Thursday, June 19, 2008

Statement in the House of Commons: Somalia

Hon. Judy Sgro (York West, Lib.):  

Mr. Speaker, Bashir Makhtal is a Canadian businessman who has been in an Ethiopian prison for more than a year. Mr. Makhtal was caught up in the violence in Somalia and took Ottawa's advice and went to Kenya. There he was arrested and, in spite of his Canadian passport, deported to Ethiopia.

Why does the minority Conservative government continue to turn its back on Canadians who find themselves in terrible circumstances while travelling abroad?

While I have the government's attention, I would like to know why it has not stepped up and taken on a leadership role to help end the violence in Somalia. When will the Conservatives start to take concrete steps toward a resolution to the conflict in Somalia, once and for all?