Mr. Speaker, Canadian citizen Bashir Makhtal continues to face harsh prison conditions in Ethiopia, unclear charges, and lack of access to legal representation.
The government's record on this file is one of inaction. It has not treated the file seriously. The best the government has come up with is to ask Ethiopia not to impose a death penalty on Mr. Makhtal. This is unacceptable.
The Minister of Transport and the Minister of Immigration declared that Mr. Makhtal is guilty of no wrongdoing.
It is time for Canada to request Ethiopia to drop all charges and to bring Mr. Makhtal home now.