Tagged with: Democracy


November 23, 2016 | No Comments

The all-party Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group endorses Bill C-306

I’m so pleased that the all-party Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group has endorsed my bill, C-306.

Bill C-306 condemns a dark chapter in history and renews Canada’s principled stance in support of freedom, democracy and the rule of law.

Read the full text of Bill C-306 here: http://www.parl.gc.ca/content/hoc/Bills/421/Private/C-306/C-306_1/C-306_1.PDF

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November 12, 2016 | No Comments

Honoured to receive support for Bill C-306

In the short time since I introduced Bill C-306, I’m honoured to have received messages of support from Canadian groups, Tatar leaders and individuals from across the country and abroad.

Here’s a copy of the support letters that I have received from:

Visit here to read the full text of Bill C-306: http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&DocId=8446568

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November 10, 2016 | No Comments

Lest we forget.

Thank you to all of Canada’s men and women in uniform – past and present – for your tremendous service to Canada.

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November 9, 2016 | No Comments

Your invitation to participate in local Remembrance Day ceremonies

This week is Veterans week.

It’s an opportunity to pause and remember the men and women who have served Canada with great distinction.

Their willingness to defend freedom, democracy and the rule of law is the reason that we as Canadians continue to live in peace and security.

This Remembrance Day, I hope you will join me in honouring and remembering the bravery and sacrifice of Canada’s Veterans.

Here’s a list of just some of the local ceremonies happening on Remembrance Day:

Beverly Memorial Cenotaph

Service starts at Maranatha Church at 9:30 a.m., followed by a parade to the Beverly Memorial Cenotaph. The ceremony at the Cenotaph begins at 11 a.m.

Calder Cenotaph

Service starts at the Northwest Seniors Centre at 10 a.m., followed by a parade to the Calder Cenotaph. The ceremony at the Cenotaph begins at 10:50 a.m.

Patricia Park in Griesbach

Service starts at 10:45 a.m. at Patricia Park in Griesbach. The ceremony is hosted by Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.

ANAVETS Sir Winston Churchill Unit Three

Parade starts at the top of the Shaw Center (on Jasper Ave.) and will march to the Cenotaph on the West Side of the Shaw Center. The parade will start at 10:30 a.m. All are welcome and Veterans are invited to join the march.

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November 4, 2016 | No Comments

Calling on Canada to recognize the mass deportation of Crimean Tatars in 1944 as genocide

Today, I had the honour to begin the debate in the House of Commons on my Private Member’s Bill, Bill C-306 – the Crimean Tatar Deportation (“Sürgünlik”) Memorial Day Act.

This Act would recognize the mass deportations of Crimean Tatars in 1944 by the Soviet regime as genocide and establish May 18 as a day of commemoration.

In 2015, the Parliament of Ukraine officially recognized the deportations of 1944 as genocide. Subsequently, they called on other countries to join them in recognizing this atrocity as genocide.

Canada has long-been a defender of human rights and the rule of law. As a loyal friend to Ukraine, now is the time to respond to that call.
This Bill is important today because we cannot separate the deportations of 1944 and Russia’s theft of Crimea from Ukraine 70 years later.

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September 29, 2016 | No Comments

Kerry Diotte tables legislation condemning Crimean Tatars genocide

For Immediate Release

September 29, 2016

(OTTAWA, ONTARIO) — Kerry Diotte has introduced his first Private Members’ Bill (PMB) in the House of Commons. The bill is titled An Act to establish a Crimean Tatar Deportation (“Sürgünlik”) Memorial Day and to recognize the mass deportation of the Crimean Tatars in 1944 as an act of genocide.

“My Bill condemns a dark chapter in history and takes a principled stand in support of freedom, democracy and the rule of law,” said Diotte, who was elected on Oct. 19, 2015.

If passed, this Act will recognize the mass deportations of Crimean Tatars in 1944 by the Soviet regime as genocide and establish May 18 as a day of commemoration.

