Mr. Speaker, today is World Refugee Day. Globally, conflict, persecution, and disaster have forced over 65 million people to flee their homes in search of safety. Over 22 million are recognized as refugees. Half of them are children. Wealthy nations are increasingly turning a blind eye to this humanitarian crisis and are closing the doors to refugees. The U.S. has forcibly torn migrant children away from their parents.
Canada has long been a defender of human rights and a champion for the most vulnerable, but how far we have fallen from the pedestal, from action taken because of Alan Kurdi to the inaction in the face of the 2,000 frightened migrant children locked up in baby jails.
On World Refugee Day, l thank all the aid workers, and I call on all parliamentarians to use their voices to defend the voiceless, and to use their power to aid the powerless.