Mr. Speaker, nearly a month ago the government supported a House motion that it would stand consistently against the death penalty as a matter of principle both in Canada and around the world. Yet the government still will not seek clemency for Ronald Allen Smith, the only Canadian on death row in the United States.
Today, we learned that ACLU is intervening on Mr. Smith's behalf to stop this cruel and unusual punishment.
How can the government affirm it is against the death penalty around the world and yet not seek clemency for Mr. Smith's death sentence?
Why does it affirm one principle in the House and oppose that principle outside the House?