No Fighter Jets - Canadian Voice of Women for Peace

Join us for our third Canada-wide day of action. With nearly 50 actions completed we want to show our newly elected and re-elected Members of Parliament that we want them to scrap the procurement deal of 88 fighter jets with an initial price tag of 19 billion dollars and a lifecycle cost of around 77 billion.

We want investments in the care economy such as education, healthcare, Indigenous well-being like ending boil water advisories on reserves and other services and money to kickstart the green transition and COVID-19 recovery.

Join us and stand outside your Member of Parliament’s office with a sign “No New Fighter Jets”, deliver a letter (we will provide the text) and take a photo to share on social media. Plan your rally between Friday October 22 to Sunday October 24 (start of the UN Disarmament Week). Please use the registration form below to register your rally for “No New Fighter Jets” (indicating the name of MP, address of your rally, city, time and your email address): https://tinyurl.com/3wzsf5ey

VOTE for No Fighter Jets #ElectPeace

Why are we against the $19B purchase?

The Canadian Federal Government is considering spending 19 billion dollars on the purchase of 88 new F-35 fighter jets with a projected life-cycle cost of 77 billion in addition to the over 500 million currently invested in fighter jet development.

In the middle of a public health crisis where millions of Canadians are relying on financial assistance, we simply cannot afford to be spending billions on purchasing fighter jets and must redirect this money to support our healthcare workers and vulnerable populations. One hour of operating for an F-35 jet can pay for the annual salary of a nurse, teacher, or social worker.

Directing billions to a weapons purchase will not only divert funds from services that could have supported Canadians and fund the much-needed modernization of our healthcare system but it will also have an extremely detrimental effect on the environment. The development and use of these weapons will have catastrophic environmental consequences as carbon and toxic chemical emissions of one long-range flight exceed the typical automobile’s annual emissions and because of their altitude, will have a net warming effect for centuries.

Past bombing campaigns that Canada has participated in have killed not only combatants but also innocent civilians caught in the crosshairs. The fighter jets have the sole purpose of carrying bombs and missiles during the conflict which repudiates Canada’s national identity as nonviolent peacemakers. We have the choice right now to stop the needless death of innocent people in war zones, support Canadians, especially in long-term care facilities and avoid nullifying the environmental gains in emission reductions by choosing people and peace over weapons and war.

We believe that continuing to consider the expenditure of $19 billion during the COVID-19 crisis, when there are so many other health, humanitarian and environmental needs, should be put to a debate in the House of Commons.

With the warmest regards during this difficult time, we urge you to sign the petition and to our Members of Parliament, please consider saying yes to a debate on the necessity of this weapons purchase.

Sincerely,

Canadian Voice of Women for Peace

Watch Nova Scotia VOW’s Banner drop and video for No New Fighter Jets

How Can I Help?

The No New Fighter Jets Coalition is always looking for support, in any way that you can. Here are some ways you can get involved:

To join the coalition as an organization, fill out this form. To join as an individual, reach out for more information.

Follow the No New Fighter Jets Coalition on Twitter and Facebook for updates on events, webinars and calls to action.

Changing investments: Fighter Jets vs …

We want to highlight the many ways that the money set aside could be used in ways that do not fund war and devastate the environment. By ending the $19B fighter jet procurement, we could invest in other regenerative activities, and further strengthen our COVID-19 recovery and promote a sustainable future.

Affordable Housing

Canadians need affordable housing. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Company have confirmed that housing is considered “affordable” when a household spends 30% of their pre-tax income on shelter. However, as costs of living rise across the country, housing is becoming less and less affordable. In Toronto alone, average yearly income is $71,312. Spending 30% of their income on shelter, the average Torontonian should be spending about $1782 per month on rent. Yet the average Toronto one-bedroom costs $2300 per month. Without proper affordable housing initiatives, Canadians are at risk.

The Homelessness Partnering Secretariat has estimated that between 150,000 and 300,000 Canadians experience homeless each year. Rather than spending $19B on new fighter jets, the federal government should be investing in creating more social housing initiatives, and supporting vulnerable Canadians, rather than engaging in acts of war.

