Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order regarding a statement made yesterday by the member for Essex during statements by members. He stated:
—to mark the end of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee year, I awarded medals to 30 outstanding Canadians from Windsor-Essex...
The member then went on to list some 26 names. Then the member stated:
As well, I awarded the medal to four distinguished Canadian blacks...
I stand on this point of order to highlight that exclusion is one of the subtle tools of institutionalized racism. It slides by us, very often unnoticed, but it affected me deeply, viscerally and immediately.
I waited to stand today because I wanted to verify in Hansard that these were the words spoken. They were. I stand in this place and ask my hon. colleague from Essex to withdraw those remarks to demonstrate his belief that these individuals are not separate from those other outstanding Canadians.