Canadian MPs support U.S. Iraq objectors

OTTAWA, June 4 (UPI) -- The Canadian House of Commons passed a symbolic resolution Tuesday that U.S. military deserters who object to the Iraq War should be allowed to remain.

The motion sponsored by Olivia Chow of the New Democratic Party urges the Conservative government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper to allow war resisters and their immediate families to become permanent residents.

"Ordinary people want the Iraq war resisters to stay," said Chow. "The Harper Conservatives must respect this and immediately implement this motion."

While Canada has troops in Afghanistan, the country refused to join the U.S. "coalition of the willing" in Iraq.

About 200 U.S. soldiers who object to serving in Iraq are believed to be in Canada, including Corey Glass, who was notified last month that he had been denied refugee status, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported. Glass, a U.S. Army sergeant, fled to Canada while on leave in Indiana after serving five months in Iraq. The resolution has no effect on his case.