Just over two years ago, the city of Montreal announced that $19 million would be invested to construct the Coop La Montagne Verte, a social housing initiative creating 136 units for vulnerable Montrealers. Breaking down the investment, each unit would cost nearly $140,000 to build. With $19 billion invested in similar projects across the country, 135,000 units could be developed.

It’s time to invest in adequate housing for Canadians, not new fighter jets. $19 billion should be spent solving the housing crisis, not funding war.

References

CMHC/SCHL. (2018, March 31). About Affordable Housing in Canada. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/professionals/industry-innovation-and-leadership/industry-expertise/affordable-housing/about-affordable-housing/affordable-housing-in-canada

Daily Hive Staff. (2020, January 15). The average cost of rent in Canadian cities for January (MAP). Daily Hive. https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/average-cost-rent-canadian-cities-janury-2020

The Homeless Hub. (n.d.). About Homelessness: How Many People are Homeless in Canada. Homeless Hub. https://www.homelesshub.ca/about-homelessness/homelessness-101/how-many-people-are-homeless-canada

Luft, A. (2020, January 16). Social housing: Montreal invests $19M to build city’s largest coop in downtown core. CTV News. https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/social-housing-montreal-invests-19m-to-build-city-s-largest-coop-in-downtown-core-1.4770679Salary Expert. (2021). Average Salary in Toronto, Ontario. Salary Expert. https://www.salaryexpert.com/salarycalculator

Transportation

Recently, Greyhound Canada announced that it will be shutting down it’s transportation services across Canada. This has presented a huge gap in Canada’s transit system, and has left Canadians, disproportionately students, low-income earners, and drivers, stuck in rural and urban communities. Revitalizing public transportation provides the opportunity for Canada to shift towards a green economy and creates thousands of jobs. We need to be investing in public transit, not new fighter jets.

According to the World Economic Forum, for every $1 invested in public transit, $5 in economic returns is created. Additionally, the WEF emphasizes that for every $1 billion investment, 50,000 jobs are created. Therefore, the money currently set aside for the fighter jet investment – totalling $19 billion – could create 950,000 jobs, and could generate $95 billion in economic returns if invested in public transit.

To compare, the cost of one F-35 fighter jet is $137 million CAD. The cost of one electric bus, an essential asset in developing a sustainable public transit system, is $1.2 million. For the price of 1 fighter jet, the Canadian government could purchase 114 electric buses for cities across Canada. Alternatively, the Montreal Gazette estimates that the cost of a new metro line would be $4.3 billion. If $19 billion was invested in the Montreal Metro system, one of the most trafficked public transport systems in Canada, 4 new metro lines could be developed.

Public transit creates more jobs, links communities to one another, and reduces carbon emissions in cities across the country. Rather than investing in detrimental fighter jets, the Prime Minister should invest in Canadian public transportation systems.

Sources

CBC News. (2021, May 17). Greyhound’s demise raises safety, cost concerns for students.] CBC.https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/greyhound-demise-student-cost-safety-concerns-1.6028304

Grazier, D. (2020, October 21). Selective Arithmetic to Hide the F-35’s True Costs. Project on Government Oversight. https://www.pogo.org/analysis/2020/10/selective-arithmetic-to-hide-the-f-35s-true-costs/

Madger, J. (2019, October 3). Completing Montreal métro’s Orange Line loop will cost an estimated $4.3B. Montreal Gazette. https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/completing-montreal-metros-orange-line-loop-will-cost-an-estimated-4-3b

Ramey, J. (2021, May 14). Greyhound Shuts Down Permanently in Canada. Autoweek. https://www.autoweek.com/news/industry-news/a36431207/greyhound-shuts-down-permanently-in-canada/

Sarah, R. (2019, April 6). City: Edmonton to boast Canada’s largest fleet of electric buses. Global News. https://globalnews.ca/news/5136476/edmonton-electric-bus-fleet/

Taylor, L. (2021, April 12). Want to create 5 million green jobs? Invest in public transport in cities. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/04/here-s-why-cities-should-invest-in-public-transport/

Support Indigenous Children, Stop the Fighter Jet Purchase

After the remains of 215 Indigenous children were found this week in Kamloops, British Columbia on the site of what was once one of the largest residential schools in Canada, we want to express our deepest sympathies for Indigenous people impacted by Canada’s continuous acts of systemic violence. The impacts of residential schools have created intergenerational trauma for Indigenous people.

