United Church Social Policy Positions

The 34th General Council commends the Division of Mission in Canada for its action to date [on conscientious objectors and redirection of taxes for non-military purposes] and encourages its continued action in this regard and requests that it work in conjunction with Project Ploughshares and the Canadian Council of Churches in its overtures to government.
Further that this 34th General Council urge the Government of Canada to:

1. provide taxpayers with the following three choices for the portion of taxes currently being used for military purposes:
1. to redirect that portion to alternate purposes of a socially useful nature, or
2. to continue to direct that portion to the armed forces' search and rescue and peacekeeping efforts and/or functions in support of humanitarian aid only, and
3. to continue to direct that portion to the armed forces with no specific designation of use;
2. allow as acceptable alternatives for such "Peace Taxes": humanitarian aid to the Third World, provision of food, shelter, and medicines for peoples displaced by war; research for the peaceful resolution of conflict, and/or subsidies for conversion from arms production.

General Council: 34th General Council, 1992

Record of Proceedings Page Ref. 1992 ROP, p. 189