Tagged with: House of Commons


February 25, 2017 | No Comments

Calling all young writers!

What does Parliament mean to you?

The Speakers of the House of Commons and the Senate have launched a speech writing competition in honour of Canada’s 150th anniversary.

Find full details here: https://www.facebook.com/PARLyouth/app/941345315938094/

Filed under: General

February 23, 2017 | No Comments

Passing Wynn’s law should be a no-brainer

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to speak in the House during the debate on Wynn’s law.

This legislation will require that prosecutors disclose a bail applicant’s criminal history at a bail hearing.

By closing this loophole in the Criminal Code, this legislation could save lives and increase public safety.

But the Liberals have vowed to vote against this common-sense piece of legislation.

Sign this petition today to tell the Liberal government to support Wynn’s law: https://petitions.parl.gc.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-712

Filed under: General

February 9, 2017 | No Comments

Why hasn’t the construction started?

Edmonton’s Liberal Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi talks a good game but he’s failing to deliver the goods on his promised projects.

Only one of 127 infrastructure projects announced by the Liberals has started construction.

Nothing has started in Edmonton.

In the House of Commons, I demanded to know why. Sohi evaded the question.

Filed under: General

January 19, 2017 | No Comments

Apply today for the Canada Summer Jobs program

Don’t forget the extended deadline for the Canada Summer Jobs program is February 3, 2017.

This initiative supports local employers, while also providing valuable work experience for students across Canada.

Visit here for more information.

Filed under: General

December 14, 2016 | No Comments

My Christmas statement in the House of Commons

This Christmas season my thoughts are with my constituents of Edmonton Griesbach and all Albertans that have been negatively impacted by the growing jobs crisis.

I’ll continue to urge the Liberal government to deliver real solutions to help get Albertans back to work.

 

Filed under: General

December 14, 2016 | No Comments

Statement on the defeat of Bill C-306

Statement on the defeat of Bill C-306 from the Canadian Association of Crimean Tatars:

canadian-association-of-crimean-tatars-statement-on-the-defeat-of-bill-c-306-in-second-reading

 

Filed under: General

December 14, 2016 | No Comments

Liberals turn their backs on Ukraine

Dec. 14, 2016

OTTAWA, ON – Kerry Diotte, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Griesbach is deeply disappointed the majority of Liberals voted to scuttle a bill to recognize an act of genocide against the indigenous people of Ukraine.

Diotte’s Private Member’s Bill proposed to condemn the Soviet Union’s 1944 deportation of 200,000 Crimean Tatars as a genocide to be commemorated every May 18.

It gained widespread support but was defeated Dec. 13 at second reading in the House of Commons when almost all Liberals voted against it.

“Justin Trudeau and the Liberals confirmed that they care more about making friends with Vladimir Putin than standing up for Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars,” said Diotte.

In 1944, Josef Stalin ordered the entire Crimean Tatar nation deported to Central Asia. The Crimean Tatars were dragged from their homes in the dead of night, packed into cattle cars, and shipped thousands of kilometres away.

They were left without food, water or shelter. Thousands died, and the survivors were banned from speaking their language, practising their Muslim faith, or passing their culture to their children. Despite this brutal oppression, the Crimean Tatars persevered in exile, resisted the Soviet regime, and returned home to the Ukrainian region of Crimea after the USSR collapsed in 1991.

Under Putin’s illegal military occupation of Crimea since 2014, the Crimean Tatars face renewed peril. Dozens have been arrested, abducted or murdered, and the community faces a relentless assault on their freedom of assembly, freedom of speech and freedom of worship.

“We can’t separate the deportations of 1944 from Putin’s illegal annexation of Crimea today,” said Diotte. “The same evil ideology is at work in both the Soviet regime that tore 200,000 people from their homes and left them in the middle of Asia, and Putin’s unprovoked attack on a peaceful neighbour.”

During the debate on Diotte’s bill, Liberal government representatives denied that a genocide took place against the Crimean Tatars, and even claimed that Stalin didn’t intend to destroy them as a nation.  

“It was especially sad to see some Liberals who claim to be a friend of Ukraine not have the courage to stand up and be counted,” said Diotte.

“Most of these Liberal members didn’t have the courage to go against their party line that denies the Crimean Tatar genocide,” he said. “It’s shameful and hypocritical.”

-30-

Kerry Diotte, MP

Edmonton Griesbach

613-992-3821

Filed under: General

December 8, 2016 | No Comments

Continuing the debate on my private member’s bill, Bill C-306 at Second Reading

I had the pleasure of continuing the debate on my private member’s bill, Bill C-306 at Second Reading.

The history of 1944 is clear. Josef Stalin signed an order that sent the Crimean Tatars into exile in Central Asia. The Soviet Union tore innocent people from their homes, packed them into cattle cars, and sent them to perish. They were erased from history, denied their language, culture and faith. These events constitute genocide.

After officially declaring the deportations of 1944 a genocide, Ukraine has issued a call to rest of the world to respond.

As close friend, Canada needs to respond to that call. I urge all Members of Parliament to support Bill c-306.

Filed under: General

December 8, 2016 | No Comments

STATEMENT FROM KERRY DIOTTE ON THE CRIMEAN TATAR GENOCIDE

Dec. 8, 2016

“Yesterday, the House of Commons debated my Bill, C-306, at second reading.

I was pleased to hear statements of support from all corners of the House.

However, during the debate, we learned that Justin Trudeau’s government has caved to pressure from Vladimir Putin’s regime, and embraced denial of the Crimean Tatar genocide.

Trudeau’s Liberal government opposes passing Bill C-306, and is against recognizing the deportations of 1944 as genocide.

Not only does the Liberal government believe that Canada should not recognize historical acts of genocide unless the United Nations permits them to, which is a break with Canada’s traditional position in support of the victims of genocide, but they have also denied that there is a historical consensus on the nature of the events of 1944.

The history of 1944 is clear. Josef Stalin signed an order that sent the Crimean Tatars into exile in Central Asia. The Soviet Union tore innocent people from their homes, packed them into cattle cars, and sent them to perish. They were erased from history, denied their language, culture and faith. That constitutes genocide.

Today, the Crimean Tatars face renewed peril at the hands of Vladimir Putin. Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government does not want to stand up for them.

I urge them to abandon this shameful position.

Below is a link to a short video detailing the Soviet atrocity to the Crimean Tatars.”

https://kerrydiotte.com/2016/12/watch-this-poignant-video-on-the-1944-deportation-of-crimean-tatars/

-30-

Kerry Diotte, MP

Edmonton Griesbach

613-992-3821

Filed under: General

December 7, 2016 | No Comments

Watch this poignant video on the 1944 deportation of Crimean Tatars

This heartrending video on the 1944 deportation of Crimean Tatars was created by survivors and their descendants in Ukraine.

Today in the House of Commons, my Private Member’s Bill, C-306, the Crimean Tatar Deportation (“Sürgünlik”) Memorial Day Act will be debated. Visit here to see the full text of my bill.

Canada’s formal recognition of this genocidal act will bring Canadians, Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars closer together, and in this spirit I am hoping to have the support of all Members of Parliament.

Filed under: General