British Columbia Recognizes the Armenian Genocide

"In this country, when a similar motion came to a vote in the Parliament of Canada... The motion read: "That this House acknowledges the Armenian genocide of 1915 and condemns this act as a crime against humanity." That was just over a year ago in the Parliament of Canada; 153 voted for it, and unbelievably, 68 members of Canada's parliament voted against that motion.

They voted against it, I suspect, because they didn't wish to offend the Turkish government. They voted, I suspect, because perhaps they had a Turkish population in their own constituencies or ridings.

Who knows what the reasons were? But what I can say with some conviction here this morning is that whatever the reasons were, they weren't good enough to vote against a motion that I would hope and suspect every member of this House here in British Columbia will support this morning."

Leonared Krog (Naniamo)

April 3, 2006

"Kerop Shabanian, another member of the Armenian Canadian community here in British Columbia, was born in 1912 in the village of Geuldagh. He had a very difficult life, having lost many family members.

Mr. Shabanian arrived in Canada with his son and daughter-in-law, first living in Montreal before moving to Richmond. Though hard of hearing and having poor vision later in life, he would attend every April 24 genocide commemoration, sitting near the back of the hall so as not to draw attention to himself. Invariably, emotions would get the better of him, and he would stand up in his frail body and offer a few touching words to the assembled crowd.

During this year's 91st commemoration, Kerop's seat will be empty. Kerop and Arpine both passed away last year, and they are the last known survivors of the Armenian genocide who lived in British Columbia.

Adrian Dix (Vancouver-Kingsway)

April 3, 2006

"I do not have in my family history anything like what happened to the Armenian people. It's very, very difficult for one who hasn't got that kind of ancestral history to really understand the feelings of the people who do live with this every day, who carry forward

these memories of events that took place, for some, so long ago — almost 90 years ago. It's very difficult to imagine how those people feel, how the Armenian people feel. "

Randy Hawes (Maple Ridge-Mission)

April 3, 2006

We live in a time of unparalleled instances of democide, genocide and ethnocide. As we decry the acts that took place in Armenia some 90 years ago, let me submit to this House and to the nation at large that it is our solemn duty to do everything in our power to prevent such tragedies from happening on our earth.

John Nuraney (Burnaby-Wellingdon)

April 3, 2006

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The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia unanimously adopted a Private Member’s Motion 59, recognizing the Armenian Genocide and to designate April 24th of every year as a remembrance day for the 1.5 million Armenians who fell victim to the first genocide of the 20th Century.

The debate on the Motion, which was sponsored by Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Adrian Dix (Vancouver-Kingsway), commenced at 11:00 p.m. and was voted upon at the end of the allotted one hour according to Private Member’s Motion rules.

MLAs Adrian Dix (Vancouver-Kingsway), Rob Fleming (Victoria-Hillside), Randy Hawes (Maple Ridge-Mission), Dave S. Hayer (Surrey-Tynehead), John Horgan (Malahat-Juan De Fuca), Murine Karagianis (Esquimalt-Metchosin), Leonared Krog (Naniamo), Kevin Krueger (Kamloops-North Thompson), John Nuraney (Burnaby-Wellingdon), Micheal Sather (Maple Ridge - Pitt Meadows), and John Yap (Richmond-Stevenston) spoke in support of the Motion.



To read the Full Text of "Motion 59" scroll down in the page of the Official Report of DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY , until you find the Motion 59 of the Armenian Genocide Recognition and Remembrance.

A "House Video" is also availabe online, you can find it in this LINK. Find "Monday, April 3, 2006, Morning (Vol. 8, No. 10)" and click on "House Video" link.

After loading the video you can slide the seek button to 11:00 am, where motion 59 begins.