FEDERATION OF MILITARY AND UNITED SERVICES INSTITUTES OF CANADA FMUSIC/FIMIC FÉDÉRATION DES INSTITUTS MILITAIRES ET INTERARMÉES DU CANADA CLFCSC, PO Box 17000, Station Forces, Kingston, Ont., K7K 7B4

March 10, 2003

The Honourable John McCallum, PC, MP
Minister of National Defence
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6

Dear Minister:

I write this letter on behalf of the Federation of Military and United Services Institutes of Canada (FMUSIC) to express our disappointment over the recent decision to not renew the grant of the government of Canada to the Federation of Military and United Services Institutes of Canada (FMUSIC). The utility of our “defence and national security” focused organization, in maintaining an awareness of the need for strong, robust and relevant defence forces, and in maintaining a “footprint” of national defence in communities across Canada (even where there are no military elements) since 1932 should not be overlooked. We urge you to reconsider this decision.

Should this grant not be continued, there is great risk that the momentum in public support to Canada’s military will be gravely damaged, if not lost all together. We strongly believe that FMUSIC is an important instrument in creating and maintaining defence and national security awareness across Canada and with Canadians. Moreover, we consider “our voice of defence” to be of paramount importance in advocating strong defence forces and in ensuring that Canadians join in the debate on defence needs.

In reviewing several government policy statements concerning the Voluntary Sector Initiative (VSI), I note that the cessation of this grant would seem to contradict published government policy. In a pamphlet titled “An Accord Between the Government of Canada and the Voluntary Sector,” December 2001, in the section titled principles, one finds: “... advocacy is inherent to debate and change in a democratic society and, subject to the above principles, it should not affect any funding relationship that might exist.” Moreover, in the related pamphlet titled “A Code of Good Practice in Funding,” October 2002, one finds a repeat of the previous quotation: “…should not affect any funding relationship that might exist.“ Given these policy statements, perhaps a review of your decision would be warranted.

In closing, I do hope that you will reconsider your decision in light of the foregoing, and I look forward to your reply.

Respectfully,

L.W.F. Cuppens
Lieutenant-General (retired)
National Chairman

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