I thought it was posted that Canada would not send men back to fight in Iraq?

[NotThisTime]

My local newspaper has an article about how there is a deportation order for just such a man. I thought this law was passed in Canada over the past six months? Does anyone know the status of it?

[NotThisTime]

1. Here's further information on it - it seems to have passed, why are they sending anyone back?

http://axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/printer_26918.shtml


Editor's Note: The term "historic" is applied far too loosely to events that some authors wish to magnify in importance. But the vote by the Canadian parliament to give U.S. war resisters asylum and Canadian citizenship is worthy of the term. After all, this action holds an important place in history. During the U.S. war on the people of Vietnam, Canada opened its borders to 50,000 - 80,000 who refused to fight and fled court marshal and imprisonment in the US. Many of them fled to Canada after being drafted into the US miilitary and refused to fight in Vietnam. Many of these never returned to the U.S. and lived out their lives in Canada.

The War Resisters' Support Campaign in Toronto says they know of about 200 Iraq war resisters currently in Canada, seeking asylum. These figures represent people who changed their minds after joining the U.S. military and/or after experiencing the horror of this war in Iraq. There may be many more like them who remain underground. 5 news articles by the corporate media are included below with their various twists and spins on this story. The bottom line in all of them is that the parliament in Canada, often touted to be the fav ally of the U.S., has made a historic decision.

Below the 5 news bulletins, you will find an article by "Soldier Say No" and "Project Safe Haven" which provides the reader with contact information to the parliament and other officials in Canada. Readers are encouraged to contact the government to thank those who support US war resisters and to urge the Harper Conservatives to do the same.

- Les Blough, Editor

NDP motion to let war resisters stay passes
3 Jun 2008
NDP New Democratic Party

OTTAWA � Iraq War Resisters residing in Canada received overwhelming support from the House of Commons following today�s passage of an NDP motion to let them stay in the country.

NDP Citizenship and Immigration critic, Olivia Chow�s (Trinity-Spadina) motion reflected ordinary Canadians� belief that George Bush�s war in Iraq is wrong and that resisters should not be deported to jail.

The motion calls on the Harper Conservatives to allow American war resisters who have refused or left military service related to the illegal invasion of Iraq and their immediate family members to stay in Canada and be able to become permanent residents. Furthermore, the motion would force the government to immediately withdraw any removal or deportation orders against War Resisters.

NDP MP Bill Siksay (Burnaby Douglas), moved a similar motion a year ago on May 8, 2007 at the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration. His motion was rejected by the Conservatives, Liberals and Bloc.

Through ongoing campaigns and mobilizations, supporters have finally been able to sway the Liberal and Bloc vote in support of the war resisters

�Ordinary people want the Iraq war resisters to stay,� said Chow. �The Harper Conservatives must respect this and immediately implement this motion.