TORONTO – Liberal Multiculturalism Critic Jim Karygiannis made the following statement on the plight of Egyptian Coptic Christians:
“The Liberal Party of Canada stands with the Canadian Coptic Community as we grieve the victims of the ongoing violence against Coptic Christians in Egypt.
We have taken steps in Parliament to support the community in demanding that the Government of Canada ask the United Nations Human Rights Commission to conduct an open and transparent investigation into the plight of Egyptian Coptic Christians and issue a public report on its findings.
Unfortunately, the Conservatives have yet to act.
Liberals were the first to call for a full Parliamentary debate on this issue, and the debate was to take place this coming Monday. When the Conservative Party tried to use procedural tactics in the House of Commons to delay this important debate, Liberals (including my colleagues John McCallum and Massimo Pacetti) flatly refused their request.
It is clear Jason Kenney and Peter Van Loan would rather politicize and wedge the matter by issuing misleading press releases than support the Coptic community. Meanwhile, Liberals will continue to call for action from this ‘all talk, no action’ Conservative government.”
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