Archive for November 2006

To the Conservatives on women’s and social programs

I object to the federal government cuts to grants to women’s and social programs. Many people in our society need a hand let down from above before they can stand on their own feet and take their places as contributing members of society. In the past election more than 60% of the electors voted for parties to the left of yours. The Conservative Party did not win the election; the Liberal Party lost it because of the sponsorship scandals. You do not have a mandate to govern as if you had a majority government.

Refugee American soldiers in Canada

The Hon. Monte Solberg,
Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Government of
Canada.

Dear Monte Solberg:

Just in case you missed it, I am enclosing a copy of a recent article published in the November issue of The United Church Observer, in support of those members of the United States Armed Forces who have taken refuge in Canada.

Many of them joined the Forces under the mistaken impression that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction and was connected to the 9/11 attack on New York. Or they thought they were recruited only to provide humanitarian aid and assist in reconstruction following natural disasters or to defend against invasion by foreign powers. It has been said that in any war the first casualty is truth. In this case the American Government flagrantly contributed to the demise of truth, and as the truth has dawned on these military people they have found themselves in an untenable position, where they are expected to murder the innocent. How many more such members of the Armed Forces have given in to military commands, and so are suffering pangs of conscience and debilitating mental stress as they follow orders to kill? And how many innocent civilians have been massacred in recent years because of those orders?

Canada must do the right thing!

I realize that if every person who comes to Canada seeking refugee status were to be successful in his quest, our present balance in countries of origin would be seriously affected and we would be letting in some criminals or potential criminals. But because our refugee panels consist of only one person and there is no appeal, these panels are the only courts in Canada that can send an appellant to his death on the decision of one person. I am sure that hundreds – perhaps thousands – of would-be Canadians have been sent to their deaths by such panels.

Yours for a more compassionate Canada.