Election 2006: Militarism and Peace

Questions for our candidates, prepared by ceasefire.ca

Political Party Questionnaire
To the political parties:
Canada?s role in the world is an important election issue for me. I am
concerned that Canada risks being drawn into the United States?
dangerous and provocative foreign policy.
My vote will be determined by which party or candidate will seek out a positive and independent
role for Canada in the world. Therefore, I would appreciate receiving your responses to these
important questions:
1. Missile defence lobbyists continue to urge the government to re-open talks with the United
States to join their flawed, expensive and dangerous system.
Q. If elected, will you ensure that Canada does not participate in the U.S. ballistic
missile defence system?
2. According to the United Nations, Canada is only the 36th highest contributor of soldiers for UNled
peacekeeping missions, on par with Peru and Guatemala. Meanwhile we are about to send
more than 2,000 troops to Afghanistan to fight under U.S. and NATO command.
Q. If elected, will your party commit to returning Canada to our former position as
one of the world?s top 10 contributors of soldiers to UN-led peacekeeping
missions?
3. Global military spending has grown to more than one trillion dollars per year, and half of that is
being spent by the United States alone. Like the U.S., Canada is increasing its military spending
and we are already the fourteenth highest in the world, seventh highest in NATO. This spending
is being used to make our military more compatible with U.S. military forces ? not UN
peacekeeping.
Q. If elected, will your party redirect planned military spending increases to
support UN peacekeeping and other important security measures, such as
improved health care, environental protection and foreign aid?
4. The international arms industry, like military spending, is growing rapidly. Canadian
corporations are profiting from the arms race, making our country the sixth highest exporter of
arms in the world in 2004, surpassing even China.
Q. If elected, will you tighten Canada?s arms export controls, end public subsidies
to corporations for weapons production, and ensure that public dollars, such as
Canada Pension Plan funds, are not invested with arms producers?
5. In October 2005 Canada was about to introduce an important proposal at the United Nations,
along with six other nations, to start new negotiations aimed at reducing nuclear weapons and
preventing the weaponization of space. But when the Bush administration signalled its disfavour,
Canada withdrew its support, sabotaging the entire proposal.
Q. If elected, will you ensure that Canada leads the way for nuclear disarmament
and the prevention of an arms race in space, starting by reintroducing the proposal
for new UN disarmament talks in 2006?
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