Mr. Speaker, we have recently witnessed horrific tragedies of people fleeing from their homes because of persecution, devastating economic conditions, and deteriorating security in their homelands. We have witnessed these desperate people using any means to seek safe refuge.
To make matters worse, human smugglers exploit these situations with no regard for human life. The recent deaths of boat migrants from Africa and the plight of Rohingyas from Myanmar are just a few examples of people being exploited.
It is important for the international community to raise its voice by telling governments like that in Myanmar in no uncertain terms that its treatment of Rohingyas is unacceptable as well as by targeting human smugglers, who must be punished as murderers of innocent people.
Canada is doing its share by offering refugee status to these vulnerable people through the UN. We must act before more lives are lost.