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GUEST: Michelle Robidoux, campaigner with War Resisters Support Campaign

Canada’s House of Commons votes today on a motion to allow US war resisters asylum in their country. Last December, Parliament’s Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration adopted the motion calling on the Canadian government to initiate a residency program for conscientious objectors who have left military service “related to a war not sanctioned by the United Nations.” The vote comes just days before the first US war resister is scheduled to leave Canada back into the US in compliance with a deportation order. Corey Glass, a 25 year old Californian and National Guardsman, fled to Toronto 2 years ago after deciding that the Iraq war was “illegal and immoral.” Canadian Customs and Immigration has received about 40 applications for refugee claims from U.S. war resisters since the Iraq war began in 2003. Canadian activists with the War Resisters Support Campaign are supporting these soldiers and urging the House of Commons to vote yes on the motion for asylum.

For more information, visit www.resisters.ca.