Foreign Affairs
Mr. Bill Siksay (Burnaby—Douglas, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, today is the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people, but today
stateless Palestinian refugee claimants are facing deportation from
Canada. Their deportations will ultimately lead to their return to
poverty, violence and severely limited human rights in refugee camps where
many have lived their entire lives before escaping to Canada.
Could the Prime
Minister assure us that Canada will live up to its obligations under the
UN Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness and, given his personal
commitment to the protection of Palestinians, will he ensure that
stateless Palestinian refugees are not deported from Canada?
Hon. Pierre Pettigrew (Minister of
Foreign Affairs, Lib.): Mr.
Speaker, this is a day that we have been honouring at the United Nations
for 27 years. Our solidarity with the Palestinian people is very
important.
Canada will
continue to promote the security and safety of the Palestinian refugees
and to find a solution in the Middle East. Members can count on our
country to put forward its very best efforts at this time.
I am very pleased
that the member has given me the opportunity to celebrate this 27th
anniversary of solidarity with the Palestinian people
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