Jordan’s Principle was established to ensure Indigenous children are provided access to all social services that they need. In 2016, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal found that the Government of Canada is racially discriminating against 165,000 First Nations children and their families for failing to provide equitable services and for not implementing Jordan’s Principle. The Tribunal’s decision stated that any public service ordinarily available to all other children must be made available to First Nations children without delay or denial. However, the federal government has not complied and provided services accordingly with the CHRT issuing several non-compliance orders. Shamefully, the federal government has filed for judicial review of the Tribunal’s decision, once again attempting to avoid taking responsibility.

Recently, the Parliamentary budget office has estimated that the compensation and funding of Jordan’s Principle could amount to $15 billion. The federal government has not fully implemented Jordan’s principle and provided the social services needed by First Nations, Métis and Inuit children.

Yet, the federal government is planning on purchasing new fighter jets for $19 billion. If these tax dollars were reallocated, they could be better spent on supporting Indigenous children with health care, speech therapy, educational supports, medical equipment, mental health services and much more. Canada does not need new war planes. We need to acknowledge the harmful ways Indigenous children have been treated, and work towards protecting and supporting them.

Sources:

First Nations Child & Family Caring Society. (n.d.). Jordan’s Principle. First Nations Child & Family Caring Society. https://fncaringsociety.com/jordans-principle

Globe and Mail Staff. (2021, May 31). The Kamloops residential school’s unmarked graves: what we know about the children’s remains, and Canada’s reactions so far. The Globe and Mail. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/british-columbia/article-kamloops-residential-school-mass-graves-215-children-explainer/

PBO Expects Jordan’s Principle order to cost $15b. (2021, March 27). Indian Life. https://www.newspaper.indianlife.org/story/2021/03/15/news/pbo-expects-jordans-principle-order-to-cost-15b/1757.htmlPress, J., & Alhmidi, M. (2021, February 23). Jordan’s Principle order may cost feds $15 billion in compensation, PBO says. The Toronto Star. https://www.thestar.com/politics/2021/02/23/jordans-principle-order-may-cost-feds-15-billion-in-compensation-pbo-says.html

Invest in Women, Not Fighter Jets’

On July 21, 2021, the Trudeau government made another $90 million ($71 million USD) annual payment to the U.S. Department of Defense to participate in the Lockheed Martin F-35 development program despite the fact that Canada might not buy this fighter jet. By contrast, the Canadian government spent only $45 million last year on the Department on Women and Gender Equality (WAGE). Thus, the federal government invests twice as much annually to develop an American fighter jet than it does to advance equality programs for Canadian women.

Since 1997, the Canadian government has paid over $772 million (approximately $613 million USD) to remain a partner in the F-35 development consortium. This amount is more than the government has spent over the same period on the former federal Status of Women office and the new WAGE department combined. Shamefully, over the past two decades, Canada has prioritized the development of warplanes over women.

Though Prime Minister Trudeau claims to be a feminist leader with a feminist foreign policy, there’s nothing feminist about fighter jets. Fighter jets are fossil-fuel powered fighting machines. They injure and kill women and girls, they destroy civilian infrastructure, they foment armed conflict and the climate crisis, and they deprive countries from having adequate resources to invest in urgent social and environmental programs.

Instead of buying a new fleet of carbon-intensive combat aircraft, Prime Minister Trudeau should invest in the women-led care economy and in a just, green recovery. Please email the Prime Minister and tell him #NoNewFighterJets and #FeminismNotFighterJets: pm@pm.gc.ca

Sources:

“Canada pays another US$71M for F-35 development”

https://www.thestar.com/politics/2021/07/21/canada-spends-another-us71m-on-f-35-amid-calls-to-cancel-fighter-jet-purchase.html

“Canada spends another US$71M on F-35 amid calls to cancel fighter jet purchase”

https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/canada-spends-another-us-71m-on-f-35-amid-calls-to-cancel-fighter-jet-purchase-1.5517876

