Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I would like to remind members that 53 countries comprise the francophonie; they may be francophone or they may in some way use the French language. When the secretary of such an esteemed association travels to a country, he should be treated with deference. I am certain Mr. Diouf was not treated that way. Even when we go on missions as parliamentarians, people show consideration to us. Ministers would certainly be welcomed by their counterparts and bypass the usual processes. It is simply good manners. All countries, and Canada is no different... It happens on both sides. On the one hand, there is the francophonie, which has every reason to be displeased, and on the other hand, there are the citizens of Quebec and of Canada. I am certain that the same thing happens in English-speaking countries.
To regret something and to apologize for it are two very different things. I regret the fact that my grandmother has a headache, but I cannot apologize for it because I am not to blame. However, if I have hurt her in some way, I must apologize because I am to blame.
The fact that Canada insists on saying that it regrets the incident may seem strange to some. Canada should apologize because it is, first and foremost, responsible for what happened. Regret has nothing to do with it. Mr. Diouf is a very polite man. He is an esteemed diplomat and as a representative of 53 countries, he suffered a blow to his dignity. It would seem to me that the new government should hasten to correct this. This will not be the end of it.
We are here as parliamentarians. I have before me two parliamentary secretaries representing their minister. We have had several occasions within this committee to pass motions as parliamentarians on behalf of the foreign affairs committee; parliamentarians collectively make recommendations to Parliament and to the government as to the best possible measures to take.
Either for Senegal or for these 53 countries, or for the sake of this government proving that it knows how to welcome and show consideration for diplomats, I would like to see this motion unanimously passed.