Canada does not have a general law requiring a national referendum before the federal government enters a major international arrangement that could transfer Canadian decision-making authority or create continuing military obligations.

Under Canada’s constitutional system, the federal executive generally conducts international relations and has authority to negotiate, sign and ratify treaties. Treaty-making does not by itself change Canadian domestic law. When an agreement requires changes to federal law, Parliament must enact implementing legislation. Depending on the subject, provincial legislation may also be required.

However, parliamentary implementation is not the same as approving the complete international agreement. Canada does not generally require Parliament to approve every treaty or require a binding national referendum before the government joins an international organization, enters a defence arrangement or ratifies a major agreement.

Joining a political or governing union, entering a new mutual-defence alliance, placing Canadian forces under continuing foreign command, permitting permanent foreign military bases or accepting rules made by an international institution could significantly affect Canada’s sovereignty and democracy for generations.

This petition does not claim that Canada is presently applying to join the European Union or forming a military alliance with China. The issue is that Canadians lack a guaranteed democratic process if any government proposes such a commitment in the future. The same protections should apply regardless of which party governs or which country or international organization is involved.

We call upon the Government of Canada and Parliament to enact legislation requiring:

1.  Full public disclosure before Canada formally applies to join a political or governing union or enters formal negotiations for a new binding military or mutual-defence alliance. The government must disclose the expected costs, legal consequences, military commitments, transfers of Canadian authority, duration, renewal terms and withdrawal conditions.
2. Approval through a legally binding Canada-wide referendum. Only Canadian citizens who are at least 18 and legally qualified under federal election law may vote.
3. A double-majority result. The proposal must receive both a majority of all valid votes cast across Canada and a majority in at least seven provinces representing at least 50% of the combined provincial population. Every province and territory must participate, and territorial votes must count fully in the national result.
4. An auditable voting process using individually marked paper ballots counted by hand, secure ballot custody, public polling-division results and a mandatory independent audit before certification. Recounts and court remedies must be available for close results or material irregularities, while every person’s secret ballot remains protected.
5. A fair campaign with transparent contributions, spending and advertising. Foreign contributions, foreign-funded advertising and coordination with foreign governments or organizations must be prohibited. Government departments and taxpayer-funded advertising must not be used for partisan campaigning.
6. A prohibition against province-specific inducements. No government official, political party or campaign may offer special federal funding, contracts, projects, tax concessions, loan guarantees or regulatory exemptions to obtain a province’s endorsement or influence its referendum result. Ordinary statutory transfers, previously budgeted programs, nationally available programs and genuine emergency assistance would continue.
7. Publication of the complete final agreement—including schedules, annexes and side commitments—for at least 90 days, followed by an independent assessment of its legal, constitutional, financial and military effects.
8. Express approval of the complete final agreement through an Act of Parliament passed by the House of Commons and Senate and receiving Royal Assent. A motion, committee vote or Cabinet announcement would not constitute full parliamentary approval.
9. A second referendum if the final agreement materially increases Canada’s costs or military obligations, transfers additional Canadian authority, restricts Canada’s right to withdraw or contains significant commitments that were not disclosed to voters.
10. Protection of Canada’s constitutional democracy. No agreement may bypass Canada’s Constitution or weaken free elections, the authority of the elected House of Commons, Parliament’s control over Canadian laws, provincial jurisdiction, independent Canadian courts, Charter-protected freedoms, Indigenous rights or Canadian civilian control of the Armed Forces.
    These safeguards must apply according to an arrangement’s actual purpose and effect, regardless of whether it is called a treaty, protocol, memorandum, strategic partnership, framework, compact or side letter. Related arrangements must be considered together so that a major commitment cannot be divided into smaller steps to avoid democratic approval.

The requirements would apply to a private international organization only if Canada transfers governmental authority to it or commits to implementing its decisions without parliamentary approval. Merely attending meetings or considering non-binding recommendations would not trigger a referendum.

The safeguards would not prevent immediate and temporary action necessary to repel an armed attack, address a clearly identified imminent armed threat, protect Canadian lives or fulfil an existing lawful defence obligation. Emergency action must be reported to Parliament promptly and cannot be used to create a permanent alliance, foreign base or lasting transfer of Canadian authority.

Routine defence procurement, training, temporary military exercises, intelligence-sharing and peacekeeping would remain permitted unless they create a continuing defence obligation or significant transfer of Canadian authority. Existing alliances would not automatically be cancelled, although material expansions should require democratic approval.

Parliament should enact these protections immediately through federal legislation. Because a future Parliament could amend an ordinary statute, Canada should also begin the proper federal, provincial, territorial, Indigenous and public consultations needed to consider lasting constitutional protection.

A national referendum is not a rejection of international cooperation. It ensures that decisions capable of fundamentally changing how Canada is governed or defended belong to Canadians—not to one government acting alone.