Canada is developing a feminist foreign policy

https://www.amnesty.ca/our-work/issues/womens-human-rights/feminist-foreign-policy

Public Accounts of Canada 2020 “Department on Women and Gender Equality”

https://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/recgen/cpc-pac/2020/vol2/s1/rcec-reet-eng.html

Learn More

Read the report by the No New Fighter Jets Coalition: Uncovering the True Cost of 88 Fighter Jets

Opinion Pieces by Coalition Members

Spending $19 Billion on Fighter Jets Won’t Fight COVID-19 or Climate Change by Tamara Lorincz May 2020

Canada’s Two-Year Window to Decide on Climate Justice or Militarism by Brent Patterson, May 2020.

Dene land defender Brian Grandbois and the struggle against the Cold Lake air force base by Brent Patterson, August 2020

Billions could be better spent on Green New Deal jobs rather than warplanes by Brent Patterson, October 2020

Despite Favourable Polls, Campaign Against War Plane Purchase Won’t Be Easy by Yves Engler, November 2020

Should Canada Spend $77 Billion on New Fighter Jets? by Bianca Mugyenyi, April 2021

Saab markets its Gripen fighter jet with the tagline: “It’s a human right to feel safe” by Brent Patterson, May 2021

Further Reading

“Here’s How F-35 Pilots Will Dress If There’s a Chemical and Biological War.” Business Insider. Business Insider, February 15, 2017.

“Air Travel and Climate Change.” David Suzuki Foundation, n.d. .Cenciotti, David.

Crawford, Neta. “Pentagon Fuel Use, Climate Change, and the Costs of War .” Waston Institute Brown University , November 13, 2019.

Insinna, Valerie. “Inside America’s Dysfunctional Trillion-Dollar Fighter-Jet Program.” New York Times Magazine; August 21, 2019.

Lornizc, Tamara. “Peace Magazine.” Peace Magazine: Burning and Bombing: Military Expenditures, Military Emissions and the Climate Emergency, April 1, 2020.

Nixon, Charles. “Canada Does Not Need Fighter Jets, Period.” The Globe and Mail, July 8, 2014

Rogoway, Tyler. “F-35 Pilots Dress For Chemical and Biological Warfare For The First Time.” The Drive, February 7, 2017.

Campaign Archive

Since the beginning of the No New Fighter Jets movement, we have been working across the country to unite Canadians in a message of peace and environmental justice.

October 2nd, 2020: Second National Day of Action

On October 2nd, 2020 we had our second Canada-wide protest against the expensive, carbon-intensive fighter jet procurement.

Building on our first National Day of Action we had 25 protests on Friday October 2nd across Canada at MP offices!

Actions occured outside of the MP offices of:

Carla Qualtrough: Delta, Minister of Employment
Tamara Jansen: Cloverdale – Langley City
Harjit Sajjan: Vancouver South, Minister of National Defence
Laurel Collins: Victoria
Dan Vandal: Saint Boniface – Saint Vital
Andy Fillmore: Halifax
Terry Dowdall: Simcoe – Grey
Mark Gerretsen: Kingston and the Islands
Bryan May: Cambridge
Raj Saini: Kitchener Centre
Bardish Chagger: Waterloo
Catherine McKenna: Ottawa Centre
David McGuinty: Ottawa South
Anita Vandenbeld: Ottawa West – Nepean
Julie Dabrusin: Toronto – Danforth
Chrystia Freeland: University – Rosedale, Minister of Finance
Carolyn Bennett: Toronto – St. Paul’s
Julie Daerowicz: Davenport
Filomena Tassi: Hamilton West – Ancaster – Dundas, Minister of Labour
Maryam Monsef: Peterborough – Kawartha
Erin O’Toole: Durham, Leader of the Offical Opposition
Rachel Bendayan: Outremont
Brenda Shanahan: Chateauguay – Lacolle
Warren Steinley: Regina – Lewvan
Kevin Waugh: Saskatoon – Grasswood

Our movement is building and we want you to be a part of it.

