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The Speaker: The hon. member for Laurier—Sainte-Marie.
Hélène Laverdière : Mr. Speaker, last week a Commonwealth summit
was held in Australia and discussions were held on human rights.
Australia and Great Britain raised the issue of decriminalizing homosexuality.
Sadly, homosexuality is a crime in 41 of the 54 Commonwealth countries.
Decriminalizing homosexuality is a fundamental human rights issue.
Mr. Speaker, can the Prime Minister confirm whether he raised the issue
of gay rights at the summit?
The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs.
John Baird: Mr. Speaker, the promotion of human rights abroad
is a central part of Canada's foreign policy.
At the Commonwealth meetings last week,
Canada was outspoken on the criminalization of homosexuality.
We spoke very strongly against it.
We will continue to work with our allies, like the United Kingdom and Australia,
on this issue in the days, weeks, months and, regrettably, years to come.
The Speaker: The hon. member for Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca.
Randall Garrison: Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, Canada failed to get the Commonwealth to move
on this basic human rights question last weekend in Perth.
What we need is for every Commonwealth leader who believes in ending the state persecution
of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and the transgendered to step up right now.
Mr. Speaker, the government has a historic opportunity to provide leadership
on this issue which it claims to care about.
Could the minister tell me, why did the government fail in Perth?
What is the government's plan to take action now to assert leadership on this issue in the Commonwealth?
The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs.
John Baird: Mr. Speaker, let me assure the hon. member opposite and colleagues on all sides of the House
that Canada was the loudest voice on this issue in Perth.
We spoke out strongly against it, Mr. Speaker.
It is very clear, regrettably, that we will not see immediate changes in this regard,
but it is important that we continue to push for human rights, whether it is for gays and lesbians,
whether it is for religious freedom, whether it is for women, whether it is for other persecuted minorities.
Canadians can count on this government to continue to fight for those issues.