Campagne d'appui
aux résistantEs à la guerre

juil. 30th 2020

Stephen Mosley

We recently received news that Stephen Mosley, a long-time supporter of the War Resisters Support Campaign, left a significant bequest to the Campaign.

Stephen Mosley passed away in June 2018 at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre after a lengthy illness. Predeceased by parents Ray and Joyce. Brother of Paul (Sarah); uncle to Ryan (Casey) and Jordan (Lindsey); great uncle to Keira and Kaiden. Stephen will also be missed by the love of his life Nancy Latimer, who provided extraordinary love and support. In the 1970s Stephen was instrumental in establishing the first Barrie Folk Society. In his later years, performing as Mose Stephenson, he was well known for his street performances and for lobbying the city in support of an organized street performer program. He also self-produced 5 CDs and had songs profiled on CBC Radio.

Stephen’s brother Paul offered this appreciation of his brother:

“He was a lifelong protester against war and aggression around the world. And his passion for music and his stance against war came together with the folk music movement and artists like Neil Young and Bob Dylan. He was profiled in local media burning the American flag on the streets of Barrie at the start of the Gulf War. He read prolifically the works of Noam Chomsky, Che Guevara, and others. And he wrote letters and emails to the Prime Minister of Canada and to the President of the United States to challenge their policies domestically and around the world. Even in his last few months he managed to find the strength to physically protest the installation of war equipment in local parkland on Barrie’s lakeshore. Knowing the end was near, Stephen prepared his Will, ensuring that the sum of $5000 was bequeathed to the War Resisters, whose work he had followed over the years. He passed away peacefully at Barrie’s Royal Victoria Hospital on June 11th, 2018.

“He received the City of Barrie’s first “Changemaker” Award (posthumously in 2019) for his lobbying work toward establishing a downtown music busking program. The City will always remember you in your cap and fingerless gloves, playing in the coldest days of the year, Beyond his music, many will also always remember his art and his activism.

“His struggle is over, but we hope his music and his passion for social and political issues will live on. Rest in peace, brother.”

You can enjoy Mose’s music here.

The War Resisters Support Campaign deeply appreciates this gift which will assist U.S. war resisters as they finalize their status in Canada.

juin 13th 2016

13 juin 2016.

Pour diffusion immédiate

Toronto, Ontario – Une majorité de Canadiens et de Canadiennes est d’accord pour permettre aux soldats qui ont fuit au Canada après avoir refusé de prendre part à la guerre d’Irak de devenir résidents permanents, révèle un nouveau sondage d’opinion publique réalisé par Insights West.

Depuis que le premier résistant à la guerre d’Irak, Jeremy Hinzman, est venu au Canada avec sa famille en 2004, la Campagne d’appui aux résistantEs à la guerre apporte son aide pour que ces objecteurs de conscience obtiennent le statut de résident permanent.

Dans le sondage en ligne portant sur un échantillon représentatif de la population canadienne, trois personnes sur cinq (63%) se disent en accord avec le fait de permettre à ces soldats américains de devenir des résidents permanents du Canada, alors qu’une personne sur cinq (21%) est en désaccord avec cette idée, et que 16% sont indécises à ce sujet. Le soutien est très similaire peu importe le sexe (femmes 64%, hommes 62%), et il y a peu de variations entre les groupes d’âge (15-34 ans et 55 ans et plus 65%, 35-54 ans 60%).

Dans toutes les régions du pays également, des majorités de personnes sont d’accord avec le fait de permettre aux soldats américains de rester, le minimum étant de 56% en Saskatchewan et au Manitoba, et le maximum de 74% en Colombie-Britannique.

Les canadiens qui ont voté pour le parti Libéral ou le Nouveau parti démocratique en octobre 2015 sont plus susceptibles de supporter cette orientation (71% et 75%, respectivement) que ceux qui ont voté pour le parti Conservateur.

« Je suis fier d’être parmi la majorité de canadiens qui supportent la position de principe des résistants à la guerre, » a déclaré Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, député du comté de Beaches-East York à Toronto. « De finalement octroyer le statut de résident permanent est la bonne chose à faire pour ces objecteurs de conscience et pour le Canada ».

