Motion to Support Democratic Aspirations of the Iranian People—Debate Continued
Honourable senators, I am pleased to participate in the debate on Senator Grafstein’s motion to support the democratic aspirations of the Iranian people. First, I wish to begin by commending our honourable colleague for introducing this motion, which I support.
The issue of freedom and human rights in Iran needs to be illuminated and more must be done to support the people of Iran in their assertion for the rights and democratic aspirations. A large part of what makes a democracy so great is freedom of choice. We in Canada and, indeed, the world, are free to choose what religion to follow, for example, and perhaps more importantly, we are free to practice it without the fear of state reprisals. This is not the case in Iran. . .
Canada’s Commitment to Darfur, Sudan
The tragedy that has unfolded in the Darfur region of Sudan is a human catastrophe of monstrous proportions. I commend colleagues who have sought to keep this issue in the spotlight, particularly Senator Dallaire, whose tenacity in this regard reminds us all of our collective responsibility to our fellow human beings with whom we share this planet.
