MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 30, 2006

Council demands sanctuary for war resisters in Canada

The Council of Canadians urges the federal government to make provision for U.S. war resisters to remain in Canada. On February 2, 2006, the Council of Canadians, the Canadian Labour Congress and the War Resisters Support Campaign will hold a public event to engage the Canadian public on the issue.

The event takes place less than a week before the Federal Court hearing of U.S. war resisters Jeremy Hinzman and Brandon Hughey. On February 8, 2006, the Court will hear their appeal of the decision by the Immigration and Refugee Board denying the former soldiers refugee status.

“The Conservative Party expressed support for the war in Iraq when Canadians overwhelmingly opposed it,” says Victoria Gibb-Carsley of the Council of Canadians. “Now that the party is in power, this campaign is more important than ever.” The well-known sympathy of the Conservative Party for the policies of George Bush is at odds with the views of the majority of Canadians who opposed the Iraq war and who have been supportive of asylum for U.S. war resisters.

The Council of Canadians demands that the Conservative government stand up to U.S. pressure and demonstrate its commitment to Canadian sovereignty by making provisions for U.S. war objectors to have sanctuary in this country.

“We are merely asking for Canada to stay true to its tradition as a sanctuary for war resisters,” explains Michelle Robidoux of the War Resisters Support Campaign. “During the Vietnam War, between 50, 000 and 80,000 American war resisters were welcomed to this country.”

Held at the Mercury Lounge in Ottawa, the event will include presentations by Council of Canadians Chair Maude Barlow and war resisters Ryan Johnson and Brandon Hughey, a screening of the documentary "Let Them Stay: Voices of US War Resisters in Canada” and musical performances by tabla player Usman Mushtaq and DJ Lance Baptiste.

There are currently 20 US war resisters who have applied for asylum in Canada, refusing to participate in the illegal occupation of Iraq. Their numbers are growing.

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