« Tous les résistants à la guerre d’Irak ont des requêtes qui sont en suspens devant les fonctionnaires de l’immigration, » dit Paul Copeland, CM, un avocat de la défense bien connu qui est spécialisé dans les droits humains et la sécurité nationale. « Le gouvernement Libéral pourrait facilement remédier à leur statut précaire, en autorisant pour des motifs humanitaires et de compassion les parrainages et les demandes de leurs conjoints pour la résidence permanente ».

En mai, le Premier Ministre Justin Trudeau a été cité par la Presse Canadienne pour avoir déclaré que cette question est « examinée de près par le gouvernement ». Mais, après sept mois en poste, il n’y a aucune évidence que le nouveau gouvernement s’emploie à régler la situation.

Durant un arrêt pré-électoral à Winnipeg au Manitoba, le 4 juillet 2015, Justin Trudeau a dit : « J’appuie le principe de permettre aux objecteurs de conscience de demeurer. Je suis engagé à… restaurer notre sens d’ouverture et de compassion et un endroit qui est un refuge sécuritaire pour les gens qui viennent ici ».

Le vétéran et résistant à la guerre d’Irak Rodney Watson demeure dans une Église, la First United Church de Vancouver, où il a cherché refuge il y a maintenant près de sept ans, après que le précédent gouvernement Harper ait ordonné son expulsion aux États-Unis.

Un examen judiciaire des cas de quatre autres résistants à la guerre doit être entendu par la Cour fédérale à Toronto cet automne. Le gouvernement a donné la date limite du 16 septembre pour décider s’il continuera de poursuivre la politique des conservateurs de s’opposer à ces objecteurs de conscience devant les tribunaux.

Il y a eu 12 décisions de la Cour fédérale et de la Cour d’appel fédérale en faveur des résistants à la guerre d’Irak depuis 2008. Malheureusement, le recours limité qui est à la disposition des tribunaux consiste à renvoyer les cas pour révision aux fonctionnaires de l’immigration, qui sont encore assujettis au bulletin opérationnel 202 préjudiciable du gouvernement précédent. Le gouvernement actuel fait de nouveaux procès sur des questions qui ont déjà été décidées en faveur des résistants à la guerre par les tribunaux canadiens, et il défend la position du gouvernement Harper selon laquelle il est acceptable de mettre en prison des objecteurs de conscience.

La Campagne d’appui aux résistantEs à la guerre demande au gouvernement Trudeau de :

1. Cesser de déporter les résistants à la guerre;

2. Cesser de poursuivre les résistants à la guerre devant les tribunaux, car cela défend les décisions et les politiques du précédent gouvernement conservateur;

3. Abroger le bulletin opérationnel 202 préjudiciable de Citoyenneté et Immigration Canada;

4. Adopter une nouvelle directive pour rétablir la justice dans tous les cas de résistants américains à la guerre.

À propos du sondage :

Les résultats sont basés sur une enquête effectuée en ligne du 30 mai au 2 juin 2016 auprès d’un échantillon représentatif de 1001 adultes canadiens. L’échantillon a été pondérée statistiquement pour l’âge, le sexe et la région en fonction des données du recensement du Canada.

À propos d’Insights West :

Insights West est une société de services complets de recherche en marketing, basée dans l’Ouest, et orientée vers l’avenir. Elle existe pour servir les marchés avec la recherche de solutions axées sur les idées et l’analyse interprétative grâce à des outils d’avant-garde, des bases de données normatives, et une expertise de haut niveau dans une vaste gamme d’organismes des secteurs public et privé. Insights West est basée à Vancouver et à Calgary.

Décisions de la Cour fédérale et de la la Cour d’appel fédérale en faveur des résistants américains à la guerre :

1. Joshua Key – juillet 2008
2. James Corey Glass – juillet 2008
3. Jeremy Hinzman – septembre 2008
4. Matthew Lowell – septembre 2008
5. Dean Walcott – janvier 2009
6. Kimberly Rivera – mars 2009
7. Kimberly Rivera – août 2009
8. Jeremy Hinzman – juillet 2010 (Cour d’appel fédérale)
9. Dean Walcott – avril 2011
10. Chris Vassey – juillet 2011
11. Jules Tindungan – février 2013
12. D.G.L. – octobre 2014

mai 14th 2016

May 15th is International Conscientious Objectors Day. Please take a minute today to write to Minister of Immigration John McCallum and Minister of Justice Jody Wilson-Raybould. Ask them to let U.S. war resisters stay in Canada.

Amnesty International Canada recently wrote to the Minister of Immigration outlining their concerns about the unfair treatment of of U.S. war resisters.

