On November 30th, Alex Atamanenko (BC Southern Interior NDP Member of Parliament) tabled a bill to Parliament requesting the establishment of a Department of Peace. If accepted this could be the first steps towards a department of this kind that would include a Minister. This Minister would have both international and domestic roles, as well as be called to consult with peace educators to help establish a foundation of peace within the educational system in Canada.
This Bill was introduced as a private member’s bill, and it should be noted that these don’t often become law. This bill is still in its early stages. Alex Atamenko’s bill is a slightly revised version of retired NDP MP Bill Suskay’s from September 2009. Parliamentary procdure often involves lengthy processes, particularly for private members bills.
Below is the transcript of Alex Atamanenko presenting his bill to the Speaker of the House:
Alex Atamanenko British Columbia Southern Interior, BC
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-373, An Act to establish the Department of Peace.
“Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce my bill, an act to establish the department of peace, to help advance the cause of peace in Canada and throughout the world.
The idea that all people can live in peace may seem a bit utopian, but each generation must, on behalf of the next generation, do everything in its power to come as close to reaching this goal as possible.
I would like to pay tribute to my former colleague, Bill Siksay, for introducing this bill in the last Parliament. He truly was and remains an inspiration for all of us.
I would also like to thank the leader of the Green Party and the Liberal member for Scarborough—Agincourt, as well as my fellow NDP members, for supporting this bill.
I also thank the folks from the Canadian Department of Peace Initiative for all their hard work in advancing this cause, a number of whom are here today. I extend a special thanks to Bill Bhaneja, the co-founder of CDPI, as well as Theresa Dunn, co-chair of CDPI, Koozma Tarasoff, a Doukhobor writer, historian and long-time advocate of peace, and Laura Savinkoff of Grand Forks of the Boundary Peace Initiative, among others.
This is truly a non-partisan issue. I urge all my colleagues on both sides of the House to join us in support of this important initiative. Let us give peace a chance.”
This last paragraph is very powerful. It is a statement that is simple, and has been made numerous times before, but one rarely heard from the mouths of elected officials. It is encouraging to know that Canada has Members of Parliament, like Mr. Atamanenko and those who support this bill, who are dedicated to important peace issues. Bill C-373 is a step in the right direction, and could help to reshape Canada’s domestic and foreign policies in a positive way. It is a department specifically designed to deal with peace issues, rather than being added on to other departments with their own specific work.
It is also refreshing that bills are being introduced that, rather than using military force, are designed to address issues in more diplomatic and progressive ways. Canada led the way in the 1970’s for peacekeeping with something that had rarely been seen before, and now has the opportunity to again blaze the trail and to set a positive example, however, this time we could do so in a more meaningful and peaceful way.
Given Canada’s (perceived) track record with peacekeeping, and what we believe our international role to be, it seems like a no-brainer. However, critical analysis of past peacekeeping missions tell a different story. Our military actions in previous “peacekeeping” missions have often been undertaken for personal gain, rather than for the loftier goal of peace. An independent film called Myths for Profit gives an informative and critical view of past peacekeeping missions which the Canadian military has taken part in. Click on the link to see the trailer. With the purchase of $9 billion in fighter jets, this kind of action could likely continue.
Of course any political action will come from a certain point of view, but given the nature of the bill, more preventative efforts and peaceful solutions will take precedent over military actions, which in the past have included bombing campaigns and military presence on the ground. The Department of Peace seeks to spread peace through education and diplomacy, while also keeping a close eye on the amounts of weapons being shipped into conflict zones around the world.
It is important that the Canadian public both show support for this bill, while at the same time thinking critically about specific Canadian actions relating to peace issues. Because peace missions have often been enacted to serve our own, or our allies’ interests, we must be careful that the establishment of a the Department of Peace can undertake peace issues which will help affected communities in ways that are more beneficial for all involved. It is therefore important that we continue to educate ourselves on specific actions in order that the Department of Peace, should it become established, can remain as proactive as possible. We elect governments to represent our will. Lets make sure that our ministers do just that.
Alex Atamenko said in his speech that the idea that all people an live in peace may seem utopian, and maybe it does. He also said that each generation has the responsibility to do what they can to ensure the best possible outcome for the next. This is an equally important part of that statement. Peaceful relations, and diplomatic solutions to international conflicts may seem utopian in the present context, where military actions have been the solution to most of the world’s conflicts throughout history, however working towards this ideal is a positive action. It is a way that people can leave their positive mark on history, and that best possible outcome for future generations.
The Canadian Department of Peace Initiative has set up a website, which features all kinds of information on the Bill itself, and its history. They also have information on how individual citizens can show their support for this bill. They have drawn up a petition which can be printed and passed around. In order for the petition to be used in parliament, it must follow certain conventions outlined on the website. People can also write to their respective MPs, pledging that they show their support for the establishment of a department specifically designed to address peace issues, both domestic and international, in progressive, non-violent ways.
Canada as Peacemaker: Myth or Reality? 