According to the latest information released by the Department of Peacekeeping Operations at the UN, as of April 30th, 2013, Canada is sending 19 armed peacekeeping troops to the UN, 12 unarmed Military Experts on Mission (MEMs), and 99 police officers, for a personnel total of 130.

Canada’s peacekeeping troop contribution to the UN is now less than Mongolia (927 troops), Hungary (81 troops), and Togo (525 troops).

“Most Canadians remember with pride the time in the early 1990s when Canada sent more than 3,200 soldiers to peacekeeping missions around the world,” said Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, MP, Saanich-Gulf Islands.  “I think they would be shocked and disappointed to learn that our peacekeeping reputation has been so compromised.”

At the same time, federal funding for peacekeeping institutions, such as the Pearson Center for Peacekeeping and the Peace Support Training Center in Kingston, which train peacekeepers from various countries for missions, has been slashed.

“Why is Canada all but ignoring the world’s need for peacekeepers?  Canadians have the will and the skill to serve,” said Ellen Michelson, Green Party Peace and Security advocate.   “The Green Party of Canada calls on the Harper Conservatives to reverse their poor record on contributing personnel to UN peacekeeping operations.”

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It should be clear that, since the Second World War, we have seen millions of lives lost in the Cold War through the proxy conflicts of the large super powers. Since 9/11, and the despicable attack on innocents at the World Trade Centre, we have, in the absence of the Cold War, faced security threats that are largely diffuse. Acts of terrorists are often met with a “war on terrorism,” but that is not a helpful term.

As former Canadian ambassador to the United Nations, Paul Heinbecker, has pointed out, you cannot declare war on a noun. Security threats posed by terrorists are serious, but the approach of preparedness is more closely akin to a policing action than a full military response.

The largest likelihood is that Canada will no longer face another nation to nation conventional war. The security threats of the 21st century will be different from those of the last century.

In this new reality, Canada’s traditional strategy of a 3-D approach defence, diplomacy and development has the key elements. What we have lacked is a national conversation about the relative importance of each. Sadly, under Stephen Harper, the role of our diplomatic corps has been de-emphasized with embassies closing, diplomats treated as irrelevant, and Canada’s respect for multilateralism itself called into question. Our role as peacemakers, a role invented by former prime minister, Lester Pearson, has also fallen. While we continue to make financial donations to peacekeeping missions, we are no longer making significant contributions in terms of personnel.

Meanwhile, other military establishments around the world, from the U.S. Pentagon to the U.K. military, have identified the climate crisis as a serious security threat. Anthropogenic global warming is a clear and present danger. Global political instabilities will be exacerbated by crop losses, rising sea levels and millions of environmental refugees.

The capacity of our military to effectively respond may be more meaningfully employed through our emergency disaster response than through stealth fighter jets. Responsible preventative steps against this man-made security threat comes through reducing greenhouse gas emissions in an aggressive time-bound fashion.

Canada’s Green Party calls for the following urgent priorities for a realistic 21st century defence strategy:

• Realign our defence spending to increase our capacity and speed in delivering disaster assistance (e.g. through the DART Disaster Assistance Rapid Response Team) and our contributions to UN peacekeeping forces and missions, and decrease our contributions to NATO war efforts.
• Rebuild the broken linkages among Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT), National Defence and the Canadian Forces (DND/CF), and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), to effectively and efficiently plan, organize, and execute our missions abroad.
• Play a lead role in establishing a standing UN Rapid Response Force with a mandate for peacekeeping and environmental restoration in both international crisis situations and domestic catastrophes like floods, earthquakes, storms and fires.
• Instruct Canadian embassies and consulates around the world to develop effective early disaster reconnaissance and assessment capabilities in order to speed up Canadian response times.
• Oppose the use of the United Nations Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine as a military solution to force aid relief on countries that are rejecting it.
• Focus Canada’s development aid efforts and economic investment in the specific key areas that:
• Foster alternative fuels and energy sources that dramatically reduce the need to import oil and natural gas and further allow the growth of recipient nation independent and/or majority ownership of these sectors and/or businesses as they develop.
• Focus on agriculture sectors that provide for food sovereignty through both subsistence farming and domestic commercial farming methods that are in keeping with green environmentally sound and gender equality principles.
• Increase bilateral trade, where possible, to facilitate the export of value added products from small island economies.
• Support and strengthen cooperation with regional organizations to further the goal of regional independence and sovereignty.
• Advance the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and ensure its principles are at the core of Canadian foreign policy.
• Support the creation of a Department of Peace and Security.
• Review Canada’s membership in military alliances including NATO and NORAD to ensure they are meeting Canada’s priorities of diplomacy, development and defence.
• Press urgently for global nuclear disarmament and the conversion of military industries in Canada and worldwide into peaceful and restorative industries.
• Meet the urgent needs for aerial and nautical search and rescue with fixed wing planes and Coast Guard vessels and icebreakers.
• Ensure that Canadian veterans are treated with respect and that those requiring ongoing treatment and/or disability payments are ensured compensation at least as generous as that provided for civilian work place injuries.

