A Letter from Ireland
a Chara,
My work takes me to different places and gives me opportunities to meet with interesting people. It is an honour to represent Sinn Féin, discuss political developments, and promote the cause of Irish Unity.
Last week I left New York for Ottawa, then on to Halifax, Nova Scotia. All New Yorkers believe that the world revolves around their city. A view shared by many New York Irish. They were interested in our work in Canada.
For decades, Canada has supported peace in Ireland politically and financially. In another lifetime, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, I was a community organiser in West Belfast. At the time, the British government politically vetted many projects and refused funding. Into this funding gap stepped the International Fund for Ireland, which was heavily supported by the US and Canadian governments, amongst others.
The IFI invested in economic and community development in some of the most disadvantaged communities in the North of Ireland and border counties. The fund continues to make a real change in the lives of communities.
Canadians have played a central role in some of the most challenging and sensitive aspects of our peace process.
General John de Chastelain, a former head of the Canadian Armed Forces and former Ambassador, was appointed co-chair alongside Senator George Mitchell in the peace talks that delivered the Good Friday Agreement. After the agreement was signed, the General oversaw the demilitarisation and disarmament process.
Judge Corry, a former Canadian Supreme Court judge, was appointed in 2001 to investigate claims that state forces had colluded in six cases. The subsequent investigation recommended a series of public inquiries. The last of these inquiries, into the killing of Human Rights Attorney Pat Finucane, is now only getting underway after years of stalling and opposition by successive British Governments.
In our peace process, Canada has been seen to be a fair and respected arbiter.
In Ottawa, I, along with colleagues in Friends of Sinn Féin Canada, met with all four major political parties in the federal government to discuss the political developments. I was mindful that my last visit to Ottawa was two years ago. Then Sinn Féin and a number of civic society groups were calling for planning and preparation for unity.
This call has grown louder over the past two years and is the subject of academic research and publications. Sinn Féin is now joined by all other political parties across Ireland calling for preparation for unity referendums. Only Fianna Fáil and the Unionist parties are outside of this consensus.
In Ottawa and Halifax, I also met with Irish Canadian communities. It was engaging and informative. Canada was the first port of entry for many of the Irish who would fan out across its states and down into the US. Irish involvement in Canada is fascinating, from those escaping the penal laws and landing in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, to the famine Irish in Quebec, to former Fenians who helped drive Canadian Confederation in part as a reaction to US Fenians seeking to invade Canada !
There are many differences between Canada and the US, not least politically at this time, but all those I met in New York, Ottawa, and Halifax shared the hope of building a better, new, and United Ireland.
Many thanks to all those I met along the way and made the trip so successful. Have a great weekend.
Have a great weekend,
