30th Anniversary Of Black July By MP Patrick Brown | MP For Barrie ( Ontario)

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Created On Monday, 29 July 2013 12:21

Category: General

Today I stand with the Tamil community as we pay tribute to the victims of Black July 1983.

The senseless acts of violence and brutality committed against the Tamils of Sri Lanka a mere 30 years ago serve as a constant reminder about the importance of establishing values of freedom and human rights.
Canada has the largest Sri Lankan diaspora in the world today, with some 300,000 Canadians of Sri Lankan origin, who have made a huge contribution to Canada’s prosperity and the success of our model of unity and diversity. Canadians value freedom, respect for cultural differences and a commitment to social justice. We are proud of the fact that we are a peaceful nation.
Sri Lanka is a very important country for Canada. Tamils began immigrating to Canada in the late 1940’s. Only a few hundred came to Canada back then, but in the 1980’s many thousand chose to make Canada their home and the numbers have risen since then.

While the current situation in Sri Lanka remains volatile, I urge the international community to continue to pressure the Sri Lankan Government to put in place measures to ensure the protection of human rights for all Sri Lankans.

As a Member of Parliament, I have the privilege of representing many Tamil Canadians who have expressed with great concern the experience of their friends and family presently in Sri Lanka. I believe it is the responsibility of Parliamentarians to make it our first priority to raise our voice in support of every person’s fundamental human rights.

I have followed, and will continue to follow with great concern, the plight of the Sri Lankan people.

I would like to extend my warmest regards to the Tamil community as we mourn the events of Black July.

Patrick Brown
Member of Parliament
Barrie