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Canadian Parliamentarians recognise Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day

23 May 2023

On 18 May, Canadian politicians across all spectrums marked the newly recognized ‘Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day' and renewed calls for accountability. 

Jennifer McKelvie - Deputy Mayor of Toronto and Councillor for Scarborough Rouge Park 

Deputy Mayor of Toronto, Jennifer McKelvie, recognized Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day, stating “Today is an important day for many and reminds us of the collective role we play in bringing the atrocities of conflict to an end. We recognize the need for accountability, while also remembering all those who were lost, and committing ourselves to supporting long term peace.”

Her full statement reads: 

WHEREAS today we remember all those who were impacted by the conflict in Sri Lanka and the lives that were lost, while reaffirming our commitment to preventing such a tragedy from taking place again. 

Today is an important day for many and reminds us of the collective role we play in bringing the atrocities of conflict to an end. We recognize the need for accountability, while also remembering all those who were lost, and committing ourselves to supporting long term peace. 

In an effort to educate people on the impact of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka, each year, the Ontario Government proclaims Tamil Genocide Education Week in May. Recognizing the Tamil Genocide and other genocides forces us to learn from and understand past mistakes in order to prevent them from occurring again. 

Many of the Tamils living in Canada, have chosen Toronto as their home. The Tamil community contributes greatly to the social, economic, political and cultural fabric of this great city. 

The City of Toronto will continue to promote equity, human rights and safety for all residents and work with others to make the world a safer and better place for everyone, while recognizing that work still needs to be done to achieve peace in the world. We re-commit ourselves to protecting human rights and dignity for all people and creating a more humane and just world for future generations. 

NOW THEREFORE, I, Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie, on behalf of Toronto City Council, do hereby proclaim May 18, 2023 as "Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day" in the City of Toronto.

 

Gary Anandasangaree - MP for Scarborough-Rouge Park

Marking the first official Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day, MP Gary Anandasagree spoke in parliament re-affirming the calls for accountability in Sri Lanka. Anandasangree asked the house to "ensure that the Tamils’ inherent right to self-determination in their homeland is entrenched and they attain peace and security."

His full statement reads:

I rise today to mark Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day. Tamils around the world stand in solidarity with the victims, survivors and their families in the North and East of Sri Lanka to ensure that we find the truth, hold those responsible for atrocities accountable, attain justice and peace. 

This past January, our government imposed sanctions on four Sri Lankan officials, including Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa, both credibly accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. These past presidents of Sri Lanka have blood on their hands and cannot evade justice. 

As part of our Indo-Pacific strategy, Canada reaffirmed our resolve to ensure accountability on the island. Canada will continue to demand accountability by working with multilateral partners, including the United Nations Human Rights Council. 

Mr. Speaker, as we mark this day, let us also ensure that the Tamils’ inherent right to self-determination in their homeland is entrenched and they attain peace and security. 

 

Jagmeet Singh - Leader of Canada's New Democratic Party 

Jagmeet Singh, leader of the NDP, marked the 14th anniversary of the Mullivaikkal massacre, calling for “peace, justice, and accountability for genocide.”

 

Patrick Brown - Mayor of Brampton 

Patrick Brown, Mayor of Brampton, marked Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day with a ground breaking for a Tamil Genocide monument to be built in the city of Brampton. 

Brown tweeted, “Brampton will never allow historical revisionism by war criminals of the Rajapaksa Regime to erase the tragic truth of the Tamil genocide. We stand with the Tamil community in remembering these crimes against humanity and honor the resilience of the Tamil community.”

 

Mark Holland - MP for Ajax and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mark Holland, MP for Ajax and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, recognized Tamil genocide Remembrance Day, stating, “Indiscriminate killing like what we saw in Sri Lanka 14 years ago only stiffens our resolve for human rights and to stand up against such abuses, demand truth and reconciliation.”

His full remarks read:

Last year the Government of Canadians declared May 18th Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day. We think back to the events of Mullivaikkal just 14 years ago, and we shutter, really with horror, of the terrible things that occurred in Mullivaikkal - the indiscriminate shelling of civilians, the lack of care for non-combatant’s life. 

When I heard in my constituency office from people who were living with the horrors that were happening there, when they were removed by such geography from those events, it is profoundly disturbing. 

Every Canadian, everywhere in the country, I think, feels any sort of atrocity like this with a depth of feeling that demands action. One of the great things about humans and human spirit is that oppression doesn’t work. Indiscriminate killing, like what we saw in Sri Lanka 14 years ago, only stiffens our resolve for human rights and to stand up against such abuses, demand truth and reconciliation. 

I want to say to anybody who lost somebody they love or who was terrorized by those terrible acts all that time ago that our heart is with you and that our resolve is firm to make sure that never again will anything like this happen and that we honour the legacy of those who died or who were injured by making sure that we demand truth and reconciliation.

 

Anita Anand - MP for Oakville and Minister of National Defence

Anita Anand, MP for Oakville and minister of National Defence, stated, “I hope all can take this occasion to highlight the ongoing struggles our Tamil community faces & continue to advocate for accountability, justice and reconciliation.”

 

Vijay Thanigasalam - MPP for Scarborough-Rouge Park

Vijay Thanigasalam MPP for Scarborough-Rouge Park stated. “we honour the memory of our loved ones, the innocent lives lost, and bear witness to their stories and resilience. We renew our commitment to hold the perpetrators accountable and ensure that such atrocities never happen again.”

 

Tim Louis -  MP for Kitchener-Conestoga

MP Time Louis marked Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day stating, “we honour the innocent people who lost their lives and recognize the lasting trauma and impact this continues to have on Tamils here in Kitchener-Conestoga and around the world.”

 

Rechie Valdez - MP for Mississauga—Streetsville

MP Rechie Valdez tweeted, highlighting the need to “raise awareness about the atrocities committed during the war, ensure victims are not forgotten, and highlight ongoing issues faced by the Tamil community.”

 

Filomena Tassi - MP for Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas

Marking the 14th anniversary of the Mullivaikkal massacres, MP Filomena Tassi tweeted, “Today, I reflect on the families and friends who lost their loved ones. Thank you to the Tamil-Canadian community for continuing to raise awareness.” 

Related Articles: 
18 May 2023 : Canada’s Conservative Leader calls for the arrest of Gotabaya Rajapaksa
18 May 2023 : Canadian Prime Minister marks Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day 
18 May 2022 : Canada's Parliament recognises Tamil Genocide in landmark motion
10 January 2023 : Canada sanctions Rajapaksa brothers over human rights violations
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