THIS IS WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW TO SUPPORT HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS IN COLOMBIA : ACT NOW to STOP the CANADA COLOMBIA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BEFORE THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

by Amnesty International Canada Dear friends: Your action is needed immediately as legislation which could have a huge impact on human rights in Colombia is back before the House of Commons possibly as soon as this coming Tuesday. We have learned that Bill C-23 to implement the Canada Colombia Free Trade Agreement is at the top of the government's legislative agenda when Parliament resumes next week. It is likely to come before the House as soon as this coming Monday September 15th and a vote could be taken this week We are extremely concerned about the ongoing human rights crisis in Colombia and the fact that human rights violations take place against vulnerable people living in areas of economic interest with resource wealth and agro-industrial potential. In this context, we have recommended repeatedly that the government should commission a third party human rights impact assessment of the Canada Colombia Free Trade Agreement to ensure that it will not make a bad situation worse. The Harper government has refused to take this essential step of due diligence, which was also recommended by Parliament’s Standing Committee on International Trade (CIIT) in its report to the government. The NDP and the Bloc Quebecois have staunchly supported the call for an independent human rights impact assessment. Last May, Liberal Trade Critic Scott Brison also affirmed that the Liberals would not support Bill C-23 until there is a human rights study. Ten days ago, an Amnesty member reporteda troubling conversation with Peter Kent, Minister of Foreign Affairs for Latin America, in which he heard that the government expects to quickly pass Bill C-23 with Liberal support and without an independent human rights impact assessment.

TAKE ACTION NOW

It is VERY IMPORTANT that you: 1. Contact your MP (find contact info at http://webinfo.parl.gc.ca/MembersOfParliament/MainMPsCompleteList.aspx?…) to tell him or her that you are: A. Very concerned about the horrific human rights crisis in Colombia, that continues to deteriorate despite government claims about significant improvements (see BACKGROUND below for points you could include, should you wish, but a short, personally worded message with an unequivocal message is likely to be the most effective) and B. Want your MP to refuse to support any advancement of Bill C-23 unless and until there is third party human rights impact assessment and any problems identified are adequately addressed. 2. Contact the Liberal MPs below to communicate the same message (if you cannot contact them directly, speak to their assistants and directly express your concerns). Please be sure to ask that the Liberal Party of Canada not waver from the commitment made in Parliament by Trade Critic Scott Brison on May 25th reiterating the recommendation of the Standing Committee on International Trade that the free trade agreement not go forward until a third party human rights impact assessment is conducted.

CONTACTS:

1- Michael Ignatieff, Etobicoke-Lakeshore, ON, Tel: 416. 251.5510, Fax: 416.251.2845; Tel: 613..., Fax: 613.992.5880 IgnatM@parl.gc.ca 2- Bob Rae, Toronto Centre, ON, Tel: 416.954.2222, Fax: 416.954.9649, Tel: 613.992.5234, Fax: 613.996.9607 RaeB@parl.gc.ca 3- Maria Minna, Beaches-East York, ON, Tel: 416.467.0860, Fax: 416.467.0905 Tel: 613.992.2115 Fax: 613.996.7942 MinnaM@parl.gc.ca ***Here is list of Liberal MPs that are Members of the CIIT Vice-Chair: John Cannis, Scarborough Centre, ON Tel: (416) 752-2358, Fax: (416) 752-4624; Tel: (613) 9..., Fax: (613) 943-1045 CanniJ@parl.gc.ca Members: 1- Scott Brison, Kings-Hants, NS Tel: (902) 542-4010, Fax: (902) 542-4184, Tel: (613) 995-8231, Fax (613) 996-9349 BrisoS@parl.gc.ca 2- Mario Silva, Davenport, ON Tel: (416) 654-8048, Fax: (416) 654-5083; Tel: (613) 992-2576, Fax: (613) 995-8202 SilvaM@parl.gc.ca ***Here are 12 Lib.MPs that won in 2008 with under 5% margin: 1- Ujjal Dosanjh, Vancouver South, BC, Tel: 604....; Fax: 604.775-5420; Tel: 613.99..., Fax: 613.995.2962 DosanU@parl.gc.ca 2- Keith Martin, Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca, BC Tel: 250...., Fax: 250.474.5322; Tel: 613.99..., Fax 613.996.9779 MartiK@parl.gc.ca 3- Alexandra Mendes, Brossard-La Prairie, QC, Tel: 450..., Fax: 450.466.9822; Tel : 613..., Fax : 613.992.7273 Mendes.A@parl.gc.ca 4- Andrew Kania, Brampton West, ON, Tel: 905.846.0076 Fax:905.846.3901 Tel: 613.99... Fax: 613.995.6796 Kania.A@parl.gc.ca 5- Ruby Dhalla, Brampton - Springdale, ON, Tel: 905.874.6868, Fax: 905.874.1415; Tel: 613.995.4843, Fax: 613.995.7003 DhallR@parl.gc.ca 6- Siobhan Coady, St. John's South - Mount Pearl<, NL Tel: 709.772.4608, Fax: 709.772.4776; Tel: 613.99..., Fax: 613.995.7858 Coady.S@parl.gc.ca 7- Justin Trudeau, Papineau, QC, Tel: 514.277.6020, Fax : 514.277.3454; Tel: 613.99..., Fax: 613.995.9926 Trudeau.J@parl.gc.ca 8- Frank Valeriote, Quelph, ON, Tel: 519.837.8276, Fax: 519.837.8443; Tel: 613.99..., Fax: 613.996.9922 Valeriote.F@parl.gc.ca 9- Brian Murphy, Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe, NB, Tel: 506..., Fax: 506.851.3273; Tel: 613..., Fax: 613.992.8083 MurphB@parl.gc.ca 10- Paul Szabo, Mississauga South, ON, Tel: 905...., Fax: 905.822.2115; Tel: 613.99..., Fax: 613.996.3267 SzaboP@parl.gc.ca 11- Joe Volpe, Eglinton-Lawrence, ON, Tel: 416.781.5583, Fax: 416.781.5586; Tel: 613.992.6361, Fax: 613.992.9791 VolpeJ@parl.gc.ca 12- Wayne Easter, Malpeque, PE, Tel: 902.964.2428, Fax: 902.964.3242; Tel: 613.992.2406, Fax: 613.995.7408 EasteW@parl.gc.ca