Liberals back U.S. war resister's bid to stay in Canada

Last Updated: Thursday, September 18, 2008 | 6:44 PM ET

CBC News

Former U.S. soldier Jeremy Hinzman, shown here in 2006, has less than a week before his deportation deadline Tuesday. (Aaron Harris/Canadian Press)

With less than a week before U.S. Iraq war resister Jeremy Hinzman and his family are to be deported, the Liberals have reaffirmed their support for his fight to stay in Canada.

The 29-year-old Hinzman, his wife, Nga Nguyen, and their children — six-year-old Liam and six-week-old Meghan — have been ordered to leave Canada by Sept. 23 or face deportation.

If Hinzman is sent back to the U.S., he faces imprisonment and a criminal record.

Fresh off the campaign trail, Liberal Bob Rae spoke at a Toronto news conference Thursday with Hinzman.

Rae said the Liberals are still committed to keeping American war deserters in Canada.

He urged the government to support a motion passed earlier this year by all parties, except the Conservatives, to let conscientious objectors take up permanent residence.

"I don't think we should be having a situation where we're dead set on deportation in every situation, which seems to be the position of the government," Rae said.

Hinzman and his family came to Canada in 2004 after his attempts to gain conscientious objector status in the U.S. army were turned down.

His troop was about to be deployed to Iraq at the time, and he did not want to participate in what he called an immoral war.

Hinzman, who has applied for a stay of removal, said he's not expecting it to be granted.

"The Conservatives are ahead and they're not sympathetic to us in the least," he said, referring to opinion polls in advance of the Oct. 14. election.