We want to reclaim our reputation as peacekeepers and stop our taxpayer dollars going towards the war economy instead of what Canadians actually want- a Green and Just Recovery for all. If you want to know more please keep scrolling down for information on our advocacy work, MP letter templates, Handouts, Op eds and more!

If you have creative activism ideas- please send them along like the Ottawa Raging Grannies and their No Fighter Jets Song.

On July 24th we had 22 actions at Member of Parliament offices and even more decentralized actions across Canada. This time around we achieved EVEN MORE ACTIONS to raise awareness and political pressure to stop this financially and environmentally irresponsible expenditure of Canadian taxpayer dollars in the midst of a global health, environment and financial crisis. 19 billion Canadian taxpayer dollars should be spent on preserving domestic and foreign human life, the climate and our budget- not the opposite. We as peace-keeping Canadians will not be pressured by the US or NATO to spend ever-increasing billions of dollars on weapons that are meant for foreign wars and not to preserve peace and global stability. to reclaim our reputation as peacekeepers and stop our taxpayer dollars going towards the war economy instead of what Canadians actually want- a Green and Just Recovery for all.

Looking to get more involved? Email info@vowpeace.org to get connected and join an action or create your own!

Endorsements:

Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT Canada)

A Summary of July 24: Canada Wide Day of Action Against Fighter Jets

On July 24, 2020, the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace partnered with organizations across the country for a Canada Wide Day of Action Against Fighter Jets. Groups protested outside of 22 MP offices from coast to coast, to strike for climate peace and an end to the $19 billion fighter jet procurement. From Victoria to Halifax, passionate Canadians showed our federal government that we need to be investing in a just COVID-19 recovery and a Green New Deal, not new weapons. Protests were held outside MP offices in Langley, Sidney, Vancouver, Victoria, Regina, Halifax, Collingwood, Hamilton, Kitchener, Ottawa, Peterborough, Toronto, Waterloo, Montreal, Winnipeg, London, and Dartmouth.

Actions occurred outside the MP offices of:

Tako Van Popta: Langley – Aldergrove
Elizabeth May: Saanich – Gulf Islands
Harjit Sajjan: Vancouver South, Minister of National Defense
Laurel Collins: Victoria
Andrew Scheer: Regina – Qu’Appelle
Andy Filmore: Halifax
Terry Dowdall: Simcoe-Grey
Filomena Tassi: Hamilton West – Ancaster – Dundas
Catherine McKenna: Ottawa Centre
Raj Saini: Kitchener Centre
David McGuinty: Ottawa South
Anita Vandenbeld: Ottawa West – Nepean
Maryam Monsef: Peterborough – Kawartha
Julie Dabrusin: Toronto – Danforth
Chrystia Freeland: University Rosedale
Bardish Chagger: Waterloo
Rachel Bendayan: Outremont
Terry Duguid: Winnipeg South
Ali Ehsassi: Willowdale
Nathaniel Erskine – Smith: Beaches – East York
Peter Fragiskatos: London North Centre
Darren Fisher: Dartmouth – Cole Harbour

Letters were delivered to MPs, stating the importance of acting on the issue. We demanded that the $19 billion fighter jet procurement be stopped, as fighter jets create immense harm upon the environment and civilians. Additionally, we advocated for an investment in COVID-19 recovery and Green New Deal. By investing in these methods, we can create a sustainable future for all Canadians.

Thank you to our partners, World Beyond War and Peace Brigades International Canada, for their endless support during our Day of Action. Additionally, thank you our supporting organizations, including: Pivot2Peace, The Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom (WILPF)-Canada, The Ottawa Raging Grannies, Labour Against the Arms Trade, Regina Peace Council, Conscience Canada, KW Peace, Pax Christi Toronto, Nova Scotia Voice of Women for Peace, Hamilton Coalition to Stop the War, Victoria Peace Coalition, Just Peace Advocates, Winnipeg Peace Alliance, The Canadian Peace Congress, Peterborough Peace Council, Canadian Foreign Policy Institute and Global Peace Society.

Want to help in the campaign against fighter jets? Send a letter to your MP using this template, or sign the petition to invest in a Green New Deal and just COVID-19 recovery.