April
2015
ISSUE
No. 34
Ottawa Office
e-newsletter

A new look!

 

We decided it was time to refresh the "look" of our monthly e-newsletter. We hope you like it. As always, we welcome your comments,questions and suggestions regarding our work. Contact us at ottawa@mcccanada.ca. We also appreciate your sharing the newsletter with your friends.

 

Jenn, Bekah, Monica, Esther and Cory

 
S
Quotation of the month

 

"The Easter mystery is what helps me make sense of the whole year: my life, our work. If death is not the last word, then neither is war, or poverty, or oppression. God's promises are true. Hope is real and transformation is possible." - Jennifer Henry, executive director, KAIROS
MCC letter to Prime Minister Harper MCC

 

On March 30, Parliament voted 142 to 129 in favour of extending and expanding Canada's military engagement in the war against the so-called Islamic State or ISIS. This military campaign continues for at least another year and authorizes Canadian military forces to join in an airstrike campaign against ISIS targets within Syria (not only Iraq).

 

On April 2, MCC sent a letter to Prime Minister Harper, urging the Government of Canada to focus its resources on non-military means of addressing insecurity in the Middle East. The letter called for additional humanitarian assistance, particularly for trauma healing and peacebuilding initiatives. MCC has received several government grants for program in Iraq, Syria and neighbouring countries.

 

additional MCC government communications
Parliamentary businessParliamentary

 

After holding nine meetings and hearing over thirty witnesses, the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development has concluded its study on ISIS and published a report entitled Canada's Response to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.  The report makes 16 broad recommendations.

 

While one recommendation clearly supports continued military operations in the region, others recommend promoting religious freedom, creating a scholarship program for young Iraqis and Syrians to learn leadership skills in Canada, and facilitating inter-communal reconciliation and dialogue in Iraq. It is difficult to know how these recommendations will affect the government's policy decisions.

 
Take actionOpportunities

Once again it is tax season. And once again Conscience Canada (CC) invites 
conscientious objectors to withhold the military portion of their income tax as a witness for peace. Where actual withholding is not possible, CC suggests a symbolic contribution to its Peace Tax Fund, pending the creation of a government controlled peace fund.
 
New resource: Intersectionsresource

"Participation" has become a development buzzword. What does the term mean and what challenges does it bring for NGOs like MCC? Find out by reading the latest issue of Intersections, MCC's quarterly publication on theory and practice.

 

previous MCC Intersections
Staff update: New Ottawa Office directorStaff

We are very excited to share the good news that our Interim Director, Jennifer Wiebe, has accepted the offer to become the Ottawa Office Director on a more permanent basis starting June 1, 2015. Jenn joined the MCC Ottawa Office in September 2010 as a policy analyst, but has been giving leadership to the Ottawa Office as Interim Director since September 2014.

 

MCC Ottawa Office staff 
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