Human Rights

40:2 Hansard - 8 (2009/2/4)

Mr. Wayne Marston (Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, NDP):
Madam Speaker, I want to begin my remarks by thanking the member for Toronto—Danforth, the leader of the NDP, for leading the call today for this emergency debate. I also want to thank the other members present who are taking part in something that is so crucial and so important to the Sri Lankan community in Canada.

40:1 Hansard - 5 (2008/11/24)

Mr. Wayne Marston (Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, the incoming U.S. administration has been very clear about its intentions to get rid of the prison at Guantanamo. The president-elect has called it a “sad chapter in U.S. history”.

One citizen of one western country, only one, is still locked up there, a Canadian, Omar Khadr.

OTTAWA – MP Wayne Marston, (Hamilton East – Stoney Creek) and the NDP’s Critic on Human Rights presented a motion on March 11, 2008 before the Subcommittee on Human Rights drawing attention to the detention and prosecution of Omar Khadr with hopes that Canadian government would recognize him as a child combatant and petition the American government for his repatriation.

Mr. Khadr’s lawyer, U.S. Navy Lt. Commander William Kuebler, appeared before the House of Commons Subcommittee on April 29, 2008 where he appealed for Canada to save Mr. Khadr’s from a potential life sentence. "It's not a question of giving this young man a second chance. He has never had a first one. The only blessing he's had is being born in Canada and this country now represents his only hope," said Lt. Cmdr. Kuebler.

Kuebler also talked extensively about the rules set forth by the UN Optional Protocol on the Convention of the Rights of the Child. This Protocol clearly defines child combatants as victims, under the age of 18 years, who have been sent to fight. Canada was the first country to ratify the Protocol and has an obligation to abide by it. Unfortunately, it would appear as though the Conservative government does not believe it must uphold these international obligations.

“The fact that Omar Khadr's country has not given him the help that all Canadian citizens deserve is absolutely unacceptable” said Marston. “This boy was a child soldier, when he was shot in the back twice, almost executed, and then held as a prisoner at the age of 15. He has had to cope with what the American government calls, "enhanced interrogation techniques" at Guantanamo Bay, has been held with adult detainees for the past six years, and now faces life in prison,” said Wayne Marston.

At the time he was taken into custody, Omar Khadr was by all definitions a child soldier, and as such, Marston and the NDP believe the Canadian government has a responsibility to ensure that he receives a fair trial in his home country. Mr. Khadr has not received fair process or justice during his almost six year incarceration in Guantanamo Bay. This is especially obvious when all other combatants from other nations, being held in either Afghanistan detention centres or at Guantanamo Bay’s centre have been released to their home countries.

Marston wrote to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maxime Bernier demanding the government defend this Canadian citizen, repatriate Omar Khadr, declare him to be a child combatant, and ultimately to bring him home.

NDP Human Rights Critic reflects on International Women’s Day

The NDP’s Human Rights Critic, Wayne Marston, MP (Hamilton East-Stoney Creek) called on Harper’s Conservatives to close the economic, social, political and cultural gaps between men and women as people around the world mark International Women’s Day.

“Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Josée Verner, the Minister for the Status of Women, would like us to believe that women are now living in a situation of equality with men,” said Wayne Marston, MP for Hamilton East –Stoney Creek and the NDP Critic for Human Rights. “Unfortunately the facts just don’t back them up. The Conservatives are trying to silence Canadian women. We are moving backwards rather than forwards. Instead of promoting women’s equality in Canada, the Conservative government is abandoning its obligation to 52% of the population.”

Today women earn only 71 per cent of what their male counterparts earn; a majority of minimum wage workers and part-time workers in Canada are women. Women remain the primary caregivers of children and increasingly also of elderly and dependent relatives who have nowhere else to turn because of cutbacks to homecare programs. Women are still six times more likely to be victims of domestic violence; and despite making up over 50 per cent of the population, women occupy only 21 per cent of the seats in the House of Commons.

“It should come as no surprise that the Conservatives are uninterested in women’s equality. They certainly haven’t done any work within their party to fight for equality. In the last election only 10 per cent of their candidates across the country were women. As a result, only 14 members of the government’s caucus are women, out of a total of 124. This year the focus for International Women’s Day, Strong Women, Strong World, makes clear that when women are empowered we secure a brighter future for everyone. Sadly, the Canadian government is doing nothing to accomplish this.” said Marston.

