Debates of Oct. 17th, 2011
House of Commons Hansard #30 of the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was tax.
Topics
- Question Period
- Keeping Canada's Economy and Jobs Growing Act
- National All Buffleheads Day
- Peace Country Harvest
- Bertrand Lafontaine
- Food For Famine Society
- National School Meals Program
- War of 1812
- Viateur Beaudry
- Restaurant Industry
- Canadian Wheat Board
- L.V. Rogers Secondary School
- Clay Card, Renzo Dainard, Jorden Miller and Danae Gough
- Homelessness Awareness Night
- Fauja Singh
- Dr. Richard Taor
- Riley Senft
- Alexandra Dodger
- International Trade
- Air Canada
- The Economy
- International Trade
- Pensions
- Post-Secondary Education
- Air Canada
- Fisheries and Oceans
- Veterans Affairs
- The Environment
- Fisheries and Oceans
- Small Business
- G8 Summit
- National Defence
- Canadian Wheat Board
- Research and Development
- National Parks
- Fisheries and Oceans
- Canadian Wheat Board
- International Trade
- The Environment
- Government Appointments
- Presence in Gallery
- Points of Order
- Board of Internal Economy
- Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
- Air Canada and Its Associates Act
- Committees of the House
- Ukraine
- Egyptian Coptic Christians
- Committees of the House
- Petitions
- Questions on the Order Paper
- Questions Passed as Orders for Returns
- Request for Emergency Debate
- Keeping Canada's Economy and Jobs Growing Act
Egyptian Coptic Christians
Routine Proceedings
October 17th, 2011 / 3:10 p.m.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Mr. Speaker, Coptic Christians in Egypt face persecution and discrimination. As the Arab spring unfolded in Egypt with people from all religious faiths joining together to overthrow the tyranny of Hosni Mubarak, the future looked brighter for Christians in Egypt. Unfortunately, under the new military government in Egypt, religious extremists seem to be able to carry out attacks on Christians and their churches with impunity. In the most recent attack, a Coptic church in upper Egypt was burned by religious extremists. When there was no reaction from the authorities, frustrated Copts gathered in Cairo's Maspero neighbourhood to protest the partial demolition of the church in Aswan province and call for the removal of the province's governor for failing to protect the church.
Army units fired on demonstrators with a resulting death toll of 25, most of whom were Copts, and scores were injured. Videos showed an armoured personnel carrier running people down. There could not have been a more callous expression of disregard by the Egyptian armed forces for the lives of Egyptian Christians.
Therefore, I am seeking unanimous consent for the following motion. I move:
That this House condemn the attacks on Egyptian Coptic Christians and their institutions; call on the Egyptian Government to ensure that the perpetrators of the attacks be brought to justice and bear the full weight of the law; and, ask the United Nations Human Rights Commission to investigate the plight of Egyptian Coptic Christians and issue a report on its findings.
Egyptian Coptic Christians
Routine Proceedings
3:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Speaker Andrew Scheer
I will recognize the hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs before I see if there is consent for this.
Egyptian Coptic Christians
Routine Proceedings
3:10 p.m.
Ottawa West—Nepean
Ontario
Conservative
John Baird Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the member's concern for this. Those of us in the government, joined by the New Democratic Party, are concerned that the resolution the member presented is not strong enough and would like to strengthen it. My colleague's motion should be amended to read as follows:
That this House stand in solidarity with those religious minorities around the world and strongly condemn the vicious attacks on Egyptian Coptic Christians and their institutions; call on the Egyptian Government to ensure that the perpetrators of the attacks be brought to justice and bear the full weight of the law; and, ask the United Nations Human Rights Commission to conduct an open and transparent investigation into the plight of Egyptian Coptic Christians and issue a public report on its findings.
Egyptian Coptic Christians
Routine Proceedings
3:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Speaker Andrew Scheer
Would the member for Scarborough—Agincourt like me to seek the consent of the House for his motion or will he withdraw his request in lieu of what the minister has just proposed?
Egyptian Coptic Christians
Routine Proceedings
3:10 p.m.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Mr. Speaker, I think the minister is amending my motion and the amendment is fully acceptable. I would like to point out that this motion is seconded by my colleague from York West.
Egyptian Coptic Christians
Routine Proceedings
3:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Speaker Andrew Scheer
I am going to take it that the hon. member for Scarborough—Agincourt is withdrawing his motion.
Egyptian Coptic Christians
Routine Proceedings
3:10 p.m.
An hon. member
No.
Egyptian Coptic Christians
Routine Proceedings
3:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Speaker Andrew Scheer
Given that there seems to be agreement for this, does the House give its unanimous consent for the motion by the member for Scarborough—Agincourt as amended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs? Is there unanimous consent to proceed in this fashion?
Egyptian Coptic Christians
Routine Proceedings
3:10 p.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
Egyptian Coptic Christians
Routine Proceedings
3:10 p.m.
Conservative
Egyptian Coptic Christians
Routine Proceedings
3:10 p.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
Egyptian Coptic Christians
Routine Proceedings
3:10 p.m.
Conservative
Procedure and House Affairs
Committees of the House
Routine Proceedings
3:15 p.m.
Conservative
Joe Preston Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON
Mr. Speaker, if the House gives its consent, I move that the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs presented to the House earlier today be concurred in.
Procedure and House Affairs
Committees of the House
Routine Proceedings
3:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Speaker Andrew Scheer
Does the hon. member for Elgin—Middlesex—London have the unanimous consent of the House to propose this motion?
Procedure and House Affairs
Committees of the House
Routine Proceedings
3:15 p.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.