Jim Karygiannis

[Request for Emergency Debate, April 22nd, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, on April 14, I had the privilege, as an accredited international juror, of witnessing the presidential elections of Venezuela.

I witnessed problems at the polls, military presence with guns and some electronic machines not working properly. Others witnessed violence, the burning of ballots and individuals with several identity cards voting early and often.

I also saw the people of Venezuela streaming to the polls to exercise their democratic rights. They were full of hope, believing that this election signalled a new era for Venezuela.

Even after the polls had closed and the preliminary results were announced, there was still the belief that democracy would prevail. The opposition called for a recount, and the president elect said in his victory speech that he would not object. When asked, one of the election commission's members indicated the commission would not undertake a recount.

Unfortunately, by Monday, the day after the election, the president elect had changed his mind. The elections commission declared him the winner, and his inauguration took place last Friday.

Opposition party members across Venezuela rallied to protest the cancelling of the recount, and the police moved in, leaving 7 dead, 60 injured and 170 arrested.

I am pleased to learn that the national elections commission has agreed to an audit of 46% of the ballot boxes that were not subject to the recount on election day. There has been retaliation against people who voted for Mr. Capriles. I have received reports of mass layoffs of civil servants who supported Capriles. People have been indiscriminately arrested for having supported Capriles.

Mr. Speaker, I am asking you to grant an emergency debate so we in this House can discuss and debate what measures should be taken to help the people of Venezuela ensure that their democratic rights are protected.

[Coptic Christian Community, April 18th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, Coptic Christians are one of the oldest Christian communities in the Middle East. While they have integrated into the larger Egyptian nation, the Copts have survived as a distinct religious community, forming around 10% of the population.

Coptic Christians have faced increasing marginalization since the 1952 coup d'état led by Mr. Nasser. The Coptic community has been targeted by hate crimes and physical assaults. Their churches, homes, and businesses have been looted and burned. They have faced a growing number of personal attacks, which have left uncounted numbers injured and several hundred dead, and the death toll is rising.

Earlier this month, six Coptic Christians were killed in an attack in Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, in Cairo. They were attending the funeral of four Coptic Christians who had been gunned down two days earlier.

It has been estimated that in 2011 alone, 100,000 Coptic Christians fled Egypt. There are no figures yet for 2012. However, for most of Egypt's Coptic Christians, some six million to eight million, flight is not an option. They are too poor. The Canadian Coptic community is--

[Request for Emergency Debate, February 25th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, on October 7, 2012, Hugo Chavez of Venezuela was elected for another term as president. On November 27, President Chavez underwent treatment for cancer in Cuba, and on December 8, it was announced that the president would have to undergo new cancer surgery.

Article 231 of the Venezuelan constitution states that the new president should be sworn in before the National Assembly on January 10 following the election. If this cannot happen, the president shall be sworn in before the Supreme Tribunal of Justice.

Due to his illness, president-elect Chavez has not been sworn in before the National Assembly or the Supreme Tribunal of Justice. On January 9, 2013, Venezuela's supreme court ruled that the postponement of president-elect Hugo Chavez's inauguration for an indefinite time is legal. After hearing the supreme court's decision, Vice-President Maduro indicated that the swearing in of the president was just a formality.

President-elect Chavez returned to Venezuela on February 18 and still has not been sworn in as president. The people of Venezuela deserve a president and a judicial system that adheres not only to the letter of the law but to the spirit of the law.

The Venezuelan diaspora in Canada is asking what the Canadian government is doing to help the people of Venezuela to ensure that the integrity of the Venezuelan constitution is maintained and that the democratic rights of Venezuelans are not abolished. Therefore, I am asking for an emergency debate so that the government can answer this very important question and explain what steps it is taking.

[Committees of the House, December 12th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, if my colleague across the way would take the wax out of her ears and listen, she would have heard that this letter was written on August 2. If she wants to quote me, she should quote me correctly. This letter was sent to her boss—

[Committees of the House, December 12th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I had two questions. Should we expedite immigration cases from Syria?

[Committees of the House, December 12th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to read a letter that was sent on August 23, 2012 to the ministers of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, CIDA, and Citizenship and Immigration Canada. This was sent from the leader of the Liberal Party and it reads, “Members of the Liberal caucus met this week with representatives of the Syrian-Canadian community”. It encourages them to come up with $2 million in aid. It also says that:

The Syrian-Canadian community has also expressed the need for additional humanitarian funding to help those on the ground. As the situation in Syria continues to deteriorate, we urge the government to consider implementing a program to match contributions, similar to the program that assists with the humanitarian situation in the Sahel region in West Africa.

It goes on to ask to expedite immigration as well. I seek unanimous consent to table this letter so that my colleagues across the way might have it.

My question to my colleague is very simple. The government is stepping up and talking about all kinds of things it is doing. I wonder if my colleague would agree or disagree with me that the government should do more, especially in the case of immigration. People in Canada want to sponsor their extended families, parents, grandparents, spouses, and bring them to Canada. Should they be allowed to come to Canada on an expedited basis and given a ministerial permit or visitor visa and have their application continue from here?

Second, does she agree or disagree with me that the government has failed the Syrian Canadian diaspora in matching donations dollar for dollar? The community has advised me that it has raised close to $4 million. I am sure that the representatives who went to committee told the members this, but it went in one ear and out the other. I read it on the record very clearly.

However, I ask for consent to table this letter.

[Committees of the House, December 12th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I would like to point out that I am not a member of that committee. The parliamentary secretary keeps saying that. He is way out of line.

[Committees of the House, December 12th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, the parliamentary secretary is out of order. A member attending or not attending somewhere should not be mentioned. I would like you to rule on that, please.

[Committees of the House, December 12th, 2012]

Other communities are matching dollar for dollar. Will you say yes or no?

[Committees of the House, December 12th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague said that I jumped up and down and mentioned a letter. Let me point out to the parliamentary secretary that the Liberal leader sent a letter on August 23, 2012 to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and to the Minister of Immigration.

I just want the parliamentary secretary to deny that this was done or confess and say that the government is ignoring calls from the Syrian community and just does not want to match dollar for dollar. Has the government received it, yes or no?