The Canadian National Newspaper: Ottawa Arms Exhibition legitimates military spending at the expense of maintaining Canada's quality-of-living

Ottawa Arms Exhibition legitimates military spending at the expense of maintaining Canada's quality-of-living

This is a message in defence of Canada that is directed at Ottawa City Councillors. A wise resolution was passed by the City of Ottawa in 1989: "city facilities not be leased to ARMX or other such arms exhibitions.”

I urge you to uphold the resolution. Imagine Canada as Iraq. Imagine that the USA dropped cluster bombs and bullets coated with depleted uranium on us. ... Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. There should be no tolerance for Arms Bazaars in Canada.

The spread of the American military-industrial-government complex into Canada is insidious.

Under "offset agreements" in the contracts between the Government of Canada and these people who make billions of dollars in the business of killing people and simultaneously destroying the environment, 75% of the contract value is spent in Canada.

The exorbitant profits made possible by tax-payers become generous grants made by the corporations to Canadian universities (e.g. Dalhousie University - $2 million in May 2008 from Lockheed Martin Corporation). There are strings attached to the grants.

The Government should be sending taxpayers' money directly to the universities, to serve the public interest. It should not be filtered through the hands of the corporations, through exorbitantly-priced contracts.

But Canadian companies are the main beneficiaries of the spending through the offset agreements. And so WE (stupid Canadians?) are financing the spread of the American military-industrial complex into Canada.

The American economy is dependent upon going to war. In the current financial news from the U.S., you will find that recession does not affect the fortunes of the military corporations (like Lockheed Martin and the others who will be at the Arms Bazaar).

I am 59 years old. If you have time for the 4 points appended, you will see that Canada is drastically changing its role in the world, from the years during which I learned Canadian values. We are no longer peace-keepers. Read the "Canada First Defence Strategy" released by the Government in June.

Violence begets violence. It does not solve problems. It is a rather obsolete and stupid approach. The mightiest generals have been Mohandas Ghandi, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr. They brought oppressive regimes to their knees using the weapon of non-violent resistance. With little or no money. Others, for example the East Germans have learned the ways of non-violent resistance and successfully brought down a ruthless Communist government.

May we all fight to defend the heritage given to us by people of honour, integrity, intelligence and humanity like Canadian Prime Minister, Lester Pearson.

Become a Member:

Would you like to see other similar articles and critical commentaries in The Canadian National Newspaper? Then, show your support. Make a member-pledge donation, in support of the Membership Drive of the Pro-Democracy Media Foundation.

The Canadian can only continue to publish investigative articles in such areas, with the donations from members of the public in Canada, the U.S., and abroad. Consider making a donation of $50.00, $75.00, $100.00, $200.00 or more. Donors are eligible to receive our first collector's print edition in mail. Alternatively, you can send us a note to be placed on our special email list of members. Member-donors can also suggest articles or commentaries to be published in The Canadian.

The Canadian is a socially progressive and not-for-profit national newspaper, with an international readership. We provide an alternative to the for-profit commercial focused media, which often censors vital information and perspective of potential interest to the diverse Canadian public, and other peoples internationally.

Server Error in '/' Application.

The resource cannot be found.