Don't be surprised. The decision is coming down the pike and will be made in secret. Why secret? Because the government knows that Canadians oppose missile defence.
But we can stop this crazy idea. Canadians are well aware that this U.S. military program endangers our security and will waste billions of dollars - money that needs to be allocated to social programs like health care, housing and alleviating poverty.
That's why I'm asking you to visit www.ceasefire.ca today. You can get more information and take action now.
Sadly, the decision to cuddle up to this military scheme will be made to appease global corporations and the American far right after having opposed their war on Iraq.
But even more worrisome, adopting missile defence is just one piece of an even larger agenda - deep integration between Canada and the United States. This idea is being championed by some of the same folks who brought us free trade and who now want Canada to adopt the U.S. dollar and further integrate our economies.
We need to let Prime Minister Chrétien and incoming Prime Minister Paul Martin know that we oppose missile defence.
We've already surrendered our sovereignty in areas such as energy, natural resources, social policy, and so-called harmonization of visa and immigration policy.
Now, Canada will give up even more sovereignty over our country's defence and security by handing decision-making powers to the Pentagon.
We ought to remember that George W. Bush said he considers Canada's water as part of his country's security policy. Thus "deep integration" should come as no surprise - the U.S. President and his Canadian free trade supporters seem to believe Canada is nothing more than a U.S. resource supplier. And it 's unlikely that Paul Martin will stand up for Canada.
Yet there is a growing wave of democratic power that Martin and Chrétien cannot ignore.
Canadians do not want further integration with U.S. social, political and military policies. We believe in our health care. We believe in peacekeeping and not wielding a big stick. We believe in our country. And we believe that we are much safer engaging with the rest of the world instead of forcing our will upon them.
I'm confident that Martin and Chrétien will change their minds when Canadians boldly speak up in favour of Canadian security and Canadian priorities.
Missile defence will be a disaster for Canada. It will undermine our sovereignty and security. It will likely force Canada to spend more money on the military, and on the wrong kind of military priorities at that (war-fighting instead of peacekeeping).
That's why I hope you'll join me and visit www.ceasefire.ca to send a letter to Prime Minister Chrétien and copy it to Paul Martin, letting them know that missile defence is unacceptable. And, at the very minimum, let them know they need to be brave enough to make the decision in public and not behind closed doors.
Sincerely yours,
Maude Barlow
Note: www.ceasefire.ca
www.ceasefire.ca
www.ceasefire.ca
Stumble It!
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Dave Ruston
REsponse in part from Mr.Lavell the executive correspondence officer for the PM:
\'The Canadian
government announced on May 30, 2003, that it was entering into talks
with the government of the United States on Canada\'s possible
participation in Ballistic Missile Defence. While the Government
believes that missile defence has the potential to benefit Canada, it is
nonetheless our responsibility to ensure that any arrangement protects
Canada\'s national interests. Hence, this will be at the forefront of
our discussions with US authorities. That said, no final decision will
be taken by the Government prior to the completion of these discussions.
Our assessment will take into account Canada\'s security interests for
North America, our position on international arms control regimes, as
well as our involvement in collective security as a member of NATO.\'
When he says that, the \'government feels this would benefit Canada\' I guess he doesn\'t realize who the government is, as my letter quite plainly stated that I as a Canadian citizen, am against this endeavor! Feel secure? Not I!