Centre of Excellence for Peace and Justice
Petitioners ask Parliament to create and fund a Centre of Excellence for Peace and Justice to research and train civilians, police, military in conflict resolution, diplomacy and peace operations. The government responds that options are under consideration and notes existing programs.
Why we would sign this petition
- Restores civilian-led research and training capacity lost with the Pearson Peace Centre, supporting independent policy, research and practical instruction for peace operations.
- Provides coordinated training for civilians, police and military, improving preparedness and interoperability for complex conflict-resolution, diplomacy and peacekeeping tasks.
- Reinforces Canada’s commitments to human rights, reconciliation and international peace by building domestic expertise to support global peace operations.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Could duplicate existing programs and centres the government cites (e.g., Dallaire Centre, Military Training and Cooperation Program, RCMP training), risking inefficiency and overlap.
- Requires new funding and administrative capacity, creating trade-offs with current operations, international deployments or other domestic priorities.
- A targeted alternative may be to strengthen or better coordinate existing training and research centres rather than create a separate national institution.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the House of Commons in Parliament assembled Whereas: Canada signed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, pledging itself to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms; Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Canada's adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples reflect our commitment to the principles of justice, equality, and freedom; Upholding the basics of justice, equality, freedom, security, and well-being for all is essential for preventing conflict and war and for Canada's own security and stability; The lack of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms is the underlying cause of violent conflict; An open society and an informed public and parliament is essential for the understanding of complex issues of violent conflict and for the achieving of lasting peace and disarmament; and With the closing of the Pearson Peace Centre, Canada lost an important civilian-led, independent institutional structure that supported effective research, policy, and training in peace operations and conflict resolution. Therefore: We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the House of Commons in Parliament assembled to establish and fund a Centre of Excellence for Peace and Justice focused on research, education and training in conflict resolution, diplomacy, and peace operations for Canadian civilians, police, military personnel, and the international community.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Signed by Rob Oliphant In 2019 and 2021, the Prime Minister mandated both the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of International Development with the joint responsibility for establishing the Canadian Centre for Peace, Order and Good Government. Since that time, Global Affairs Canada has had considerable engagement with experts, stakeholders, and like-minded countries with respect to the establishment of such a Centre. This is consistent with Canada’s commitment to human rights and democracy as the foundation of freedom, justice, and peace in the world, and Canada’s work in speaking up for the protection and promotion of human rights and the advancement of democratic principles. Options for implementation are still under consideration by the Government. At the same time, Canada has a long and proud history of supporting United Nations peacekeeping operations, with over 125,000 Canadians having served to promote peace and encourage the conditions for reconciliation in conflict-affected areas. Canada contributes high-value assets, including funding, specialist personnel, tactical airlift, advanced medical care, and specialized training support. Currently, Canadian military and police personnel serve in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo), South Sudan (United Nations Mission in South Sudan), the Middle East (United Nations Truce Supervision Organization), Cyprus (United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus), and Kosovo (United Nations Mission in Kosovo), where they provide specialized expertise across avariety of disciplines. Canada also provides support and technical expertise to address misinformation, disinformation, malinformation and hate speech in peacekeeping contexts. By focusing on these areas, Canada ensures peacekeepers are prepared for modern challenges. Financially, Canada is the eighth largest contributor to United Nations peacekeeping budgets through assessed contributions, a top five contributor to voluntary funding, and a major donor to the Peacebuilding Fund. Canada also supports the work of United Nations peacekeeping operations through its leadership on key policy initiatives, such as the Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations, a global effort that seeks to increase the meaningful participation of women in peacekeeping. Launched in 2017, the Elsie Initiative has worked to go beyond increasing numerical targets to ensure that women are represented substantially across ranks and functions, in non-traditional roles and positions of authority, in enabling environments that offer parity of deployment conditions, and in assignments that correspond to their experience and training. In addition, Canada’s Military Training and Cooperation Program is mandated to develop the capacity of its 60 non- North Atlantic Treaty Organization member countries to undertake United Nations-sanctioned multilateral operations and sponsors a range of training and other support. This includes training in areas such as the English and French language, Peace and Security, civil-military cooperation, international law of armed conflict, and first aid. The Military Training and Cooperation Program works with a variety of delivery partners who provide expertise and instruction, including the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, various international peace support training centers, and Canada’s own Peace Support Training Centre located at Canadian Forces Base Kingston. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police also has a peace operations program that provides comprehensive pre-deployment training to Canadian civilians and police personnel prior to deployment to missions abroad, in addition to providing training internationally through Pre-Selection Assistance and Assessment training projects. Canada established the Dallaire Centre of Excellence for Peace and Security in June 2019. Residing within the Canadian Defense Academy, the Centre supports the enhancement of the Canadian Armed Force’s effectiveness, by serving as an enduring platform for research and education on the prevention of the recruitment and use of child soldiers. The Centre also focuses on other human security topics relevant to Canadian Armed Forces operations, doctrine and training. For decades, Canada has played a key role in supporting United Nations peace operations and will continue to be a steadfast contributor to United Nations efforts to build peace and security around the world. Response by the Minister of National Defence Signed by Sherry Romanado Canada is proud to contribute to peace support operations around the world through funding, specialist personnel, tactical airlift, advanced medical care, and specialized training support. Canada’s current peacekeeping deployments focus on specialized capabilities and expertise – with 20 military members currently deployed to four United Nations (UN) missions in the Middle East and Africa. The Canada-led Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations is one example of Canada’s broader efforts to support UN Peacekeeping as well as to advance the objectives of the Women, Peace and Security agenda both at home and abroad. Since 2017, the Elsie Initiative has worked to increase the meaningful participation of uniformed women in peace operations. In addition, Canada’s Military Training and Cooperation Program is mandated to develop the capacity of its 60 non-North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member countries to undertake UN-sanctioned multilateral operations and sponsors a range of training and other support. This includes training in areas such as the English and French language, Peace and Security, civil-military cooperation, international law of armed conflict, and first aid. The Military Training and Cooperation Program works with a variety of delivery partners who provide expertise and instruction, including the UN Institute for Training and Research, various international peace support training centers, and Canada’s own Peace Support Training Centre located at Canadian Forces Base Kingston. In areas such as the Middle East, Canada’s military members are focused with helping ensure humanitarian access to the civilian populations while supervising ceasefire agreements. In every peacekeeping military deployment, members are employed to end widespread violence and, in some cases, halt an unfolding humanitarian disaster. Canada is also the eighth largest contributor to the United Nations Peace Operations Budget, a top five contributor to voluntary funding, and a major donor to the Peacebuilding Fund. Taken together, these efforts contribute to the rules based international order and promote respect for human rights and justice, while also ensuring peacekeepers are prepared for modern challenges. While there are currently no plans to open a Centre of Excellence for Peace and Justice, Canada established the Dallaire Centre of Excellence for Peace and Security in June 2019. Residing within the Canadian Defence Academy, the Dallaire Centre of Excellence for Peace and Security serves as an enduring platform for research and education on the prevention of the recruitment and use of child soldiers. The Centre also focuses on other human security topics relevant to Canadian Armed Forces operations, doctrine and training. For decades, Canada has played a key role in supporting UN Peace Operations, and we will continue to contribute to UN efforts to build peace and security around the world.