Mr. Speaker, I have a number of petitions to present to the House today.
The first petition is with respect to the human rights situation in Russia. The petitioners note the passage of the Sergei Magnitsky act in a previous Parliament. They note concerns about serious corruption in Russia, including the attacks on Alexei Navalny, a Russian opposition leader, and over 10,000 people being detained during peaceful protests against the unlawful imprisonment of Alexei Navalny.
The petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to impose sanctions such as the Special Economic Measures Act and the Sergei Magnitsky Law against individuals and entities involved in human rights violations in Russia, including those who were responsible for human rights violations and have been identified by anti-corruption and rights activists as enablers of the Putin regime. It also calls on the government to offer asylum to Russian activists and dissidents who face political persecution for expressing their political views or attending peaceful protests and to strengthen our work in defence of fundamental human rights and seeking the release of political prisoners in Russia.