39th PARLIAMENT, 1st SESSION
EDITED HANSARD – NUMBER 008
CONTENTS
Monday, April 24, 2006

STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS
[Statements by Members]
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Armenia

Mr. Gary Goodyear (Cambridge, CPC): Mr. Speaker, on this day we commemorate
a dark chapter in history. The genocide of 1915 took the lives of an
estimated 1.5 million Armenians.
    Canada’s legislature, from a Senate resolution passed on June 13, 2002
to the adoption of a motion in this House on April 21, 2004, has finalized a
complete acknowledgement recognizing the Armenian genocide.
    Canada greatly values the contributions that Armenians make to our
national life. On this solemn day of remembrance, together, our nations look
with hope and determination toward a future of peace and prosperity for all
and freedom from ignorance.
    I commend the Prime Minister for his courage and leadership in doing the
right thing yet again and I join the Armenian communities in and around
Cambridge, across this great nation and all corners of the globe, in the
observance of this, the 91st anniversary of the Armenian genocide.
*   *   *

The Armenian people

    Ms. Raymonde Folco (Laval – Les Îles, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, on April 7, the
House addressed the subject of the Rwandan genocide of 1994.
[English]
    Today, we commemorate the 91st anniversary of the Armenian genocide
which the House condemned as a crime against humanity in April 2004. On
April 25, tomorrow, we will remember the 6 million Jews deliberately
murdered by Nazis during the second world war.
[Translation]
    Without hesitation, we have labeled these massacres as genocides
because, for racial, ethnic, religious or political reasons, certain
countries have sought to annihilate these populations in violation of their
right to life.
    Canadians have lost family members in these genocides.
[English]
    It is our responsibility to commemorate the memory of these victims as
we reflect on the senselessness of these sadistic atrocities. Canada must
serve as an example to the world that all peoples, regardless of their
colour, ethnicity or religion can live with dignity and respect.
    Finally, I would like to welcome to Ottawa Canadians of Armenian origin
from my riding of Laval – Les Îles.

*   *   *

[Translation]

The Armenian people

    Ms. Nicole Demers (Laval, BQ): Mr. Speaker,
    [Member spoke in Armenian as follows:]
    Parts rashnon serpazan hayr sirelli hay kebektsiner.
    [Translation]
    Today, April 24, we commemorate the 1915 Armenian genocide that claimed
1.5 million victims. The first genocide of the 20th century wiped out more
than half of the Armenian population.
    Two years ago, the House passed the Bloc Québécois’ Motion M-380
recognizing the genocide.
    The Conservative government must do its utmost to ensure that
recognizing these barbaric acts means more than just passing a motion. We
should adopt an act of formal acknowledgement out of respect for families
who lost relatives under horrible conditions and to show that we will never
again accept genocide.

    There are 18,860 Quebeckers of Armenian origin, 5,880 of whom live in
Laval. I am speaking on their behalf today to express the hope that nobody
will ever have to experience such a tragedy again.
    [Member spoke in Armenian as follows:]
    Guetse high jogovourthe.

*   *   *

ORAL QUESTIONS
[Oral Questions]

Foreign Affairs

    Hon. Jim Karygiannis (Scarborough – Agincourt, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, on
April 21, 2004, I was deeply gratified as the Parliament of Canada voted to
recognize the Armenian genocide. Today there continues to be human rights
violations against the Kurds and the Cypriots in that part of the world.
    When will the Prime Minister have the strength of his convictions and
have his foreign minister officially recognize the Armenian and Pontian
genocides committed by the Ottoman Empire?

    Hon. Peter MacKay (Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, CPC): Mr. Speaker, the member opposite
will note that the Prime Minister did acknowledge the terrible suffering and
loss of life that occurred over 92 years ago with the Armenian people. In
fact, he noted in his question as well that there were not only one but two
motions passed in the Parliament of Canada in recent years and this
government, as we did in opposition, supported those motions then as we do
today.

*   *   *

[English
Armenia

    The Speaker: Following discussions among representatives of all parties
in the House, I understand there is an agreement to commemorate the Armenian
genocide.
[Translation]
    I call on the hon. members to rise to observe a moment of silence.
    [A moment of silence observed]

*   *   *

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress