Thank you, Chair, for the opportunity to speak on this motion, which I'm certain is going to receive unanimous consent from this committee. At the subcommittee we all stand in solidarity with Michael Chong, who is named in the sanctions, and indeed all parliamentarians in our country who have spoken out on this issue, and there is a unanimous vote of Parliament in respect to the situation in Xinjiang.
I think it's incumbent on us to respond and respond strongly. I think Mr. Chong stated it well when he said we cannot allow these sanctions to silence us, and as was pointed out by Ms. Sahota and Mr. Chong, and by the letter sent to the chair and the motion itself. I think it is clearly an affront to democracy and to the parliamentary system that we are part of. Fortunately for us we are able to speak freely about violations of human rights, whether they be in China or elsewhere in the world, and we will continue to do so.
I believe we should state that in the motion itself. I want to propose an amendment to say that, to add another sentence and to suggest that this motion be reported to the House as well. I would put this forth as a motion. At the end of the sentence that refers to condemning the unacceptable sanctions that represent an affront to Canada's democracy and parliamentary system, I would add this sentence:
“As parliamentarians, we will continue to actively denounce human rights violations and breaches of international law in keeping with our respect for basic human rights, and that this motion be reported to the House.”
I take it that's in order, Mr. Chair. I will let the debate continue.
I think it's a fairly basic addition but it reinforces the statement of Mr. Chong, that we must make it clear that we will not be silenced by this action by the People's Republic of China. They were sanctioned for violations of human rights. They purport to sanction the Canadian parliamentarians for acting on our support for human rights and our belief in the democratic system and our ability to participate fully in that. I think it's fitting that we respond in this way and make it clear that we will not be silenced, that we will continue to do our duty as parliamentarians and exercise our freedom of expression and freedom of voice to stand up against human rights violations wherever we see them.
Thank you, Chair.