These and other steps will assist in achieving true global peace and security.

Originally published in the Hill Times.

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In today’s increasingly tumultuous world – with problems ranging from climate change to economic meltdowns to wars – humanitarian aid workers are active daily assisting millions of people no matter who they are or where they live.  They don’t exclusively respond to emergencies.  They also help communities rebuild their lives after crises and become more resilient; they act as advocates so that victims’ voices are heard, and try to build genuine peace in conflict areas.

According to the UN, humanitarian aid must be offered without discrimination based on nationality, social group, religion, sex, race, or other factors.  It is based on several founding principles, including humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence.  Although aid workers reflect all cultures, ideologies, and backgrounds, they are united by their commitment to humanitarianism.

The theme of this year’s campaign is “I Was Here” – aimed at promoting the concept that anyone can help others anywhere.  It also promotes better international cooperation at a time when globalization has made the planet smaller and more interlinked.  Of course, Canadians must recognize, too, that the people being most negatively affected by contemporary problems are almost always the world’s poorest, most marginalized, and most vulnerable citizens.   Canadians must also realize that our humane international reputation is being steadily eroded by the Harper Conservatives abandonment of our past heroic peacekeeping role; our cruel treatment of desperate refugees; our cuts to development aid to the poorest countries, and more.  Make today a day when you commit to stopping the downward slide of Canada while celebrating the great generosity of many Canadians both here and overseas.

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The Green Party of Canada has pledged support for an NDP/Liberal private members bill calling for the creation of a Ministry specifically to train peace professionals in order to resolve violent conflicts within Canada and around the world. 

“One of the core values of Greens is to promote a culture of peace and non-violence. Peacekeepers are a key part of addressing the root causes of conflict so that focus can be on community development and poverty alleviation,” said May.

The UN declared this special day in 2002 to pay tribute to all peacekeepers who gave their lives for peace and who continue to serve in operations.

“As we continue to strive for peace across the world, peacekeepers play an important role and deserve our thanks, our respect, and our support,” said May.

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Elizabeth May is a lone voice in the wilderness and yet she has made her presence known in our riding far more than Gary Lunn who only appeared when there was a tree to be planted or a highway to open.

Elizabeth May cares and she is willing to stand up for what is right. The federal government under Harper is in a sad and sorry state when retirement for pensioners’ age is increased, the CBC is deprived and 20,000 people laid off so Harper can purchase fighter jets. For what purpose? Canada has come a long way from our peacekeeping roots.

It is a sad day for us all.

Lili Soleil-Garbutt
Sidney

View the full original article >>

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On Tuesday, the committee heard from David Tilson, M.P, the sponsor of the bill.; John Eggenberger , Vice-President of the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association; Earl Page, veteran; and Terence Whitty of the Army Cadet League of Canada. All witnesses save one (Mr. Whitty) supported the means through the bill attempts to deter crimes committed with respect to war memorials and cenotaphs, namely, through the imposition of a thousand dollar fine and subsequent mandatory minimums of 60 and 90 days for second- and –third-time offences. After questioning the witnesses, the committee suspended and resumed sitting to pursue committee business related to budgetary expenses, and resumed consideration of the Main Estimates for 2012-2013. The Minutes can be found here.

On Thursday, the committee heard from Catherine Latimer of the John Howard Society and Leonard S. Russomanno, Criminal Defence Counsel, Webber Schroeder Goldstein Abergel. Both witnesses were heavily critical of the bill. The committee then commenced clause-by-clause study of the bill and adjourned to the call of the chair. The Minutes detailing the amendments advanced by the NDP and the Conservatives can be found here.

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The witness advocated for an increase in funding for the Canadian military in order to prepare for the “unforeseeable future”. Continuously Dr. Fergusson emphasized the importance of maintaining readiness, and arming the nation so that it is well-equipped to defend itself and its allies. During questioning, the necessity of the F-35 fighter jets was questioned, but the witness remained firmly in favour of the aircrafts as Canada’s only option. Regardless of the larger quantity of super hornets that could be purchased for the same price, Fergusson maintained that Canada must remain on par with its allies in order to effectively defend against an unpredictable future.

Furthermore, he expressed his belief that it was not the duty of the Canadian armed forces to rebuild nations in need, but rather the work of their own government. The witness inferred that Canada’s future was not in diplomatic relations, but rather direct combat in support of its allies. He felt that investment in the F-35s with their stealth technology, and further training as well as education of infantry soldiers would help prepare Canada for its transition away from the role of peace-keeping nation.  The committee then adjourned.

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