An Open Letter to the Incoming and Outgoing Government of Canada, and the Citizens of the Nation.

In Spring of 2003, in conjunction with a student day of strike and action organized by the members of the now defunct Dal Peace, I initiated a programme of political and social activism known as Non-participation. I walked out of my classes at Dalhousie University (a visiting student from the University of Winnipeg), and remain on strike from my studies to this day to protest Canada’s implication in the illegal occupation of foreign territories, increasing policy integration with the United Stages, undue corporate influence on government policy and the Canadian economy, and undemocratic actions within all levels of Canadian government. A statement outlining the nature of this action, it’s reasons and justifications, and the details of the programme was released to then prime minister Jean Cretien, as well as to the sitting ministers of Health, Finance, Education, and Defense at the time. Included with the statement to the prime minister were my Manitoba Health Card and Social Insurance Card.

At birth, an individual has no choice but to become by law a citizen of the nation, recorded in the government database and forced into the social contract. As children, Canadians are taught that in exchange for monetary and political support, we engage a representative to ensure that the interests of the community are met through an elected government. Over the last eight years of observation, and in my opinion, the government of Canada has continually demonstrated it’s inability to act in the best interests of Canadian citizens, and I lack the adequate confidence, in individual members of government and their organized political parties, to maintain a reasonable expectation of good governance. This is largely due to archaic, unnecessary, and irrelevant partisan politics. A successful social contract relies on the reasonable expectation of good governance of a citizen, and monetary and social support from the citizen. If a citizen of a democratic nation loses total confidence in the ability of the government to act in the best interests of the nation they are under no obligation to support or participate in said government.

Non-participation is a commitment to to withhold repayment of corporate and government debt to suggest a not-for-profit strategy for business and the state. Non-participation is a commitment to work for non-monetary compensation, to use labour as the currency through which to build personal and community relationships. Non-participation entails the non-filing of income and census information.

Non-participation recognizes the community as the primary measure of quality of life, and the programme is a commitment to work within and for local communities, to strengthen the health of the basic systems of existence through the growth of healthy food, maintenance of clean water and air, support for local, independent industry and promotion of non-institutional health and education services.

Non-participation necessarily requires the foreiture of rights to land and property ownership, subsidized health and education services, and government sponsered social assistance of any kind including but not limited to employment insurance, government grants, Canadian pension program, welfare, etc. 

The complicity of the current and past Canadian governments in illegal and immoral occupations of foreign nations through economic and military support for invading nations is the cornerstone of my decision to implement Non-participation. The Canadian government puts profit before people, corporations before communities, partisanship before participation. This is unacceptable. The recent actions of the Harper regime in poroguing parliament underscores the inability of the current political system in Canada to act in the best interests of Canadian communities, and Canadian culture. This is unacceptable. 

Today I renew my comittment to non-participation, regardless of the results of the federal election, I envision not revolution and revolt but reform and refashioning of the Canadian system into a modern and current independent political system that supports the health and well being of individuals, communities, the nation, and the world itself. This is an ethical act.

Travis John Goodwin

born Burnaby B.C. January 21, 1978

participateinpeace@gmail.com