Mr. Speaker, the government announced last Wednesday that Canada will not be participating in the 2009 Durban review conference. Despite mixed messages sent by our General Assembly votes in the fall, I am pleased that the government is now doing the right thing. This is an important first step.
The Durban review conference is set to be an exercise in racism and discrimination, in complete opposition to its stated objectives.
I believe the government should further demonstrate the strength of its convictions by halting federal funding to non-governmental organizations that will attend this charade, and by calling on our friends and allies to boycott this conference as well.
In addition, I propose that Canada consider hosting a parallel conference to combat racism and discrimination to facilitate global dialogue and action on this important issue, and what better place to hold it than in Winnipeg in the shadow of the new Canadian Museum for Human Rights.