Foreign Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, on a point of order, I would like us to be able to proceed now to a discussion in public of a motion on the genocide of the Tamils. Mr. Chair—

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you to the witnesses for your testimony today. More importantly, thank you for your courage and ongoing advocacy in the face of great difficulty. Before I get into questions, Mr. Chair, I want to give the committee notice that this week I intend to move motions with respect to the independent investigation of allegations of genocide against Tamils in Sri Lanka at the end of the civil war, and also a motion with respect to the listing of the IRGC as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you. I want to get in one other question before the end of my time, but before that, Ms. Ebadi, do you want to comment on the IRGC issue?

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you so much. It's an honour to be here to hear you and to be part of this testimony. I salute your courage and the courage of the Iranian people. When I think about Iranian culture, that's what I think of. It's a great culture that you should be so proud to celebrate.

Foreign Affairs committee  I want to situate my question in some of the conversations we're having here in Parliament around Canada-Iran relations. There was a motion passed in June of last year to call on the government to designate the IRGC a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code. It was a motion that came from the official opposition, but it passed with the support of every government member who was present.

Foreign Affairs committee  I didn't mean it as normalization. I wouldn't want us to normalize the SNC-Lavalin affair. To your comment about media control, we're having a debate in this country about a $600-million media bailout package from government where the government is—

Foreign Affairs committee  Can I just jump in because I wanted to ask a follow-up question? I understand there is a lot we could say in the debates about European integration. As I say, I don't really think it's my business to have strong opinions one way or the other. I did want to follow up on some of the comments you made about Hungary.

Foreign Affairs committee  It's a pleasure to be here, Mr. Ignatieff. I remember when we first met when you spoke at Carleton University when I was a student. There were many protestors there who disagreed with your views on certain things. I wasn't among the protestors, though. I was just there to listen.

Foreign Affairs committee  Yes, I accept that it's far from the most important thing, but I was curious in terms of the practical dynamics of Canada's recognition of your status.

Foreign Affairs committee  Yes.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you for your testimony. Canada has recognized President Guaidó, and you are his representative here in Canada. The Venezuelan government owns certain diplomatic properties here in Canada. Given that you are the representative of the recognized Venezuelan government, do you have use of those diplomatic properties here in Canada?

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you. I'm sorry. I promised to split my time with Mr. Sweet, and we're up against that promise. Go ahead, David.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you. I'll be as quick as I can here. Mr. Lowcock, thank you for your presence here. You said earlier that you weren't aware of allegations of UN aid being deviated. I read an article—and maybe you saw it in the Foreign Affairs magazine, September 20, 2018—provocatively titled “How UN Humanitarian Aid Has Propped Up Assad”.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. It's such an honour to be here and to hear such powerful words from both of you. Though certainly off topic, Professor Cotler, I did want to mention to you that the private member's bill on organ harvesting is coming back to the House next week. We may be seeing you again at this committee shortly after that to testify on that subject.