moved for leave to introduce Bill C-479, an act to establish by the beginning of the twenty-first century a permanent museum exhibit to recognize the crimes against humanity as defined by the United Nations that have been perpetrated during the twentieth century.
Madam Speaker, I rise in the House today to present my private member's bill. This act shall be cited as the Recognition of Crimes Against Humanity Act.
The purpose of the bill is to mandate the establishment at the beginning of the 21st century of an exhibit in the Canadian Museum of Civilization recognizing all crimes against humanity that have been perpetrated during the 20th century.
Canadians from many diverse backgrounds have been affected by crimes against humanity that have taken place throughout the 20th century. The suffering of any group of victims is no less significant than that of any other group.
In introducing the bill I hope to address the concern that the creation of a museum to recognize only one group of victims would severely diminish the significance of the millions of other lives that have been lost or ruined as victims of crimes against humanity.
How can we as a government support one group of victims and ignore the suffering of others?
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)