I can understand Members of Parliament voting against the wishes of the majority of the people they represent when their vote is one of conscience; if a Member of Parliament fails to resign after voting in opposition to the majority-will of the people they were elected to represent, their electors may demand a resignation or choose not to re-elect that representative in an upcoming election.
But I cannot condone politicians who vote politically rather than [ prudently and conscientiously ] while opposing the majority-will of the people they were elected to represent ... especially when the outcome concerns matters of grave national and international security and when it puts at risk the lives of our sons and our daughters ... such behaviour should be investigated under an appropriate category tabled for inclusion in the Federal Accountability Act so that Canadians can better trust the government that they elected to represent them.
The Prime Minister of Canada and the government-of-the-day should not be in a position to exercise powers that impose an agenda contrary to both the majority-will of Canadians and the [ conscience ] of the majority of the Members of Parliament, and Members of Parliament should be honour-bound to voice their conscience ahead of political interests.
Our politicians took us to war in Afghanistan shortly after widespread opposition to the war on Iraq, and our politicians brought the war in Afghanistan home to Canada in spite of widespread opposition to the war by the people of Canada ... a recent poll conducted May 25-28 by Decima Research found that only 4 out of 10 Canadians across the country supported the decision to extend military operations in Afghanistan. In Québec, the support was even lower, with only 3 out of 10 Canadians indicating support for the extension.
Last Friday (June 2nd), 17 residents of Canada described as supporters of al-Qaeda, were arrested and accused of planning attacks in southern Ontario. Most of the 12 men and five youths taken into custody are Canadian citizens.
Reports indicate that the group had acquired enough ammonium nitrate to cause three times the destruction that occurred during the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing that killed 168 people.
I've written my member of Parliament to protest this war; I've written many members of Parliament to protest the Iraq war. To locate the address for your Member of Parliament, click here. Be sure to cc the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Prime Ministers office.
We need to strengthen our ability to coexist with one another. Further confrontations in Afghanistan or attacks here in Canada will feed prejudices and alienate Muslims from dynamic participation in the possible Canada ... a place where all cultures can live together in respect for each others differences without the threat of assimilation ... a place where values, beliefs and ways are not imposed upon others, and where each culture can feel at home in the respect that they have for their own traditions.
Canada, we don't belong in Afghanistan.
U.S. Afghan policy costing Cdn. lives: think-tank
Canadians oppose Tories on Afghanistan
Taliban suicide bomber targets Canadian troops
Mosque vandalized after bomb-plot sweep
Islam not violent, Toronto Muslims say
Engaging the Islamic community is vital: MPs
Attack in Canada 'now probable': CSIS report
Suspect accused of wanting to behead PM
Group plotted to open fire on crowd
71% believe terrorists will hit Canada: poll
