OTTAWA, Canada (A.W.)—On April 24, on the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the Canadian Parliament unanimously adopted Motion M-587, calling on all current and subsequent governments to honor the victims of all genocides by recognizing the month of April as Genocide Remembrance, Condemnation, and Prevention Month. Member of Parliament Brad Butt (C-Mississauga-Streetsville) had presented the motion on March 25.
“The government of Canada is proud to support Conservative MP Brad Butt’s private members motion M-587,” said Defense Minister Jason Kenney. Butt himself went on to say that he joins “thousands of people in recognizing the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. … We must never forget what happened then and we must always work to ensure these tragic events never happen again.”
On behalf of the New Democratic Party of Canada (NDP), which also supported the motion, Member of Parliament Alexandre Boulerice said, “the month of April is an important time to re-commit ourselves to protecting human rights and dignity for all people around the world.”
Very close collaboration between Jewish, Tutsi, Ukrainian, and Armenian organizations was instrumental in securing quick passage of Motion M-587 by the Canadian Parliament. All political parties united behind this motion, and its adoption is even more meaningful as it comes on the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide.
“The adoption of M-587 on today’s centennial is an important message to all perpetrators of genocide, and especially Turkey, that all Canadians stand together in condemning heinous acts such as the Armenian Genocide,” stated Mher Karakashian, chair of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee of Canada.
Speaking to the Armenian Weekly, Dr. Girair Basmadjian, chair of the Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC), said, “Both the government and all parties involved are to be congratulated for their principled stance. We are very proud that our government refuses to be challenged by external forces contrary to our neighbors to the south.” He added that the passage of the motion “demonstrates refusal of all the parties involved to be affected by external denialist pressure or direct interventions by Turkish authorities.”
The Armenian Weekly also spoke to Daron Keskinian, chair of the Armenian Youth Federation of Canada and a member of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee of Ontario, who stressed the significance of the motion. “The passage of the motion reaffirmed Canada’s position on the Armenian Genocide especially given that the motion was adopted with unanimous consent.”
“Canada has sent a strong message to the international community that it will not tolerate the act or denial of genocide,” said Keskinian.
Rupen Janbazian
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Thank You Canada for being on the just side of this awful Armenian Genocide and passing motion M-587 in letting the world wide world see that Canadians beleive in justice and do not give in to Turkish pressure to keep the facts of the Genocide under the rug. I Pray and hope that USA gets on the ball and pass a similar motion in its congress.
The proof and the undisputable facts are there in history confirming that the Turkish Ottoman empire committed this murder of 1.5 million Armenians out of 2 million total population back 100 yrs ago in 1915. May GOD bless Canada and its great citizens .
I am proud, grateful, and deeply moved that my country of Canada, a wonderful and beautiful country that has provided a safe and comfortable haven to a multitude of ethnic backgrounds, respects and defends the human rights of all its citizenry. Canada also seeks to defend the human rights of those outside its borders. I am delighted that, in taking this Parliamentary initiative, Canada has joined several other nations, groups, and religions in setting a sterling example to other recalcitrant nations. May God bless Canada and its people, and may He imbue others with the good sense to follow suit.
It is so important to call evil by its real name. Here is a column on the subject I published in my local newspaper:
http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/opinion/columnists/call-evil-by-its-name-1.1787551
Here is my commentary on local TV and YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzVHf5yD65Q
Thank you!
Gerry Chidiac
Thank you Canada.
“Oh Canada”, I love you!
We should all be proud that we live in a fair and just country like Canada!