SoVote

Context: House Hansard - 315 - May/22/24

May/22/24 2:05:40 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, on May 19, we commemorated the Pontian genocide. On this day of remembrance, we pay tribute to the 350,000 lives lost and hundreds of thousands of others deported due to a tragedy systematically imposed by Turkey between 1914 and 1923. Some 700,000 people disappeared, Pontic families were massacred, a community that had been established for 2,600 years was eliminated. Pontic children, women and seniors were murdered. It was a genocide. The genocide was part of the broader Greek genocide and was conducted in parallel to the Armenian genocide as part of Turkey's effort to cleanse it of non-Turkish inhabitants. It is our moral obligation to stand in solidarity with the survivors and their descendants, to bear witness to their suffering and to ensure that the truth of these atrocities is never obscured or denied. The recognition of Pontic Genocide Remembrance Day reaffirms our commitment to truth, accountability and justice. I appeal to all Canadians to sign House of Commons petition e-4929 to officially recognize the entire Greek genocide.

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Context: House Hansard - 315 - May/22/24

Mr. Sameer Zuberi (Pierrefonds—Dollard, Lib.)

May/22/24 2:08:03 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, May 18, last Saturday, was Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day. Fifteen years ago, on that same day, a large-scale massacre took place in Mullivaikkal. Tens of thousands were tragically killed, despite the fact that the Sri Lankan government declared no-fire zones. Even today, many Tamils remain missing and displaced. In a day and age when 120 armed conflicts are currently ongoing in 35 countries, recognizing the Tamil genocide is absolutely essential. To bring peace and stability, we need justice. It is for this reason that we recognize the Tamil genocide. It is for this reason that Canada last year applied strict sanctions against Sri Lankan officials. We all hope for a day when we have peace and security, when all live free of war.

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Context: House Hansard - 315 - May/22/24

Ms. Emmanuella Lambropoulos (Saint-Laurent, Lib.)

May/22/24 2:13:35 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, on May 19, Greeks across Canada and around the world commemorated the 105th anniversary of the Pontic genocide. The Pontic genocide, which was part of the Greek genocide, was a deliberate and systematic destruction of the indigenous Greek community in the Pontus region, and was the result of an Ottoman government-issued decree that led to the systematic annihilation and brutal extermination of over 353 Pontic Greek men, women and children between 1914 and 1923. I would like to thank the Pontian Association of Montreal, the Canadian Hellenic Congress, the Hellenic Congress of Quebec and all other associations that have been working hard to ensure that we never forget. I would like to thank the Canadian Hellenic Congress for initiating the petition to have the Greek genocide officially recognized by the Government of Canada, and I encourage all Greek Canadians to sign it to have their voices heard. Today I rise in the House to pay tribute to the victims, survivors and families of the Pontian genocide. May they live on forever in our memory. Αιωνία η μνήμη.

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Context: House Hansard - 315 - May/22/24

Mr. Mike Morrice (Kitchener Centre, GP)

May/22/24 3:18:54 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, the University Network for Human Rights published a 100-page report concluding that Israel's actions in Gaza constitute genocide. The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor is now seeking arrest warrants for both Hamas terrorists and Israeli leaders. There is no equivalency being made. These individuals may simply be accused of breaking international law, which the court is tasked to uphold. Will the PM support the ICC's process, as is the will of this Parliament from March 18?

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