For Immediate Release

For the Second Election in a Row, Axworthy and Roche Call for a Department of Peace in Canada.

Once again, two of Canada’s most important and respected figures in the field of human security, peacebuilding and disarmament are calling for the creation of a Canadian Department of Peace and for all national party leaders to respond to this proposal.

The Hon. Lloyd Axworthy, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Hon. Doug Roche, former Canadian Ambassador for Disarmament and Chair, UN Disarmament Committee, state, in their letter, that, “it would be timely to provide for greater balance, coordination and direction in peace and security policy by creating a Minister and Department of Peace, working closely with Foreign Affairs Canada, DND and civil society organizations.” They argue that Canada needs a “voice in Cabinet specifically responding to conflict by peaceful means and implementing a culture of peace at home and abroad.”

The letter was arranged by the Canadian Department of Peace Initiative (CDPI), that has chapters in 10 cities across Canada. Some 25 national organizations and many prominent Canadians have endorsed this proposal. Canadians in general are showing increasing support for this initiative. We now look forward to a response from all the national political leaders to the question: “If elected, would you move to make a Department of Peace a reality?”

Contact Co-chairs Dr. Saul Arbess at 250-383-5878 or Dr. Bill Bhaneja at 613-244-1979.

TEXT OF THE LETTER FOLLOWS

Second Open Letter To National Party Leaders Calling for a Canadian Department of Peace

September 26, 2008

Once more, as we did during the last election, we are calling for a new federal department, the Department of Peace. The intervening period has only increased the desirability of this new department.

As Canada’s foreign and military policy has significantly changed towards a more aggressive and militaristic stance, our historical role as peacekeeper, peacebuilder and peace negotiator, has declined. For the most part, these policy changes occurred without parliamentary debate or public hearings. Furthermore, there is currently no voice in Cabinet specifically responding to conflict by peaceful means and implementing a culture of peace at home and abroad. Again, the nuclear danger has increased, yet there is limited work being done on this critical survival issue.

Given the situation pertaining above, it would be timely to provide greater balance, coordination and direction in peace and security policy by creating a Minister and Department of Peace, working closely with FAC, DND and civil society organizations (CSOs). CSOs have been crucial in developing and implementing peacebuilding methodologies and the government should provide greater consultation with them through the proposed department.

Such a department would:

1. act as a sensor for the early detection and nonviolent intervention in areas of conflict before conflict escalates to violence
2. serve as an incubator for creative responses and mitigation of violence
3. develop the long range thinking required to deal with the root causes of violence
4. implement UN treaties, covenants and declarations in concert with the Ambassador to the UN and the Ambassador for Disarmament
5. increase Canada’s role in nuclear and general disarmament

A Department of Peace is increasingly supported by Canadians in general and peace and justice organizations across the country. We look forward to a response to this proposal from all national political leaders.

The Hon. Lloyd Axworthy, President,
The University of Winnipeg and former Minister of Foreign Affairs Canada
Contact: 204-786-9214 or
president@uwinnipeg.ca

The Hon. Douglas Roche, OC,
former Canadian Ambassador for Disarmament and Chair,
UN Disarmament Committee
Contact: 780-984-8292 or
djroche@shaw.ca