Karygiannis - Conservative MPs vote against Motion to help Sri Lankan Immigrants
OTTAWA - The Honourable Jim Karygiannis, Member of Parliament for Scarborough-Agincourt, introduced a Motion at the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration calling on the Harper government to:
“...deport no one to Sri Lanka until a safe environment exists there, and that it should expedite any family class sponsorships and refugee claims from the danger zone; that the Committee adopt these recommendations as a report to the House and that, pursuant to Standing Order 108(1), the Chair present it to the House.”
“We cannot ignore the reports coming out of Sri Lanka.” said Mr. Karygiannis. “People in Sri Lanka are dying. Their loved ones, here in Canada, want to bring them to a safe place as quickly as possible.”
Mr. Karygiannis has long called for the establishment of a protocol to deal with immigration applications from trouble spots around the world.
“The Harper Conservatives on the Committee showed their true colours today.” Mr. Karygiannis commented. “They voted no to the Motion. They turned their backs on their fellow human beings who are living in devastating humanitarian conditions and are in constant fear of their lives.”
All the Opposition Members of Parliament on the Committee voted for the motion allowing it to pass.