Mr. Speaker, due to the number of Canadians who over the last year have been hurt or killed in Mexico and the Mexican government's seeming inability to investigate and solve those crimes, I feel that the House of Commons should undertake an emergency debate on this issue.
These tragic events have caused many Canadians to ask the government to issue a travel advisory for Mexico. To date, Canada's new minority Conservative government has refused the calls of Canadians and parliamentarians.
Today the Minister of Foreign Affairs is in Mexico. He has the opportunity to press this issue with his counterpart.
As the government has failed to safeguard Canadians while they are visiting Mexico, it is up to Parliament to ensure Canadians are warned of the perils they face while travelling to Mexico. Canadians want their government to take the necessary steps to safeguard them.
This morning the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Trade said in an interview that for a travel advisory to be issued:
I would suggest to you that Canadians would have to be targeted, and Canadians are not being targeted in Mexico.
Do Canadians have to paint a bull's eye on their foreheads? That is absolutely outrageous.
In a few days the universities will have a reading week and in a few weeks from now we will have March break. The Canadian government must ensure that Canadians are aware of the dangers they could face at their travel destinations.
I am, therefore, requesting an emergency debate on this issue. We must be responsible for Canadians and to Canadians.