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e-696 (Foreign policy)

E-petition
Initiated by Lois Eaton from Qualicum Beach, British Columbia

Original language of petition: English

Petition to the Government of Canada

Whereas:
  • Our government’s stated goal to Canadians regarding citizens kidnapped for ransom is that no ransom will be paid by the Canadian government so as to take the mark off Canadians so international, criminal kidnappers will not kidnap Canadians;
  • Kidnappings give two coinages - money and terrifying people which increases likelihood ransoms are paid;
  • When ransoms are off the table, the lives of kidnapped Canadians only have one coinage – terror. In these cases, the kidnappers do not need to keep the victim safe and abuse and often brutal, public murders for international viewing become the coinage;
  • Kidnappers only stop when they are stopped; and
  • Two Canadians were kidnapped, tortured and murdered in 2015 -2016 in the Philippines and 6 Canadians are currently held hostage.
We, the undersigned, citizens of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to take the following measures in order to reach its goals:
Increase Consular Services for kidnapped or abducted citizens;
Involve international experts in the creation of a permanent Canadian cadre dedicated to this specialized arena. These are the international experts previously successful in dealing with organizations engaged in kidnapping around the world. They know who to talk with and how to talk with them to get action; and
Keep the families of the kidnapped victim informed about government actions to rescue citizens because families who feel that little effective government action is being taken may feel the need to raise the ransom to free their family member.
Government response tabled on September 18, 2017 (Sessional Paper No. 8545-421-87-02)
Open for signature
November 29, 2016, at 10:55 a.m. (EDT)
Closed for signature
March 29, 2017, at 10:55 a.m. (EDT)
Presented to the House of Commons
Gord Johns (Courtenay—Alberni)
June 13, 2017 (Petition No. 421-01510)
Government response tabled
September 18, 2017
Photo - Gord Johns
Courtenay—Alberni
New Democratic Party Caucus
British Columbia