Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute the staff of Rights & Democracy, a great Canadian organization that will, unfortunately, be closing its doors in July.
Rights & Democracy was created in 1988 by an act of Parliament that received unanimous approval. Its mandate was to promote respect for human rights and the development of democracy abroad. It was doing exceptional work in many places, including some of the most dangerous areas of the world.
The organization is being abolished, but as Jean-Louis Roy, former president of Rights & Democracy, told me recently, the organization is not dying. It will live on through all those it has helped throughout the world.
I will be hosting a non-partisan reception for the staff of Rights & Democracy on the Hill on June 14. I invite all my fellow MPs to attend this reception and to join me in thanking the employees of Rights & Democracy for their service.