Reasons for Our Concerns
We want a transparent national discussion to clarify Canada’s role in contemporary peacekeeping that will reflect Canada's values as a peaceful nation.
Did You Know?
That Canada has fifty years of experience in peacekeeping and has participated in most of the missions mandated by the UN Security Council. This ability to count on Canada to help has established an international reputation. Canada has had an important role in international peacekeeping operations and as an effective political and human mediator in this complex world. Our efforts in promoting and enforcing international sanctions through quiet international diplomacy, monitoring agreements, and active involvement in international/regional dispute conferences should not be overlooked or undermined. Canadians want their government and their military engaged in resolving international conflicts -not creating or exacerbating them. Regrettably, this view is not reflected in the declining numbers of Canadians deployed as peacekeepers over the past 15 years. (Toronto Star 3.08.2010) Once the UN’s top contributor of peacekeepers, Canada now ranks 57th in the world, at a time when U.N. peacekeeping operations are at an all-time high. (Council of Canadians November 2006)
That the nature of peacekeeping is not static and today there is a complex variety of missions. In hindsight, we see the development of two different branches of peacekeeping since the end of the Cold War: missions that implement a comprehensive peace agreement, and peace enforcement missions.
The first, implementing a comprehensive peace agreement, is substantially based on the fundamental principles of peacekeeping, which are consent of the parties, impartiality and non-use of force except in self-defence.
The second branch, peace enforcement missions, includes such tasks as supervising elections, rebuilding national institutions and delivering humanitarian assistance with a corresponding increase in the civilian and police components of peacekeeping missions, and more assertive and aggressive intervention on the part of our forces.
The stark difference in these two views of peacekeeping is apparent, and Canadian political leaders must deal with this issue.
We want this democratic discussion to clarify for the government, the military and the people of Canada what kinds of peacekeeping we are to be involved in.
We want a national policy that we can understand and support.
Photograph: Canadian Peacekeeper in Haiti
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