CANADIAN DEPARTMENT OF PEACE INITIATIVE
MEETING HELD APRIL 2, 2007, OTTAWA

This event was timed to precede an anticipated federal election with the objective of making our initiative for a federal Department of Peace an election issue. Participation in the invitational conference exceeded the organizers’ expectations with representation from all 8 DoP chapters and 14 of 19 supporting organizations, for a total of 40 delegates.

With reference to the election, it was decided to:

1. create questions that supporters could raise during all-candidates meetings at the local level and a questionnaire for parties to respond to at the national level;
2. question the change of direction of Canadian foreign and defence policy away from UN peacekeeping, peacebuilding and peace diplomacy, to war-fighting in Afghanistan and support for the U.S.-led “war on terror.”
3. ask about the efforts the parties would make, if elected, towards a Department and Cabinet-level Minister of Peace and, in particular, towards nuclear disarmament and the arms trade.

A great spirit of cooperation and enthusiasm, to achieve the goal of creating a federal Department and Minister of Peace, prevailed throughout the event. Delegates felt that significant gains, both organizationally and strategically, were achieved.

Among the decisions made were to:

1. develop a strategic plan, with milestones, towards the achievement of a department of peace;
2. create on-line materials, a Power Point presentation and a DVD to promote the campaign;
3. build relationships with the Canadian labour movement, faith communities and business;
4. accelerate the lobbying of all parties and prepare a petition to Parliament;
5. propose resolutions to municipal councils to support a DoP.

Delegates left the meeting with a renewed commitment to building a new architecture of peace by supporting the initiative for a federal Department of Peace.