Previous Liberal governments’ record on women’s equality is just as lackluster. Despite successive majority governments and over 63 billion dollars in surpluses, Liberals failed to deliver on their promises and among other moves, drastically reduced eligibility for women’s eligibility for Employment Insurance.

“The NDP caucus has the highest percentage of women at 41%. Our caucus as a whole is dedicated to improving this record and working together to get results for Canadian women.”

Question Period FROM HANSARD

Canadian Human Rights Act

Mr. Wayne Marston (Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, the Secretary of State for Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity deserves an opportunity to respond to allegations made recently by Ezra Lavant, who is head over heels for the Liberal motion that would gut the Canadian Human Rights Act. Mr. Levant says that the Secretary of State supports his view that “these commissions are violating human rights, not protecting them”.

Knowing their shared history and personal relationship, I thought it best to clarify the Conservative position on this illogical Liberal motion.

Could the Secretary of State clearly state today that all Conservative MPs will vote against the motion and that he personally condemns the motion in the strongest possible terms?

Hon. Jason Kenney (Secretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity), CPC):

Mr. Speaker, I am absolutely on the public record defending freedom of speech. This government and this party believe in our constitutionally entrenched and protected rights to freedom of expression, freedom of speech and freedom of the press. We will always defend those freedoms, those ancient freedoms.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

STATEMENT ON INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY FROM
NDP HUMAN RIGHTS CRITIC WAYNE MARSTON

“On the occasion of International Human Rights Day, the NDP joins the many Canadian activists and advocates throughout our communities and around the world in a reaffirmation of our commitment to fighting for equality and dignity for all.

“Canada should be a leader in the global fight against inequality and injustice. Stephen Harper’s Conservative government is a threat to that leadership, ignoring decades of hard work by countless Canadians.

“As Louise Arbour, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights recently stated, there is a sense Canada is moving away from its commitment to multilateralism and is instead advancing a new agenda in the form of national and regional alliances.

“The Declaration of Human Rights remains as relevant today as it did on the day it was adopted. Unfortunately, governments often lack the political will to implement courageous acts that would empower all citizens.

“We saw this when Canada dramatically reversed its position and withdrew support of the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

“Canada’s reputation is on the line. Today, on the International Day for Human Rights, the NDP is calling on Harper’s Conservatives to re-dedicate themselves to an international and domestic commitment to human rights that truly respects the equality and dignity of all people.”

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MARSTON CONDEMNS GOVERNMENTS' FREE TRADE PLANS WITH COLOMBIA

OTTAWA – In Toronto for the Ontario Federation of Labour Convention and a rally to oppose the proposed Canada-Colombia free trade agreement, Human Rights Critic Wayne Marston (Hamilton East – Stoney Creek) condemned the trade agreement that has no plan to deal with the human rights crisis in Colombia.

“Harper’s Governments rush to beat others to Colombia, including George Bush, puts Canada’s reputation as a leader in human rights advocacy in jeopardy. The people of Colombia were hoping that Canada would use its influence to help them in their struggle for human rights,” said Marston in his address to the OFL.

The Harper government has been fast-tracking trade negotiations with the Colombian government in spite of the fact that the U.S. Congress has blocked a similar initiative put forward by George W. Bush. Indigenous peoples, Afro-Colombians, human rights activists, journalists and trade unionists struggling to rebuild their communities in Colombia are afraid that a Canadian deal with Columbia could be used by the Republicans as a precedent for the ratification of their proposed initiative, which similarly ignores human rights issues.

An NDP motion in the International Trade committee recommending that negotiations be halted to develop a framework for a Human Rights Impact Assessment prior to signing a trade agreement failed due to lack of support from Liberal and Conservative members of the committee.

“In the last 5 years, extrajudicial killings in Colombia have doubled. The Government is embroiled in a scandal where over 40 members of Congress and the Presidents own cousin and Senator are under investigation for connections to para-military groups.” commented Marston.

“Harpers’ governments’ response to the issue of serious human rights concerns is weak and embarrassing. Canada is a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council and we should be leading by example and setting the precedent to make sure that human rights are a leading concern in trade agreements, not something that is swept under the table in the hopes that it goes away.”

