The major political parties are united in pushing the federal government to accelerate military spending to meet NATO’s 2% GDP requirement. This means billions more will be diverted from critical social issues such as housing, healthcare, education, reconciliation & climate action.
Ask Candidates: “Do you agree that taxpayer’s money should be spent on housing, healthcare, education, reconciliation and climate action instead of war”?
Modern militaries are the largest consumer of fossil fuels on the planet. Canada’s Armed Forces is a substantial emitter of greenhouse gas emissions and includes aircraft, marine vessels, and tactical land vehicles from DND, RCMP and Coast Guard. Meaningful climate action means cutting spending on the military and militarized policing.
Ask Candidates: “Do you support cutting military spending and spending on militarized policing as part of your climate action plan?”
On October 7, 2024, the United Nations stated “The serious violations of international law such as murder, intentional targeting of civilian objects, disproportionate & indiscriminate attacks, starvation, forcible transfer, arbitrary displacement, sexual violence, persecution, & outrages against life & dignity, including disrespect for the dead, committed by Israeli Forces since the beginning of the war in Gaza in October 2023 constitute war crimes & possibly crimes against humanity.” It is crucial that candidates do not conflate BDS, criticism of Israel or organized opposition to the ongoing genocide in Palestine as antisemitism.
Ask Candidates: “Do you condemn the war crimes committed by the state of Israel against Palestinians and support people’s right to protest the ongoing genocide in Palestine?”
Since 1962, Canada’s largest trading partner and close ally, the United States, has sanctioned and implemented an economic blockade against the Cuban people in violation of international law and has been a bulwark to self-determination and the human rights of the Cuban people. This has led to severe shortages of basic medical and food supplies that affect the daily lives of Cuban residents. The U.S. blockade on Cuba and its sanctions on countries like Venezuela, Nicaragua, and many others, restricts Canada’s foreign policy and limits friendly bilateral relations against the will of the Canadian people.
Ask Candidates: “Will you pressure United States representatives to lift the illegal blockade against Cuba?”
The Toronto Association for Peace and Solidarity calls on all candidates to sharply cut military spending, leave NATO and invest in desperately needed social programs such as health, education, housing and environmental protection. to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, and oppose unjust unilateral economic warfare waged against any state. To respect the full rights and self-determination of all nations and peoples. To respect and work to strengthen international law (UN, ICJ).
Now is the time to build a powerful peace movement in Canada and engage actively in the struggle against imperialism, the greatest enemy of the peoples of the world and their desire to live in peace.
Peace is Everybody’s business. Join the struggle.