From Mennonite Church Canada online newsletter

Principles of Peace gain broader recognition

October 16, 2009

-Deborah Froese

WINNIPEG, Manitoba — What if peace were held as the organizing principle for society? What if non-violent conflict resolution, rather than defence and offence, shaped national and international strategies for peace? What if military “boot camp” for soldiers focussed on intensive training in violence prevention, mediation, and reconciliation instead of physical prowess, aggression and weaponry?

Mennonite Church Canada is taking an active role in promoting a culture of peace, including non-violent conflict resolution, within Canada and abroad. A Private Members Bill tabled in the Canadian House of Commons on Sept. 30, 2009 (Bill C-447) calls for the creation of a Canadian Department of Peace, headed by a Cabinet-level minister. This, in part, results from efforts of the Canadian Department of Peace Initiative (CDPI), a grassroots organization with whom Mennonite Church Canada has partnered in this initiative. (more…)

Senator Mobina Jaffer, along with Mr. Bill Siksay, M.P. will kindly host an event introducing Bill C-447 and Motion-463 to Members of Parliament and Senators with an opportunity to discuss the principle and mandate of a Department of Peace in a way that corresponds to Canadian context and needs. The event will involve a presentation by chairs/ key members of the Canadian Department of Peace Initiative and question/ answer session.

Date: May 26, 2010

Time: 7:00pm-8:00pm

Location: Room 308, West Block, Parliament Hill

MPs and senators are asked to RSVP to Senator Mobina Jaffer at (613) 992-0189.

We ask that supporters of a Canadian Department of Peace request the presence of their MPs at this event to discuss the opportunities and challenges that this initiative offers for domestic and international conflict resolution and its relationship with government plans involving the economy, military expenditures and peace-building projects.