The following statement was delivered by NDP MP Bill Siksay on April 21st, 2009 during the parliamentary question period. Mr. Siksay has volunteered to prepare legislation regarding the implementation of a Canadian Department of Peace Initiative that is to be tabled as a Private Members Motion.

Mr Speaker:

How does a society institute a culture of peace?

The Canadian Department of Peace Initiative focused on that question last weekend in Hamilton, Ontario.

Peace activists from across Canada showed our support for a major realignment of federal… government priorities away from militarism and violence and towards peace.

The Department of Peace Initiative proposes the establishment of a federal Department of Peace to place the promotion of peace at the heart of the operation of our government by redirecting the machinery of government towards the promotion of peaceful conflict resolution, nonviolent intervention, and mediation.  As well, establishing a Canadian Civilian Peace Service, to professionalize peace work by Canadians, would significantly improve Canada’s role in charting a course to peace at home and around the world.

New opportunities exist to recommit to peace, given the coming end to Canada’s participation in the war in Afghanistan and new interest in nuclear disarmament.  A broadly mandated Department of Peace will entrench Canadians’ hopes for a peaceful world in the work of our federal government.