Mr. Speaker, whose life matters?
At different times in history, the idea of universal human dignity and value has been challenged from different sources and for different reasons.
Some societies have sought to deny recognition to some human beings because that denial was economically convenient. If your society relies on slave labour, then recognizing the humanity of enslaved persons is inconvenient, even though it is morally right.
Other societies have used dehumanization to justify the expropriation of property from minorities or other forms of exploitation.
Sometimes it is inconvenient to recognize the vulnerable as human because it is costly to help and support them.
Our assessment of who is human should not depend on convenience; it should reflect objective reality.
Important events are taking place on Parliament Hill today, where people gather to speak out about the mass killing of innocents by the Iranian regime, as part of Iran Accountability Week.
It may not always be convenient for us to take a stand against that regime, but it is something we must do. We must stand against the dehumanization efforts of that regime, and ensure that universal immutable human dignity is recognized in every situation.