Thank you, Madam Chair.
I would like to speak briefly to the amendment I've shared. I think it's really important that when we talk about the current rise of the far right, it's not just something we see in our communities or saw in the events in Ottawa over two years ago. It's not just something we're hearing about in the news or from constituents or that we're facing ourselves as politicians.
It is something we saw on display just a few short days ago as the leader of the official opposition visited a camp where there were members who clearly identified support for Diagolon, a far right extremist group, whose founder was referred to as “a violent extremist” by Canada's Integrated Terrorism Assessment Centre. This is profoundly disturbing.
We know that the leader of the official opposition has not condemned this group despite the vague assertions we've heard from the other side. There has not been a clear condemnation since the leader of the official opposition visited this camp. This is deeply disturbing.
We are seeing politicians egg on and practise dog whistles to the far right. It's incumbent on those of us around committees like this and in parliaments like ours to take a stand and condemn these groups, to condemn visiting with supporters of these groups and to condemn the rise of the far right in our country. This is a disturbing trend we are seeing in other like-minded countries around the world. It is incumbent on us to show the courage to stand up against hate, to stand with communities that are targets of this hate and to condemn politicians who are trying to score points by spending time with groups that celebrate these groups and that kind of hate.
Therefore, I think this is an opportunity, given these disturbing recent events, such as the meeting of the leader of the official opposition, to not just condemn this visit but more importantly support a motion to look into what the situation is right now in our country with the rise of the far right, how it is that communities are being targeted, what they are being subjected to and what we as parliamentarians can do about it.
We have a role in putting a stop to the rise of the far right and the rise of fascism within our country. Our role starts with showing leadership around this table, supporting motions like the motion in front of us today and stopping the playing of games to delay the vote on this important motion.
Finally, I call for a vote on the amendment, and I hope we will have a vote on this motion very soon.