Madam Speaker, I understand that the members of the opposition are trying to make this a political issue, which it is not.
They need to understand that they are playing with the emotions of people who were affected by it, a community that is trying to put this tragic moment behind them. They have accepted the apology of the Prime Minister delivered in 2008 and yet members of the opposition are trying to bring this back again and it hurts feelings.
I am also a member of the Sikh family. I was also born in India. I also came here as an immigrant. I have thousands of friends and family members who live here who were affected and who feel the pain that all South Asians felt with regard to the Komagata Maru. I believe it is the opposition members who are playing with the feelings of people.
Even if the Prime Minister had apologized in the House at the time, I think the opposition would still have criticized the Prime Minister for not apologizing in B.C. in front of thousands of Indo-Canadians where the apology took place.
Once again, I urge all opposition members to stop this game and move on.