Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the efforts of other members who have submitted the same request.
In the northern part of Sri Lanka right now there is a devastating violent situation unfolding. Thousands and thousands of civilians are under threat. A great many of them have suffered the attacks. The situation is deteriorating.
I have had the chance to speak with members of the Tamil community here who literally, as we begin to speak with them, break down into tears as they speak about their family members and what they are facing.
We have an obligation and an opportunity as a country to take bold action, to call for a ceasefire on all sides, to ensure that we are in the lead in providing medical and humanitarian aid to those who are suffering, and to play a role at the United Nations to call for the UN to be intervening in a very direct way.
The tragedies that are unfolding now are causing enormous pain to Canadian citizens, and literally every hour that passes, new images of the terrible consequences are coming to our attention.
Mr. Speaker, you will know this has been a subject of discussion in the House, but I would appeal to you to consider the urgency of the situation and the will of so many members of the House who wish to have this matter discussed as a matter of urgency.
I can add in closing that other countries are calling for a ceasefire. They are taking action. They are moving very directly, and Canada should be among them.
This is the time for action. I hope that you will envisage the possibility of having an emergency debate on the very serious and urgent situation in Sri Lanka.