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e-6869 (Foreign affairs)

E-petition
Initiated by Miles Craig from Victoria, British Columbia

Original language of petition: English

Petition to the Government of Canada

Whereas:
  • Humanity faces escalating global conflict;
  • Canada has a proud tradition of international peacekeeping, diplomacy, and human rights leadership;
  • The International Peace Charter is a global civil society initiative to affirm principles of peace, including, renouncing war and violence, resolving disputes through dialogue and reconciliation, advancing disarmament and redirecting resources to human development, respecting sovereignty and peoples’ right to self-determination, defending truth and countering disinformation, promoting environmental stewardship to prevent conflict, protecting human dignity and diversity, supporting fair justice and transitional accountability, and fostering collective well-being through mindfulness and reconciliation; and
  • This Charter reflects Canadian values of cooperation, inclusion, and justice, and offers a unifying framework for addressing the root causes of conflict while advancing sustainable peace and security.
We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to formally consider, endorse, and ratify the International Peace Charter and work with Parliament, Indigenous governments, civil society, and the international community to integrate the principles of the International Peace Charter into Canadian foreign and domestic policy, ensuring Canada’s leadership role in building a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world.

Response by the Minister of Foreign Affairs

Signed by Parliamentary Secretary Rob Oliphant

Global Affairs Canada appreciates the petitioners’ commitment to advancing global peace, human rights, and sustainable development, and welcomes the opportunity to respond to the proposal to formally consider, endorse, and ratify the International Peace Charter.

Canada’s foreign policy is grounded in the principles of multilateral cooperation, respect for human rights, the peaceful resolution of conflict, and support for international law. These principles align closely with several themes identified in the International Peace Charter, including dialogue and reconciliation, disarmament, environmental stewardship, and the protection of human dignity.

Canada works with international partners to prevent conflict and promote peace through a range of initiatives, including contributions to United Nations peace operations, support for mediation and peacebuilding efforts, and investments in inclusive governance.Canada promotes peace as a standing member of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission, a United Nations advisory body that supports the advancement of peace efforts in conflict-affected countries. Since 2006, Canada has also contributed $156 million to the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund, a fund dedicated to promoting prevention and peacebuilding. This includes the most recent contribution of $8 million for peacebuilding interventions in 2026. Through these efforts, Canada aims to address the root causes of instability and contribute to building a better world.

Canada maintains an unwavering commitment to the United Nations and other diplomatic, technical and programmatic initiatives on global peace and security, human rights and environmental protection. The United Nations Charter remains the bedrock framework through which all member states advance and coordinate multilateral work on these issues, and provides the full scope needed to uphold and advance Canada’s interests and contributions to world peace.

Action by civil society to promote global public awareness of these important issues is always welcome. Canada lauds the commitment of the petitioners to contribute to this global advocacy effort and appreciates their sharing the International Peace Charter initiative. As Canada continues to advance world peace through its United Nations Charter commitments and support to various United Nations entities, the principles outlined in the International Peace Charter will serve as valuable inspiration.

Canada remains committed to building a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world, and appreciates the petitioners’ dedication to promoting this important goal with their partners in global civil society.

Open for signature
October 14, 2025, at 2:09 p.m. (EDT)
Closed for signature
January 12, 2026, at 2:09 p.m. (EDT)
Presented to the House of Commons
Elizabeth May (Saanich—Gulf Islands)
May 25, 2026 (Petition No. 451-00962)
Government response tabled
July 22, 2026
Photo - Elizabeth May
Saanich—Gulf Islands
Green Party Caucus
British Columbia