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.