You can make a difference by sending a brief message today. Here is a sample you can copy and paste into your email. Feel free to edit it or write your own message.

Email addresses to send to:
minister@cic.gc.ca
mcu@justice.gc.ca

You can cc your own Member of Parliament. To find their contact info, click here and enter your postal code.

Sample letter:

Dear Ministers,

May 15th is International Conscientious Objectors Day. I am writing you today to ask that you take this opportunity to resolve the situation of U.S. Iraq war resisters in Canada and allow them to stay in Canada.

Many of these conscientious objectors to the illegal and immoral war in Iraq have been in Canada for 10 years or more. The previous Conservative government interfered in their cases and they have still not had a fair and impartial hearing. I urge you to address this situation by:

– withdrawing Operational Bulletin 202 which singles out U.S. war resisters
– halting the litigation in their cases which was initiated by the Conservative government

Canadians overwhelmingly opposed the Iraq war and want U.S. war resisters to stay, as they did during the Vietnam war. Please to the right thing and move quickly to resolve the unfair handling of these cases by the previous government and let U.S. conscientious objectors stay.

avril 15th 2016

It has been 13 years since the launch of the Iraq war, a war that most nations including Canada refused to be part of. U.S. Iraq War resisters, who refused to participate in this illegal and immoral war, came to Canada seeking refuge much as tens of thousands of people did during the Vietnam War.

If returned to the U.S., they face harsh punishment including long jail terms and felony convictions which will follow them for the rest of their lives. Harper’s Conservative government singled out U.S. war resisters and directly interfered in their cases, denying them a fair and impartial hearing.

Please watch and share this video about the situation they now face and how you can help them to stay in Canada.

mars 31st 2016

Contrary to widespread hopes and expectations for a positive resolution for U.S. Iraq War resisters, the Liberal government is pursuing litigation against them that was initiated by the previous Harper government. The Federal Court hearings are scheduled for April 5 and 6.

We are asking every supporter to immediately email Minister of Immigration John McCallum, at minister@cic.gc.ca and john.mccallum@parl.gc.ca (model message below).

Please include your city and province after your name.

cc Prime Minister Justin Trudeau: justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca

Below is a model email message you can copy and paste – you can send as is, or personalize it:
—-

SUBJECT: U.S. Iraq War resisters – Stop litigation initiated by Harper government

Honourable John McCallum
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
BY EMAIL

Dear Minister McCallum,

I am writing to ask that you immediately cease the litigation initiated by the former Conservative government against U.S. Iraq War resisters.

Our new government should not defend decisions made under the previous government and re-litigate matters the Court has already found on in favour of these conscientious objectors. As you know, Canadians overwhelmingly opposed the Iraq War and the Liberal government under Jean Chrétien made a decision not to participate in it.

The cases to be heard by the Federal Court on April 5 and 6 should be settled, and the matters sent back to be re-determined by new immigration officers.

I thank you for your consideration and look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

cc: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

mars 22nd 2016

Special Toronto film screening:
WE ARE MANY by Amir Amirani

Tuesday April 12th, 7pm
Steelworkers Hall, 25 Cecil St.
Toronto

On 15 February 2003, over 15 million people in nearly 800 cities, throughout 72 countries, marched against the impending war in Iraq. We Are Many tells, for the first time, the story behind and legacy of the biggest demonstration in history.

Shot in 7 countries over 8 years, featuring first hand testimony from organisers and direct participants, We Are Many is a powerful story of resistance to war.

“The only film I have ever watched where the audience started clapping
half way through…” Huffington Post

“It is a powerful and at times moving tribute to organised dissent
and the power of the people… It is admirably watchable and provocative…
Amirani is to be congratulated for this passionate and provocative film.”
Screen Daily / International

Film screening followed by Q&A with WAËL KABBANI, Executive Director of WE ARE MANY.

Suggested donation $10 or pwyc. Proceeds to War Resisters Support Campaign.

Watch the trailer:

févr. 27th 2016

Following the federal election, there is hope that there can finally be a positive and speedy resolution to the cases of U.S. Iraq War resisters. Your help is needed to make sure they are allowed to stay in Canada. Watch our new video below and then take a moment to write a letter to your MP in support of war resisters. For more information, see our backgrounder on the situation of U.S. Iraq War Resisters in Canada.

nov. 26th 2015

Following the federal election, there is hope that there can finally be a positive and speedy resolution to the cases of U.S. Iraq War resisters. Your help is needed to make sure they are allowed to stay in Canada.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

Background: Canadians voted for change and expect the new government to do the right thing and let the war resisters stay. It was the strong response of Canadians that has kept most U.S. war resisters in Canada – and out of U.S. military prison – for the past ten years.