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MARSTON CALLS FOR PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE ON CONSERVATIVES DEATH PENALTY POLICY

Ottawa – In Ottawa, Wayne Marston, MP (Hamilton East – Stoney Creek) and the NDP’s Human Rights Critic, made the following statement on the Conservatives death penalty policy:

“It is time for the Conservative government to be open and honest. It is time for them to bring forward their policy on the death penalty and put it to a vote in the House of Commons.

Recently, Prime Minister Harper’s government has executed an about face on the issue by withdrawing its’ application for clemency in the case of Ronald Allen Smith and quitting its responsibility as co-sponsor for the motion at the United Nations General Assembly on worldwide abolition of the death penalty.

The governments refusal to seek clemency for a Canadian on death row is immoral and wrong. We decided here in Canada a long time ago that the state does not have the right to kill, no matter what the crime.

That principle does not stop at the border.

A recent poll suggests that 50% of Canadians are opposed to the Conservatives position. It is time for this Government to bring the policy forward so that all Canadians know exactly where they stand and Parliament must have a say on this important issue.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NOTE TO NEW MINISTER: STAND UP AGAINST INJUSTICE
NDP re-states demands for an apology for the “comfort women” of WWII

OTTAWA – NDP critic for Human Rights Wayne Marston (Hamilton East-Stoney Creek) wants the new Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Bernier to start his mandate by addressing the injustice committed against the “comfort women” of China, Korea, Taiwan and the Philippines, and urge the Japanese government to issue a formal apology to them.

“Bernier has to take up this issue and act immediately,” said Marston. “Sadly, his predecessor did not fulfil Canada’s obligation to stand up and demand a proper apology as well as financial compensation for the years of sexual abuse and torture those women endured. They have waited too long – it’s time the Conservatives address this issue instead of ignoring it.”

At least 200,000 women were lured from their homes and forced to work as prostitutes for the Japanese military during WWII. Japan has never issued a formal apology nor provided official redress to the women.

“Since early spring, I have been working very hard on the Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Development, petitioning Harper to urge the Japanese government to officially recognize and apologize for this situation,” said Marston.

On March 23rd 2007, a motion was submitted by the NDP calling on the Foreign Affairs Committee to recommend that Canada call for an official apology and redress. The motion was referred back for further study but nothing has come out of it.

“By not addressing this issue, we are denying history and therefore denying justice,” stated Marston. “Harper should have moved on this issue a long time ago, and the NDP will persist in order to obtain an apology for this grave injustice. We hope that Bernier will do the right thing and make this a top priority when he starts his new job.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TIME TO STAND UP FOR COMFORT WOMEN: NDP
NDP urges Conservatives to follow the lead from US resolution

OTTAWA –The NDP critic for Human Rights called on the Conservative government to follow the lead from the US House of Representatives and approve a resolution to call on the Japanese Prime Minister to acknowledge, apologize and appropriately compensate the Korean, Chinese and Filipino women who were forced into prostitution during WWII.

NDP MP Wayne Marston (Hamilton East-Stoney Creek) stated, “We must act in accordance with the principles of defending human rights that ordinary Canadians believe in. Around 200,000 women were lured from their homes in neighboring countries and forced to work as prostitutes for the Japanese military. Japan should officially apologize and compensate these women and Canada should be urging them to do so.”

No formal apology or redress has been delivered and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made disturbing comments in recent months about their situation. In April, Marston introduced a motion at the sub-committee on International Human Rights asking the Conservative government to urge the Japanese to officially apologize and provide compensation. Although the sub-committee passed that motion, the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs sent it back for further study.

“Women’s organizations, representatives of the affected communities and the NDP have pushed for such action by Parliament but have had difficulty securing support for inexplicable reasons,” charged NDP MP Olivia Chow (Trinity Spadina), who authored a parallel motion on comfort women that is currently before the House of Commons. “Until truth is named, reconciliation cannot be achieved,” she said.

“If the U.S. House of Representatives can pass a resolution calling for an official apology, this Government should follow that lead and the NDP motion should be approved as soon as Parliament resumes, so that Canada can join other nations in urging the Japanese Government to do what is right,” said Marston. “History denied is justice denied – Canada should have moved on this issue a long time ago.”

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