Speeches – 2008
The Honourable Jason Kenney
93rd Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
Toronto, Ontario, April 20, 2008
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Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.
It is an honour to be with you this afternoon to commemorate the 93rd anniversary of the Armenian genocide.
Today' s event is extremely important, because by remembering tragic occurrences such as the Armenian genocide, we are compelled to do everything in our power to ensure that they never happen again.
As many of you know, I hold my relation with the Armenian community in Canada in high regard, and I was proud to be one of the main sponsors of the House of Commons resolution that recognized "the first genocide of the twentieth century."
In a letter that Prime Minister Stephen Harper sent to the Armenian National Committee of Canada, he said: "We have made it very clear that our recognition of the Armenian genocide represents the official position of the Government of Canada."
The Government of Canada is dedicated to promoting democracy and combating all forms of racism and discrimination. One of the cornerstones of our pluralistic society is that all citizens benefit from equality under the law, regardless of their cultural or religious background.
Diversity is one of Canada' s greatest strengths and our Government is committed to strengthening our pluralism and our national cohesion. Our country is built on diversity, and it is a society whose core values include respect for ethnic, racial, cultural, and religious diversity.
We are committed to celebrating diversity while at the same time celebrating our common Canadian identity.
Armenian Canadians are an integral part of this country' s history, and
Canadians of Armenian heritage have definitely made an important contribution to the Canada of today. We are very proud to claim:
Yousuf Karsh, world-renowned portrait photographer
Isabel Bayrakdarian, world-renowned soprano
And filmmaker Atom Egoyan.
Canadians cherish freedom, democracy and the rule of law, and we have watched with great interest as Armenia itself has moved towards international standards of democracy.
Today, as we reflect on the past at this commemoration ceremony, let us remember to continue looking forward.
In closing, I would like to take this opportunity to commend everyone here today for the important work that you have been doing. Your efforts to promote human rights and foster public awareness about issues affecting the Armenian community abroad are helping create a world where everyone can enjoy peace and stability, and they are greatly appreciated.
On behalf of the Government of Canada, I want to thank the Armenian Community Centre for hosting this afternoon' s event, and I wish all of you the very best.