Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I have the honour to present petitions signed by over 2,000 Canadians representing various ridings across our country. There were other petitions on the same issue presented in the past.
The petitioners today call the attention of the House to the most important issue of the Parthenon Marbles. They are asking that every effort be made to return the marbles to their rightful home in Greece where they were taken without the consent of the Greek people almost 200 years ago and, hopefully, to arrive in Greece before the 2004 Olympic Games hosted by Greece.
Therefore the petitioners call upon Parliament to urge the United Kingdom to return the marbles to where they belong, with their rightful owners and the Parthenon in Athens.