Suspend SOVFA with Philippines
Petitioners ask the Government of Canada to suspend or reject the Canada–Philippines Status of Visiting Forces Agreement, conduct a public review of its human‑rights, corruption and governance risks, call for the immediate release of prisoners of conscience, and prioritise civil‑society engagement over military pacts.
Why we would sign this petition
- It would suspend Canadian cooperation that petitioners say links Canada’s reputation to a Philippine military accused of corruption and systemic human‑rights violations, reducing complicity risks.
- A transparent public review would evaluate the agreement’s human‑rights, corruption and governance risks and could require safeguards or accountability measures.
- Calling for release of prisoners of conscience and prioritising civil‑society engagement would align Canada with its stated human‑rights and Feminist International Assistance policies.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Suspending or rejecting the agreement could reduce Canada’s diplomatic leverage and hamper its ability to influence Philippine conduct through cooperation.
- It could disrupt security and development programs tied to commitments (including over $60 million), potentially harming partners and reducing oversight on funds.
- A public review and calls for release may have limited practical effect if the Philippine government ignores them; targeted conditional engagement might be more effective.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the House of Commons in Parliament assembled Canada signed the Canada-Philippines Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) and subsequently committed over $60 million in security and development assistance to the Government of the Philippines; Canada has policies and commitments that uphold the protection of human rights, gender equality, transparency, and accountability, including the Voices at Risk Guidelines and the Feminist International Assistance Policy; By entering into the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement, the Government of Canada risks binding our country’s reputation to a military establishment accused of corruption and systemic human rights violations including extra-judicial killings of journalists, union members, and Indigenous peoples which violate the Comprehensive Agreement on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL); As of November 2025, the Philippines holds 696 prisoners of conscience who are subjected to human rights violations and inhumane prison conditions; and Continued Canadian support and cooperation with the Government of the Philippines contributes to more human rights violations which undermines Canada’s stated commitments to peace, democracy, and the protection of human rights worldwide. We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to 1. Conduct a transparent public review of the SOVFA’s human rights, corruption, and governance implications; 2. Suspend or reject the agreement as it cannot guarantee accountability, civilian oversight, and compliance with Canada's human rights obligations; 3. Call for the immediate release of prisoners of conscience in the Philippines, and urge the Philippine government to end the criminalization of human rights defenders; 4. Reaffirm Canada's independent commitment to peace, human rights, and democracy by engaging with peoples and civil society organizations in the Philippines, not through military pacts.
Government response
No government response is available yet.