Mr. Speaker, Quebecers and Canadians continue to believe profoundly in promoting democratic values and in protecting fundamental rights. We all deplore the violation of these rights by the Nigerian military junta,
and were shocked by last week's announcement of the impending execution of nine dissidents.
The official opposition calls on the Government of Canada to put pressure on the Nigerian authorities to stop all violation of fundamental rights. Canada must take the lead and use the occasion of the meeting of the Commonwealth countries to raise this matter and promote respect for human rights, as it did in the 1980s in the case of South Africa.