Mr. Speaker,
[Member spoke in Armenian as follows:]
Parts rashnon serpazan hayr sirelli hay kebektsiner.
[Translation]
Today, April 24, we commemorate the 1915 Armenian genocide that claimed 1.5 million victims. The first genocide of the 20th century wiped out more than half of the Armenian population.
Two years ago, the House passed the Bloc Québécois' Motion No. 380 recognizing the genocide.
The Conservative government must do its utmost to ensure that recognizing these barbaric acts means more than just passing a motion. We should adopt an act of formal acknowledgement out of respect for families who lost relatives under horrible conditions and to show that we will never again accept genocide.
There are 18,860 Quebeckers of Armenian origin, 5,880 of whom live in Laval. I am speaking on their behalf today to express the hope that nobody will ever have to experience such a tragedy again.
[Member spoke in Armenian as follows:]
Guetse high jogovourthe.