CILA EMERGENCY ACTION ALERT

UPDATE: While the conference concluded without a resolution in regard to SALW, Canada's Department of External Affairs continues to promote the Liberal agenda of ending civilian ownership of firearms. Its still important to contact Minister Mckay (below) to tell him that a) you will not stand for the disarmament of civilians, and, b) demand that he take control of his department so that it may reflect true Canadian values and not the agenda of the Liberal Party of Canada.

From the Canadian Shooting Sports Association / Canadian Institute for Legislative Action at the UN Small Arms and Light Weapons Conference:

"Shooters of Canada:

We need your immediate assistance at the United Nations. While the Americans have drawn some hard lines in the sand regarding civilian firearms ownership, the Canadian delegation is spouting “weasel words” to try and placate European interests without appearing hostile towards our southern neighbours.

Despite numerous communications from CILA to Foreign Affairs… OUR LONG TERM INTERESTS ARE BEING SOLD OUT.

We need you to write immediately to the PMO and Foreign Affairs. SEND IT BY FAX

Tell them we want the Canadian government to order the Delegation to stop paying lip service to firearms owners, respect the statement made by Canadian Ambassador Laurin and to publicly include language in their statements that respects our rights. Tell them you support the American position to lawful private firearms ownership from the Conference mandate, that ammunition MUST not be added to the discussion and that the Canadian government recognizes the legitimacy of sport shooting and private firearms ownership. In addition, tell them the American position, that this is to be the last global Small Arms Conference, is a responsible use of our tax dollars and you support it.

DO THIS NOW! There are only a few days left to achieve these goals and if you delay, all of us are in grave jeopardy.

Circulate this to everyone and get them to act IMMEDIATELY.

The Right Honourable Stephen Harper Fax: (613) 941-6900
The Honourable Peter Mackay, Minister of Foreign Affairs Fax: (613) 992-2337"

Tony Bernardo
Executive Director - CILA
1-888-873-4339
abernardo343@rogers.com



Backgrounder:


May 10, 2006

Professor Gary Mauser wrote Kevin Sorenson, MP, Chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development about Canada's National Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALWs) at the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT).

Mauser writes:
I recently attended a meeting of the Canadian National Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALWs) at Foreign Affairs Canada and was shocked at what I was told.

I am writing to ask that you review the attached report before it is presented to the United Nations in June.

The chair of this committee, Earl Turcotte, reported that, even though they do not have a mandate from the new Conservative government, they intend to continue acting as if they had.

The Canadian National Committee on SALW has spent tens of millions of dollars - possibly hundreds of millions -- on a large number of vague "feel good" projects around the world. At least 24 different international programs and initiatives are listed as being funded or largely funded by them. (These are listed in the Report appended to this letter).

The SALW Committee is downplaying the importance of evaluating the effectiveness of these projects in attaining their stated goals of reducing terrorism, criminal violence or suicide. There is no convincing empirical support for the success of these projects.

Apparently, one of the primary goals of this committee, set by the previous government, is to embarrass the United States at the United Nations. I hope that a Conservative government would wish to stop supporting a committee that purposefully undermines the government's stated aims of improving relations with the United States.

Mr. Turcotte stated that the United Nations mandate for the 2001 "Program of Action on SALWs" expires this year, and it needs to be renewed for the Canadian National Committee on SALW to continue. If the Conservatives act quickly it may be possible to stop this Liberal boondoggle in Foreign Affairs..

Another goal of this committee is to urge the United Nations to abandon the practice of decision-making by consensus that currently exists in UN committees. Given that a small minority of countries pays the bills at the UN, the United States strongly opposes such an irresponsible practice.

I would ask that you review the CANADIAN REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS PROGRAMME OF ACTION TO PREVENT, COMBAT AND ERADICATE THE ILLICIT TRADE IN SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS IN ALL ITS ASPECTS before it is presented to the United Nations in late June.