moved for leave to introduce Bill 306, an act respecting a national refugee awareness day.
Madam Speaker, I have the honour to table a bill establishing a national refugee awareness day on April 4 of each year. Because of my origins, this is something I hold dear. The Geneva Refugee Convention was signed in July 1951. It has been ratified by Canada.
On April 4, 1985, the Supreme Court of Canada handed down its decision in the famous Singh case saying that the charter of rights and freedoms applied to refugees as well. This day will help make Canadians more aware of the often dramatic situation of refugees.
(Motion deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)