The Costa Rica Congress has passed the Bill creating the Ministry of Justice and Peace and becomes the third country to have such a Minister. The others are Nepal and the small Pacific island nation of the Solomon Islands. The Nepalese Minister  of Peace and Reconstruction will speak at the Global Alliance Summit for Ministries and Departments of Peace, September 17-21, 2009 and it is anticipated that the new Costa Rica Minister of Peace will also speak. Canada will be represented at the Summit by a large delegation of 9 persons.

Congratulations are due to Rita Marie Johnson, Founding Director, and her team at the Rasur Foundation, the principal NGO voice for the Minister of Peace, who worked for 3 years on this project. She has particularly noted that holding the Global Alliance Summit in CR accelerated and added impetus to the passing of this Bill. The  Global Alliance for Ministries and Departments of Peace has shown its ability to assist in moving forward our objective to create ministers of peace in all nations. 

In Japan, where the 3rd Summit was held in September 2007, that Summit assisted in the further strengthening of the threatened Article 9 in the Japanese Constitution, the article that prevents Japan from acting as a belligerent against any other nation and renounces war as a vehicle of resolving conflict. To date, despite considerable pressure from the US and the wishes of the conservative parties in Japan, Article 9 remains intact as a model clause for every nation’s constitution.

Department of Peace Initiative Launched

Thursday, 06 August 2009

By Carolyn Girard

Published in the Catholic Register

 A private members’ bill to establish a Canadian Department of Peace will soon be before Parliament, perhaps as early as the fall.

British Columbia MP Bill Siksay jumped on board the six-year-old campaign advocating for a Department of Peace just a few years ago, and recently volunteered to write the legislation for the private members’ bill he hopes to table in September. (more…)

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. (more…)

Theme: Building a Culture of Peace in Canada and Abroad
Friday, April 17, 7:00-9:30 PM

The evening featured a stimulating and provocative talk by Linda McQuaig, entitled: After Afghanistan: Reinvigorating Canada’s Role as a Global Peacebuilder. She spoke of a rising militarism and the growing military-industrial complex in Canada and saw
a department of peace as an antidote, stating that war is obselete. She was introduced by Borys Wresnewskyj, MP, a staunch supporter of the CDPI. Bill Siksay, NDP-MP, spoke of his work in drafting a Private Members Bill calling for a department of peace. (more…)

The Canadian Department of Peace Initiative is proud to announce the first recipient of the Women Building Peace Award – Big Congratulations to Nicole Charron. (more…)

February 15–17, 2009

Sponsored by Civilian Peace Service Canada

in cooperation with
The Canadian Department of Peace Initiative, Saint Paul University,
The Canadian Institute for Conflict Resolution, Rideau Institute,
One World Inc, and Canadian Voice of Women for Peace
to be held at
Université Saint Paul University
223, rue Main Street, Ottawa, K1S 1C4
Conference Overview (more…)

Continental Shift:
Winning in the Political Moment

Steve Staples, noted military and security analyst, will look at the shifting political landscape following recent elections and what it will mean for Canadian peace and justice NGOs and civil society. He will touch on rising militarism and military spending, the decline of UN peacekeeping and peace diplomacy, and the future of the Afghanistan combat mission, among other issues. (more…)

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. (more…)