by Metta Spencer
published in the Hill Times, October 22, 2007

Question: In a government, which cabinet ministry has responsibility for the “peace file”?

Answer: Usually none.  Although numerous agencies within a democratic government (including Canada’s) do determine the prospects for peace or war, no single one of them is assigned peace as its specific responsibility. No minister has the “peace portfolio,” and no one is authorized to coordinate the efforts of the various governmental branches. (more…)

In August 2006, Focus magazine ran an article about the Department of Peace concept, written by Lesley Marian Neilson. The complete article is available to download in PDF.

by Paul Weinberg
published in NOW Magazine, December 2005

Citizens in 11 countries are lobbying for government departments dedicated to nurturing conflict resolution.

Lowering our defences:
Instead of keeping peace, how ’bout making it with harmony brigades?

You can count the minutes before calls for more military spending join the general clatter in the current election. But what if there were a countervailing set of pressures? What if instead of demanding a boost for defence, pols felt obliged to press for the diversion of funds to a Department of Peace? (more…)

by Metta Spencer (interviewer)
published in Peace Magazine, October-December, 2005

METTA SPENCER: It was your idea to create a department of peace within the Canadian government. Tell me about it.

BILL BHANEJA: In meetings of the Canadian Peacebuilding Coordinating Committee (CPCC), I’ve been representing Science for Peace in Ottawa. When we discussed the organizing of federal peace programs, it was obvious that a cause of problems being discussed was lack of a clear peace mandate — a coherent mission.

SPENCER: Well, great. And you’re not the only person with such ideas. In the US there’s a similar movement underway. (more…)