Montreal, Quebec — Green Party of Quebec leader Alex Tyrrell and anti-war activist Yves Engler gathered today in Old Montreal to oppose proposals to establish a NATO-linked military financing institution — described as a “war bank” — in Montreal.
The press conference took place in front of the United Nations Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, highlighting what the speakers described as the contradiction between institutions dedicated to peace and environmental protection and a proposed bank aimed at facilitating military expansion and arms production
We do not want this war bank in Montreal
Tyrrell and Engler rejected efforts by political and business interests to attract the institution to Montreal.
“We do not want this war bank in Montreal,” said Alex Tyrrell, leader of the Green Party of Quebec. “Montreal should be known as a city that promotes peace, diplomacy, environmental protection, and international cooperation — not as a hub for the global arms industry.”
“People used to talk about Canada as a peacekeeping nation,” said Engler. “Now politicians are competing to bring a NATO military financing institution to their cities. Montreal peace advocates are saying clearly: we do not want it here.”
The proposed institution has been linked to NATO efforts to dramatically increase military spending among member states and strengthen financing mechanisms for weapons manufacturers and military contractors.
“Montreal has a history of opposing war,” Tyrrell stated. “There were massive demonstrations here against the Iraq War, and the city declared itself a nuclear-weapon-free zone decades ago. We should not be moving in the opposite direction by welcoming NATO military finance infrastructure.”
War Profiteers
The speakers also criticized elected officials from multiple political parties for either supporting or refusing to oppose the proposal. They argued that the project would further integrate Canadian financial institutions and pension funds into the international arms industry.
Alex Tyrrell accused Québec solidaire of supporting war profiteering by refusing to oppose the proposed NATO-linked bank.
“Québec solidaire is looking to have Quebec profiteer from the war industry,” said Tyrrell. “What’s the motivation for having the NATO war bank here in Montreal? It’s because they want a cut of the global arms race.”
Tyrrell said he was shocked that a party which has previously criticized NATO would defend Montreal as a suitable location for a military financing institution.
“To see a left-wing party like Québec solidaire support this move, this power grab, this money grab to have this bank here, I find completely ridiculous,” he stated.
Yves Engler also criticized Québec solidaire for refusing to oppose the proposed NATO-linked institution; “We’re seeing a consensus among social democratic politicians that they want to profit from war,” said Engler. “Québec solidaire had an opportunity to clearly say they did not want this NATO war bank in Montreal, and they refused to do it.”
Engler argued that Montreal should not become associated with militarism and arms financing. “If you bring this bank to your city, your city becomes associated with militarism for decades to come,” he stated. “Montreal peace advocates are saying clearly: we do not want it here.”
Invest in Peace, Not Militarism
Tyrrell warned that bringing the institution to Montreal would permanently associate the city with militarism and war profiteering. The speakers called instead for investments in climate action, social programs, environmental protection, and peaceful international cooperation rather than military expansion and arms production.
“Montreal is a peace city,” Tyrrell concluded. “We do not want NATO’s war bank here. NATO, if you are listening, do not come here.”