U.S. Iraq War resisters have lived through a decade of unfair political interference in their cases by the previous Conservative government. Some were deported by the Harper government, and received harsh jail sentences in the U.S. for opposing the illegal and immoral invasion of Iraq.

The new government should immediately heed the will of the majority of Canadians and stop any and all actions against U.S. war resisters, including halting the litigation against U.S. war resisters, as this litigation defends policies and decisions made by the previous Conservative government.

LET THEM STAY WEEK, Nov. 29 – Dec. 5

During “Let Them Stay Week”, let federal Minister of Immigration John McCallum know that you support a provision to allow U.S. war resisters to stay in Canada, and that you want the current legal proceedings against them to cease.

Sunday November 29 – Profile Picture Day: Change your profile picture in support of U.S. Iraq War resisters, for the duration of Let Them Stay Week.

Monday November 30 – Contact the Minister Day: Watch and share this video and then phone or email Minister John McCallum to urge him to LET U.S. WAR RESISTERS STAY in Canada.

You can send an email here, or contact him at:

Telephone: 613-954-1064
E-Mail: minister@cic.gc.ca
Fax: 613-996-1289

Tuesday December 1 – Write a letter to the editor of your local paper.

Wednesday December 2 – Mail In Letters Day: Write a letter to the Minister of Immigration and mail it (postage required) to:

The Honourable John McCallum, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
365 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 1L1

Thursday December 3 – Ten years’ worth of #TBT (Throwback Thursday) to share on social media! : Follow us on Facebook and share, post, disseminate information on Iraq war resisters in your networks.

Friday December 4 – Community Outreach Day: Call your local MP’s office to express your concern; circulate the U.S. war resister petition; post a window-sign at your home, workplace, community or faith organization.

Saturday December 5 – Help fund the Campaign to keep U.S. war resisters in Canada: make a donation to the War Resisters Support Campaign – you can donate online here or send a cheque or money order to: War Resisters Support Campaign, 427 Bloor St. West, Box 3, Toronto, ON CANADA M5S 1X7

oct. 26th 2015

Following the federal election, which put an end to the Conservative government, there is hope that there can finally be a positive and speedy resolution to the cases of U.S. Iraq War resisters. The war resisters have lived with unfair political interference in their cases for almost 10 years. Now is the time to let the new government know that Canadians expect them to do the right thing and let them stay!

How you can help

1) Write a Letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau:

The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister of Canada
Office of the Prime Minister
Langevin Block
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A2

2) Call, e-mail and write to your Member of Parliament:
To send a letter: address it to your MP, and send to House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6

To find out your MP’s email and phone number, you can email info@parl.gc.ca
or call toll-free (Canada): 1 (866) 599-4999.

MP contact details will be up shortly at www.parl.gc.ca, under ‘Members of Parliament’.

Key points to mention:
• Resolve this issue swiftly as part of the change promised by the new government
• It is time to fix this issue – end over 10 years of unfair and unjust legal and political actions by the Harper government
• Stop the deportations
• Stop pursuing war resister cases in court, as doing so defends decisions and policies made by the former Conservative government
• Rescind Operational Bulletin 202
• Implement a new Operational Bulletin that restores fairness for all war resister cases and reverses the harm done

3) Donate to the War Resisters Support Campaign:
https://www.gofundme.com/letthemstay

4) Please join and follow us – and share us on Social Media:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/WarResisters
Twitter: www.twitter.com/warresisters
Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/WarResistersCanada

août 14th 2015

Please join us for this summer screening of two important documentaries about U.S. war resisters who sought asylum in Canada:

• Deserter (2007 – 30 min) follows the journey of US Iraq War resister Ryan Johnson and his spouse Jenna as they make their way across the U.S. to seek asylum in Canada.

• The Path of Glory (2014 – 50 min) – a documentary featuring U.S. war resisters Kimberly Rivera and Jeremy Brockway.

There will also be a brief update on the federal election and the campaign to let U.S. war resisters stay.

Suggested donation $5-10 or pay what you can