URGENT ACTION: As Bill C-440 moves to second reading, email your Member of Parliament and urge them to support the bill.
Background
Bill C-440, An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (war resisters), was introduced by MP Gerard Kennedy (L – Parkdale-High Park) and seconded by MP Bill Siksay (NDP – Burnaby-Douglas) in September 2009. Second reading for the bill will begin on May 25th 2010. If passed, Bill C-440 will allow US Iraq War resisters to apply for permanent resident status in Canada.
Bill C-440 follows on two concurrence motions passed in the House of Commons calling on the government to cease deportation proceedings against war resisters. It reflects the fact that the majority of Canadians do not want soldiers who reject participation in the illegal and immoral Iraq war to be sent back to face punishment.
War Resisters speak about why they came to Canada. Toronto, May 2008
The government of Stephen Harper has ignored these motions and has deported war resisters Robin Long and Cliff Cornell. Robin was sentenced to 15 months in the brig, and received a dishonorable discharge. This is the military equivalent of a felony conviction – meaning that he it will be impossible for him to get a decent job, loans for school or for education, and he is not eligible to return to Canada where he has a young son.
Cliff received and is currently serving a 12 month sentence and received a bad conduct discharge.
There are more war resisters facing deportation by the Harper government. It is time for this to stop. Canadians overwhelmingly oppose the war in Iraq, and they oppose sending young men and women back to jail for coming to the same conclusion. An Angus Reid poll found that 64% of Canadians, including a majority in all provinces, want U.S. Iraq war resisters to be allowed to stay.