Mr. Speaker, yesterday a majority of 167 members of all parties in this House followed the dictates of their hearts and consciences and voted in favour of the Alliance motion supporting Taiwan's observer status with the World Health Organization.
The ramifications of this vote will be far reaching. This Parliament supported democratic Taiwan and in doing so sent a message to other democracies and democratic groups who strive for freedom.
Our hope is that the Prime Minister will take this signal and begin to consistently speak up for courageous people who face tyrannical forces in other places such as Iran, Syria and Lebanon.
We must also stand with other vibrant and emerging democracies in Southeast Asia, where they face violent groups from within who deprive men, women and children of their natural rights to freedom and prosperity.
May yesterday's vote reignite what should be a shining light of our foreign policy, securing our place in the world once again as a country on the side of the individual rights and freedoms of people everywhere.