Dyane Brown, WILPF Nanaimo, has sent the following letter to Trudeau, the Defence minister, the Foreign Affairs minister, and MP Paul Manly.
Dear Prime Minister Trudeau,
We are very concerned that in the midst of this pandemic that you are considering spending $19 billion on the purchase of 88 combat planes. These fighter jets are incredibly expensive to maintain costing $15,000 an hour to run and leaving a huge carbon footprint. They will not protect Canada but will be used to further destabilize the world.
We urge you to change the direction of this government to focus, not on war, but on peace. We urge you to take the following steps:
Cancel the call for new fighter jets
Sign the Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons
Find ways to work towards peace within NATO or leave NATO. We do not need to belong to a military alliance that has shown itself to be aggressive and provocative, bombing Serbia, Libya, Syria and Iran, and now engaging in provocative actions near Russia’s borders.
Direct funds from the military budget to ensure that primary needs of Canadians are being met, needs like good health, clean water and shelter. Canada’s military budget is the 14th highest in the world and 4th highest within NATO.
Appoint an Ambassador of Disarmament to the United Nations.
Set up a Department of Peace. Ensure that any defence procurement has a gender-based analysis.
Yours truly,
Dyane Brown
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Nanaimo Branch