Armenian National Committee of Canada
3401 Olivar-Asselin
Montreal, Quebec
H4J 1L5
Tel: 514-334-1299
Fax: 514-334-6853
April 18, 2004
NEWS RELEASE
Second Reading of the Armenian Genocide Recognition Motion Tabled on
April 20, 2004
OTTAWA – The House of Commons is scheduled to continue its debate on
April 20 on Private Member’s Motion M-380 to recognize the Armenian
Genocide. After the second reading, the House must vote to adopt or
reject the motion. Due to scheduling reasons, it is unlikely that the
House will vote on the motion on April 20. It is foreseen that the
vote will take place on the following day.
Motion M-380, which had its first reading on February 25, was moved by
MP Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral (Laval Centre, BQ), and seconded by MPs
Sarkis Assadourian (Brampton Centre, Liberal), Jason Kenney (Calgary
Southeast, Conservative Party of Canada) and Alexa McDonough (Halifax,
New Democratic Party).
According to the House Order Paper and Notice Paper, Motion M-380, was
originally scheduled to be tabled on April 28. Because of a
last-minute arrangement between Madam Dalphond-Guiral and Ms. Libby
Davies (Vancouver East), a switch of motions took place and the
Armenian Genocide recognition motion was brought forward by one week.
Dr. Girair Basmadjian, president, Armenian National Committee of
Canada (ANCC), expressed the Armenian community’s appreciation to
Ms. Davies for her humanitarian and courageous gesture to switch her
private member’s motion with madam Dalphond-Guiral motion, to allow
the vote to take place before the 89th anniversary commemorations of
the Armenian Genocide on April 24.
`We hope that the House of Commons will adopt this motion on the eve
of the 89th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, and put and end to
the anguish of Canadian-Armenians so that we can begin the healing
process,’ Dr. Basmadjian said.
The ANCC has campaigned diligently for 25 years for Canada’s
recognition of the Armenian Genocide. As in the Senate’s recognition
of the Armenian Genocide, ANCC has been a driving force behind Motion
M-380.
Motion M 380 reads `That this House acknowledges the Armenian genocide
of 1915 and condemns this act as a crime against humanity.’
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Contacts: Aris Babikian (416) 706-4934 Mobile
Roupen Kouyoumjian (514) 336-7095