Ottawa, April 24, 2015 – The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister for Multiculturalism, issued the following statement on the adoption of Motion M-587 on Genocide Recognition:
“Today, the House of Commons passed a historic motion that designates the month of April in Canada as ‘Genocide Remembrance, Condemnation and Prevention Month.’ I commend Member of Parliament for Mississauga Streetsville, Brad Butt, for having brought this motion forward, and all parties for having supported it.
“It is critical that we continue to reflect on this history. Our Government is committed to teaching future generations about the lessons of genocide around the world, to help prevent such atrocities from ever occurring again. This special recognition in April each year would help to preserve the memory of these dark moments in history, lest they be forgotten.
“Canada has been profoundly shaped by survivors who began new lives in Canada.
“Specifically, April would be a month of remembrance for the genocides in history that have affected many Canadians: the Holocaust; the Rwandan genocide; the Ukrainian Holodomor famine-genocide, and the loss of life endured by the Armenian people during the demise of the Ottaman Empire in 1915.
“As the Minister for Multiculturalism, I encourage all Canadians to reflect on the lessons learned from these crimes against humanity, to recognize the brave survivors and commemorate the victims, and to remain vigilant against all forms of prejudice and hatred.”
Lauren Armstrong
Minister’s Office
613- 996-3100
lauren.armstrong2@forces.gc.ca
Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca
