Ottawa – On the occasion of the 95th. Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the Parliament of Canada once again expressed its resolute support for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Six years to the day of the April 21, 2004, adoption of Motion 380 recognizing the Armenian Genocide as a Crime against Humanity, members of the House of Commons received the statements of affirmation presented by the four major political parties of Canada with a standing ovation.

Mr. Thomas Mulcair, Member of Parliament for Outremont and deputy leader of the New Democratic Party, representing the NDP, declared “...95 years ago, the world remained silent as over 1.5 million Armenian men, women and children were murdered. Just a few years ago, the House passed a motion clearly stating the TRUTH and condemning this act as a crime against humanity. Les nouveaux-démocrates sont solidaires de la communauté arménienne dans sa volonté de souligner et de commémorer un des chapitres les plus horribles de l'histoire de l'humanité...”

Ms. Nicole Demers, Member of Parliament for Laval spoke on behalf of the Bloc Québecois and said “...Il y a 95 ans, le peuple arménien subissait le premier génocide du XXe siècle, lequel a fait plus d'un million de victimes dans la population arménienne...De plus, comme nous l'avons vu à plusieurs reprises au cours des dernières années, les Arméniens doivent continuer à se battre et à se défendre contre de fausses allégations, entretenues pour éviter d'avoir à accepter la vérité du génocide.”

The Honourable Irwin Cotler, former Minister of Justice and renowned professor of law and director of McGill University’s Human Rights Program from 1973 to 1999, and Member of Parliament for Mount Royal, spoke on behalf of the Liberal Party. He stated that “...On the 95th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, which the House has recognized, scholars have documented and the anguished testimony of survivors has affirmed, the whole reminds us of the dangers of indifference and inaction in the face of incitement and mass atrocity, of the dangers of a culture of impunity and of the dangers of revisionism and denial that led Hitler to remark, as he embarked on the Nazi genocide, “Who today remembers the Armenians?” We remember. We bear witness. As we say on occasions such as these: Jamais plus, never again. Jamais plus pour les Arméniens, jamais plus pour qui que ce soit!””

Mr. Harold Albrecht, President of the Canada-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group and Member of Parliament for Kitchener-Conestoga, spoke on behalf of he Conservative Party. He stated that “Mr. Speaker, I rise today as Chair of the Canada-Armenia Friendship Group to remember the Armenian Genocide of 1915. It is important not only to honour the memory of those who died nor to simply acknowledge what has passed, but also to understand that the recognition of these tragic events can be a starting point to move forward in improved relationships and understanding between present day Turkey and Armenia. The Armenian Genocide was recognized by the Senate in 2002, by this House in 2004, and first commemorated by the Government of Canada in 2006. The Armenian Canadian community has contributed greatly to Canada's culture and economy. I applaud their efforts to acknowledge their past while looking forward to the future to build bridges based on mutual respect. Mr. Speaker, by recognizing and remembering the Armenian Genocide, we should all be motivated to do everything in our power to ensure that such a terrible tragedy never happens again.” 

The Joint Committee for the Commemoration of the 95th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, expresses its heartfelt gratitude to the spokespersons representing the New Democratic, Bloc Québecois, Liberal, and Conservative parties. On behalf of the Canadian-Armenian community, our highest respects and esteem are extended to Mr. Harold Albrecht, the Honourable Irwin Cotler, Ms. Nicole Demers and Mr. Thomas Mulcair for their integrity and their commitment to the cause of human rights and genocide recognition. Their sincere and direct statements on the occasion of the 95th Anniversary are a reconfirmation of the truth and the historic vote of the Parliament of Canada.

Most importantly, we commend the  steadfast  acknowledgements of today’s speakers for their statements declaring the historical facts to be true and their condemnation of the deniers of the Armenian Genocide.  Regrettably, at the behest of Turkey, the deniers still command a voice on the international stage, which threatens the voice of justice. With  increasing awareness of the indisputable specifics  of the history of the Armenian Genocide,  the pursuit of the practice of denial will ultimately be challenged and the historical truths will be acknowledged.