CEIU endorses War Resisters Support Campaign

War Resisters Support Campaign
427 Bloor Street West, Box 13
Toronto Ontario M5S 1X7

I am pleased to advise you that the CEIU National Executive members have endorsed your support campaign at its most recent meeting in March.

We have sent our call to the Prime Minister (see attached) to provide sanctuary in this country for US war objectors.

As well we wish to point out to you that in fact it has not been Refugee Hearing Officers who have accepted the government’s argument, but rather politically appointed board chairpersons, i.e. the people who hear these cases. This may be a technical point, but as the union representing those rank and file IRB workers, we think we need to clarify the point.

We note that many regions and committees of our union are active in supporting War Resisters, and we will continue to promote this issue on all fronts.

In solidarity,

Jeannette Meunier-McKay
National President

c.c. National Executive Members

*****

May 25, 2006

The Honourable Stephen Harper
Prime Minister
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON

Mr. Harper:

During the period of 1965-1973 more than 50,000 draft age Americans made their way to Canada, refusing to participate in an immoral war. At that time, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau said: "Those who make the conscientious judgment that they must not participate in this war…have my complete sympathy, and indeed our political approach has been to give them access to Canada. Canada should be a refuge from militarism."

Thirty years later, Canada is faced with the same moral choice – to give refuge to those who refuse to be accomplices in the US-led war on Iraq which many legal opinions have deemed illegal under international law.

Regardless of the technical decisions of the Immigration and Refugee Board appointees, I believe Canada should not punish US war resisters for exercising their conscience and refusing to fight. If they are returned to the US, they face incarceration and even possibly the death penalty.

In March of this year our national executive board adopted the War Resisters Support Campaign Declaration that calls on your government to make provision for US war resisters to have sanctuary in this country.

We note as well the growing support for this call from sister unions and thousands of Canadians across the country. It is in your power to make legal provision for these resisters to stay in Canada.

I look forward to hearing from you soon on this matter.

Sincerely,

Jeannette Meunier-McKay
National President

c.c. CEIU National Executive Members