Mr. Speaker, Canada's participation in the transatlantic slave trade and enslavement of African people is a stain on our country's history, the effects of which persist today as systemic racism in our society and in our institutions continues to harm Black Canadians.
In 2016, during an official visit to Canada, the United Nations working group of experts on people of African descent recommended that the Government of Canada “recognize African Canadians as a distinct group who have made and continue to make profound economic, political, social, cultural, and spiritual contributions to Canada” and “Issue an apology and consider reparations for enslavement and historical injustices”.
Later today, I will be presenting a petition to the House initiated by the African Nova Scotian Decade for People of African Descent Coalition, calling on the government to act on these recommendations and to recognize August 1 as emancipation day annually. It is my sincere hope that all hon. members will support these important measures.