Deserters And Peaceniks Celebrate An Imaginary Victory

This is not Viet Nam. There is no draft in the United States. Deserters joined voluntarily but didn't understand the mission of the military. There is no question those deserters applying for refugee status are probably nice people and would contribute to our country but what would they do if Canada was attacked?

The Commons: A remarkable, if insignificant, vote

Parliament, in a roundabout way, passes judgment on the war in Iraq

Aaron Wherry | Jun 4, 2008 | 1:13 pm EST

The Scene. Yeas 137, Nays 110. The morning papers, let alone history, may make little mention of that tally, but there you have it. In a format sports fans can understand, here is the closest this Parliament of Canada may ever get to an explicit and complete denunciation of the war in Iraq.

The Speaker called the members in shortly after 3 pm this afternoon and, as luck would have it, most were already there, having just sat through another spirited session of Question Period. (In case you were wondering, the government would still rather you stop asking about the former foreign affairs minister's choice of date.) What proceeded was altogether unbecoming so seemingly momentous a moment.

Liberal leader Stéphane Dion had packed up his things and was on his way out when party whip Karen Redman reminded him of his democratic responsibility. He turned and sat back down. The Prime Minister was not so encumbered, government whip Jay Hill apparently powerless to keep Mr. Harper from slipping away quietly before the vote could be taken.

The recorded division involved a rather coy opposition motion from the immigration committee that reads exhaustively as follows: "The committee recommends that the government immediately implement a program to allow conscientious objectors and their immediate family members (partners and dependents), who have refused or left military service related to a war not sanctioned by the United Nations and do not have a criminal record, to apply for permanent resident status and remain in Canada; and that the government should immediately cease any removal or deportation actions that may have already commenced against such individuals."

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