what you can do
Make a Positive Contribution to Peace |
Joignez-vous à nous pour contribuer positivement à la paix |
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| ✔ | Conscientiously object to military taxation through the Peace Tax Trust Fund: Directing the military portion of your taxes (or a symbolic portion) into Conscience Canada’s Peace Tax Trust Fund sends a message to the Canadian government that you want your taxes to be used for peace, not war. The money is held in trust for you and will be returned to you upon your request (for any reason). | ✔ | Opposez-vous aux impôts militaires grâce au Fonds en fiducie des impôts pour la paix: En envoyant la part militaire (ou une part symbolique) de vos impôts au Fonds en fiducie’ des impôts pour la paix de Conscience Canada, vous indiquez clairement au gouvernement canadien que vous voulez que vos impôts soient mis au service de la paix et non de la guerre. L’argent de ce Fonds est détenu pour vous en fiducie et vous sera remboursé sur demande (peu importe la raison). |
| ✔ | Become a member of Conscience Canada: The size of our membership is an important indicator of the support for conscientious objection. Membership in Conscience Canada is open to any person who supports its objectives and who pays an annual membership fee of $10. This entitles you to receive the two newsletters each year and to vote at the Annual General Meeting. | ✔ | Devenez un membre de Conscience Canada: L’ampleur de notre membership pourrait devenir un indicateur important du soutien à la cause de l’objection de conscience. L’adhésion à Conscience Canada est ouverte à tous ceux et celles qui appuient nos objectifs et qui donnent une cotisation annuelle de 10$. Ainsi vous exprimerez votre objection de conscience, recevrez nos deux bulletins par année et pourrez voter à notre réunion annuelle. |
| ✔ | Join online discussions: Stay informed and involved. Our Facebook site offers ongoing information on fiscal conscientious objection and constructive alternatives to violence, and provides a network for political, legal, and moral support for conscientious objectors. | ✔ | Participez aux discussions en ligne: Demeurez informé et impliqué. Notre liste de discussion vous offre de l’information pertinente sur l’objection de conscience fiscale et les alternatives constructives contre la violence; elle fournit un réseau d’appuis politique, juridique et moral pour les opposants à la guerre. |
| ✔ | Write to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance and your MP: Request the enacting of Conscientious Objection Tax legislation. This would allow COs to have all of their income taxes used only for peaceful and constructive purposes, and would help financially support alternatives to war. Identifying your MP: You can use this link or call 1-800-O-Canada (1-800-622-6232). | ✔ | Écrivez au Premier ministre, au ministre des Finances et à votre députéE: Demandez l’adoption d’une Loi sur l’objection de conscience fiscale qui permettrait aux OC de voir la totalité de leurs impôts utilisée à des fins constructives et pacifiques, et à financer les alternatives à la guerre. Vous pouvez utiliser ce lien ou téléphoner 1-800-O-Canada (1-800-622-6232). |
| ✔ | Educate others about military taxation: We have pamphlets, booklets, and other materials you can use to promote awareness about military taxation and the possibility of contributing instead to peaceful alternatives. We encourage organizations to write letters supporting peace tax legislation. Pamphlet | ✔ | Informez les gens au sujet des impôts militaires: Nous avons des dépliants, des livrets et d’autre matériel pour sensibiliser les gens aux impôts militaires et à la possibilité de contribuer plutôt à des alternatives pacifiques. Nous invitons les organismes à écrire des lettres pour appuyer l’adoption d’une loi des impôts pour la paix. Dépliant |
| ✔ | Volunteer with Conscience Canada: You can volunteer in a range of Conscience Canada projects (e.g., promoting CO legislation, networking, education). You can also support the organization more broadly by getting involved with fundraising events, or (for members) by serving on the Board. | ✔ | Engagez-vous avec Conscience Canada: Devenez bénévole pour toute une gamme de projets (promotion des OC, adoption d’une loi, éducation, collectes de fonds, etc.) ou pour faire partie du conseil d’administration. |
| ✔ | Make a donation: Conscience Canada is a non-profit, volunteer-based group. Donations go directly to educating for peace and creating a legal alternative to paying for war. | ✔ | Faites un don: Conscience Canada est une organisation à buts non lucratifs composée de bénévoles. Les dons vont directement pour l’éducation à la paix en créant une alternative légale au financement de la guerre. |
Contacting Your MP
It is through the MPs that legislation will eventually be passed and therefore contacting your MP is an important action that you can take.
Toolkit: Recommended resources
- Sample letter to MP
- Conscience Canada brochure (English/en français)
- Recent copy of the Conscience Canada Newsletter
- The most recent Conscience Canada Peace Tax Return (English/en français)
- History of Conscientious Objection in Canada
- Bill C-390, "An Act respecting conscientious objection to the use of taxes for military purposes"
- Description of international activities
- Dialogues report and dialogues summary on non-violent alternatives for security
Many of us have a clear personal preference for one over the other, and we need to respect these preferences. Many MPs have told us that a personal visit has more impact than a letter. Most members of the Conscience Canada board have experience lobbying their MP, and we are happy to talk with you beforehand about our experiences, if you think that would be helpful.
In person
If you are going to visit your MP, you may wish to consider taking a like-minded companion. Be sure to arrange time to coordinate your messages beforehand and to debrief afterwards.
It is a good idea to check with CC beforehand as we know there are some ridings where there is more than one CC member interested in lobbying their MP about conscientious objection to military taxation.
Be clear on what you want; for example, support for the proposed legislation, to educate him/her about the dilemma of conscience for COMTs, or to ask for support for antiwar activities.
Take along materials to provide talking points, and to leave behind. See links above for our current list of relevant material. Hard copy can be provided to you on request.
Building an ongoing relationship is often the most effective kind of lobbying. Try to think of ways to follow up on your visit, perhaps even with another visit later on. For instance, you might want to make a return visit to provide answers to questions the MP may have had, or drop off materials the MP has requested.
Don’t be discouraged if the MP is not sympathetic. Times change, political winds change, and sometimes a reasoned and principled position gains unexpected respect, which is an important first step.
It is useful for CC to know which MPs have been contacted and what their reaction was, so please let us know how your meeting went.
In writing
When you write your MP, put something personal in the letter. Make your position as a COMT real; describe your feelings as well as your views. Clarify the principles for you. Try to avoid taking political sides. Don’t lecture or rant.
Enclose a little suitable material, such as a copy of the CC brochure, which is available in French as well as English. Don’t overload the MP with a pile of literature which they will discard.
Let them know what other materials you have; in your letter ask them to let you know what else they would like to receive. If they do respond, then some time after sending it you may wish to phone and offer to come in to discuss your conscientious objection. If they do not respond, as is likely, be sure to call the office to ask again what material they would like. That provides a stimulus to the MP to recall your letter and become at least a little familiar with CC.
Send a copy of your letter to Conscience Canada. It is good for us to know who has been contacted and in what way.
We recommend that you keep it simple
Leave behind (for those visiting) or mail (for those writing) the brochure, and either an outline of the bill or the history of CO in Canada. You may obtain these by downloading them from the website, or receive them by emailing, phoning, or writing Conscience Canada. It is better not to recommend that the MP downloads them, as it is easy for them to put that off indefinitely.
Who is my MP?
You can use this link or call 1-800-O-Canada (1-800-622-6232).