne Fortney R.N., London, Ontario Stephen Orlov Professor, John Abbott College, Montreal, PQ MK Emre Toronto, Ontario Aaron Keeler London, Ontario Allison Rose Gabriola, BC Susan Best Winnipeg, MB David Wood Freelance writer, Mildmay, ON Muriel Heaton Midland, ON Elizabeth Pickett Whitby, ON Elizabeth O'Connor member of Peaceworks, Midland, ON Kyle Hodnett Fredericton, NB DeEtte Waleed member, Fellowship of Reconciliation, Portland, Oregon Michelle Thompson Toronto, ON Laura Savinkoff Chair, Boundary Peace Initiative, Grand Forks, BC John Dorn Summerland, BC Rose Tavelli Toronto, ON Lawrence Levy Winnipeg, Manitoba C. Raven Nichols Charlottetown, PEI Peter A. H. Johnston Federal Councilor, Green Party of Canada, Edmonton, Alberta Ellen Michelson Green Party Shadow Cabinet - Peace & Security Portfolio, Toronto, ON Amy Collard Green Party of Canada, Natural Resources Critic, Burlington, ON Marlene Epp Associate Professor, Peace & Conflict Studies, University of Waterloo Melissa Devlin Ottawa, ON Paul Kemp President National Executive, Canadian Action Party, Scotsburn, NS E Ann Bending Bright's Grove , ON	Ann-Marie MacDonald Novelist, playwright and actor Shirley Douglas, OC Actress Ken Georgetti, CM, OBC President, Canadian Labour Congress Ken Lewenza National President, CAW Ken Neumann National Director for Canada, United Steelworkers Paul Moist National President, Canadian Union of Public Employees James Clancy President, National Union of Public and General Employees Wayne Samuelson President, Ontario Federation of Labour Michael Byers Canada Research Chair in Global Politics and International Law, University of British Columbia Bernice Friesen Novelist Ester Reiter Associate Professor, School of Social Sciences, York University Michael Connolly Documentary film-maker Carolyn Egan President, Steelworker Toronto Area Council Denise Hammond President, CUPE Local 1281 Ted Dyck, PhD Writer and editor, Moose Jaw, SK Esther Epp-Tiessen Peace Ministries Program Mennonite Central Commitee Canada Arnold Kotler President and Publisher, Koa Books (Kihei, Hawaii) Larry Towell Photographer Richard Fung Video artist, Professor, Ontario College of Art and Design John Greyson Film-maker, Professor, York University Carole Condé and Karl Beveridge Artists Peggy Gale Independent Curator, Toronto Mike Woloshin Veterans for Peace, Chicago Area Chapter 26, Dave Bergen Executive Secretary, Christian Formation, Mennonite Church Canada, Winnipeg, MB Ellliot Stoller Independent Media Center, Seattle, WA Mrs. Irene Bachelder Kenwood, CA Christopher John Teske Former Specialist US Army, Deserter – Deported from Canada Dick Cotterill Businessman; Vietnam era resister, Truro, NS Lorraine Michael, MHA Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi; Leader, New Democratic Party of Newfoundland & Labrador Helen Lofgren Halifax, NS Julie Barker Midland, Ontario Kim Vincent Montreal, Quebec Velcrow Ripper Film Director Karen King London, Ontario Wiyula Graham Victoria, BC Chris Powell Fredericton, NB Diane V. McLoughlin Publisher, Woodlawn Ashley Ansley Temagami, Ontario Valérie Prat London, Ontario Julie Michaud Fredericton, NB Victor Fast London, Ontario Kathleen Gallivan Toronto, Ontario Lorraine McNeil Professor, Fanshawe College, London, Ontario Yasmine El-Sabawi London, Ontario Mathieu Cain London, Ontario Cory Morningstar Chair, Council of Canadians - London, London, Ontario Rick Telfer London, Ontario Julie Mahfood Writer, Beaconsfield, PQ Scott Walmsley London, Ontario Roger Beck Toronto, Ontario Janet Beck Toronto, Ontario Francesco Ciabattoni Halifax, NS Surjit Sahota Brampton, ON Matthew Bin Writer, former member of the Canadian Forces, Oakville, ON Bob L. DeMarco Bright's Grove, ON Tonia Huculak Edmonton, AB Pauli Sommer educator/artist, Dungannon, ON George Richards Kootenay Region Branch UNAC / V, PCastlegar, BC Mai Nguyen Journalism Student, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON Kristina Pultz Edmonton, Albert SuMei Cheung Oakville, ON Brigid Kemp President, South Okanagan Boundar Labour Council, Penticton, BC Roberts Eweshen Creston, BC Calum Csunyoscka Toronto, ON Valerie Powell Green Party Candidate, Coldwater, Ontario Bill Clary Leader, Saskatchewan Ard Van Leeuwen Caledon, ON Cathy MacLellan Waterloo, ON Ted Finnigan Ottawa, ON David Hart Dyke Stoney Creek, ON David Donaldson Vancouver, BC Carrie McLaren Burnaby, BC	Alexandre Trudeau Film-maker and journalist Wayson Choy, CM Writer R H Thomson Actor and director Katherine Giroux-Bougard National Chairperson, Canadian Federation of Students Cathy Crowe, RN Author and street nurse Janet Davis, Paula Fletcher, Joe Mihevc, Gord Perks, Adam Vaughan Councillors, City of Toronto, Ontario James Loney Member of Christian Peacemaker Teams held hostage in Iraq Gordon Cressy & Joanne Campbell Angus McLaren, PhD, FRSC Distinguished Professor Emeritus, University of Victoria Ron Hawkins Musician Dave Hubert Christian Peacemakers International Merrill Stewart Clerk, Canadian Friends Service Committee (Quakers) Jim Stanford Economist and Author, CAW Robert Ramsay Chair, CUPE Local 3902 Chantal Sundaram CUPE 3902 Staff Representative Elliott Adams President, Veterans For Peace (U.S.) John Weier Writer and Luthier, Manitoba James S. Moy Dean, Faculty of Art, Ontario College of Art & Design Gerry Condon Director, Project Safe Haven (U.S.) June Schumacher Fellowship of Reconciliation, Seattle, WA Linda Jansen Seattle, WA S. Jenika Vietnam Veteran, Portland, OR Mary Kay Ryan Chicago, Illinois Elihu Edelson World War II veteran, Purple Heart Dorli T Rainey Seattle, WA Georgina Rhéaume Winnipeg Peace Coalition David Beringer Nelson, BC Kimberly Scot Teacher, Nelson, BC Victor Enns writer and editor, Winnipeg, MB Lauren Smith Waterloo, Ontario Dr. Munir El-Kassem Imam, Islamic Centre of South-West Ontario Bart Gerald Author, Ottawa, Ontario S. Joan Tate Toronto, Ontario Diane Allen Toronto, Ontario Masud Sheikh Oakville, Ontario Stephen D'Arcy Department of Philosophy, Huron University College, London, Ontario Lia Brewer Toronto, Ontario Gary Onderisin Guelph, Ontario Anton Wagner Cultural Historian, York University, Toronto, Ontario Kelly Dowdell Calgary, Alberta Tracy Glynn Fredericton, NB Angela Bischoff Greenspiration, Toronto, ON Homaira Siddiqui London, Ontario Joe Gibbons Welland, Ontario E.Hope Richards Penetanguishine, Ontario Louisa Szacon Centre for Social Concern, Mississauga, Ontario Lizzie Bergie London, Ontario Javier Davila Branch President, OSSTF12 Parkdale CI and Educators for Peace and Justice, Toronto, Ontario Jean Johnston London, Ontario Julie Stahlbaum Hamilton, Ontario Dave Shaw Atlantic Regional Organizer, P.S.A.C., Halifax, NS John Gilmore Member, The Writers' Union of Canada, Montreal, PQ Christine Ilott Richmond Hill, Ontario Lisa McMurry, MD Gatineau, PQ Caterina Fava Halifax, NS Doreen Good Exeter, ON Laura Kaminker Writer, Activst, Mississauga, ON Nancy Wolchok Langley, BC Hassan Hussseini Ottawa, ON Margot Izzard Duncan, BC Alissa Carnall Charters Settlement, NB Paul Chislett Windsor, ON Steve Staniek Hamilton Coalition to Stop the War, Hamilton, ON Allan Wood Writer, Mississauga, ON Geraldine Sadoway Lawyer, Toronto, ON August J. Ummenhofer Penticton, BC Grant Clubine Winlaw, BC Harold Funk Grand Forks, BC Victoria Ross MALD, QCSW, Peaceful Conflict Res'n Coord, WNY Peace Ctr, Buffalo, NY Eric Walton Green Party of Canada International Affairs Critic, Kingston, ON Clarke Reese Waterloo, ON Joshua Smith Ottawa, ON Nada Hijazi Montreal, Quebec B. Ross Ashley SEIU, local 1 Canada; executive member, Toronto, ON Rebecca L. Geddis Strathroy, ON Andrew Phillips Vietnam Draft Dodger, New Westminster, BC