Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the comments the member just made, because members of Parliament present them on behalf of their constituents regardless of what a member's position is.
The constituents from across the country who have signed this petition note that Canada was a founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO, in 1949 and has participated in every NATO intervention. They note that NATO has failed to uphold article 1 of its charter “to settle any international dispute in which they may be involved by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security...are not endangered”.
The petitioners note that according to a NATO defence expenditures report, Canada's military spending increased from $20 billion in 2014 to $39 billion in 2023. They also note that throughout the year, NATO engages in exercises and operations that involve thousands of soldiers and vehicles that adversely impact the climate and environment, among other things.
The petitioners are calling on the government, as well as the House of Commons, to withdraw from NATO, remove Canadian troops from Latvia, reduce military spending and conduct public consultations on new foreign policy based on peace and international co-operation.
Some 628 Canadians have signed petition e-4979. The person advancing this petition lives in the riding of Waterloo. My job is to represent the diversity of views and perspectives within that constituency and it is an honour and privilege to do so.