“In 1944, the Soviet regime under Josef Stalin ripped hundreds of thousands of innocent men, women and children from their homes in Crimea and sent them into permanent exile simply on the basis of their nationality,” he said.

“They were denied their freedom of movement, freedom of expression and freedom of worship until the Soviet Union ceased to exist. It constitutes a great crime against humanity.”

In 2014, Russia invaded Ukraine, and illegally annexed Crimea after staging a sham referendum in the region.

“We cannot separate the deportations of 1944 from Russia’s theft of Crimea from Ukraine seventy years later.”

“The same evil ideology and disregard for the fundamental rights and freedoms of every man and woman is at work in both a regime that would tear 200,000 people from their homes and drop them in a remote part of Central Asia; and in starting a war with a peaceful neighboring country in order to steal territory.”

This Bill is especially important because Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea has placed the Crimean Tatars under threat once again. Today, they face renewed attacks on their representative bodies, places of worship, and independent media outlets.

In 2015, the Parliament of Ukraine officially recognized the deportations of 1944 as genocide, the first country in the world to do so. Subsequently, the Ukrainian Parliament called on other countries to join them in recognizing this atrocity as genocide.

“Canada has always been a steadfast and loyal friend to Ukraine, and we need to show our leadership once again,” said Diotte.

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For media enquiries, please contact:

Kerry Diotte

Member of Parliament

Edmonton Griesbach

(613) 992-3821

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September 28, 2016 | No Comments

Have your voice heard

Here’s an important opportunity to have your voice heard and demand a referendum.

The House of Commons’ Special Committee on Electoral Reform is holding public open microphone sessions in the Edmonton area tomorrow.

When: Thursday September 29, 2016.
4:15pm to 5:00 p.m.
7:30pm to 9:30 p.m.

Where: Renaissance Edmonton Airport Hotel (attached to the airport)
4236 – 36 St. East
Leduc, AB

To speak, you must be registered at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the session.

If you can’t make it to this meeting, you can also complete the Committee’s online e-consultation form here.

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June 9, 2016 | 1 Comment

Does Canada need electoral reform?

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June 6, 2016 | 2 Comments

10 good reasons to keep our voting system as is

By KERRY DIOTTE

The governing Liberals insist we must have a new system of voting for future federal elections. Here are 10 reasons why this is a very bad idea:

1 – There’s no groundswell in the Canadian public demanding a new voting system. While knocking on thousands of doors for the October 2015 election I cannot recall one person bringing up the issue.

2 – The Liberals have repeatedly ruled out sticking with our current system of first-past-the-post elections, a method that has served Canada well since Confederation.

3 – Despite pledges to do widespread consultations with the public before changing our system, there’s no plan to hold a national referendum on this historic change to our democracy.

4 – Critics rightfully point out that other systems of voting can favour the ruling Liberals. Under a so-called ranked ballot or proportional representation system, it’s predicted the Liberals would have increased their current seat count Oct. 19 from 184 to 224 in this current Parliament.

5 – The Liberals are already tipping their hand that they’re leaning to the ranked-ballot system. That comes amid news the Privy Council Office (that reports directly to the Prime Minister and minister in charge) recently hired Derek Alton, who founded a group that advocates the ranked ballot system.

6 – A ranked-ballot system would put Conservative voters at a disadvantage. Studies have shown NDP supporters would tend to pick Liberal candidates as their second pick while Liberal supporters would choose NDP reps for their second-string choice. Conservative voters frequently indicate they don’t wish to have a second choice of another candidate at all.

7 – Liberal Minister of Democratic Institutions Maryam Monsef has actually claimed in the House of Commons that consultation on reform using Twitter and townhalls is more valid than holding a national referendum.

8 – Much has been made of the fact Liberals recently changed the makeup of a parliamentary committee tasked with coming up with a new voting system. Now opposition members from the Green Party, the Bloc Quebecois and the NDP will get a vote. But the truth is, the committee is little more than a paper tiger. The ruling Grits can still ignore its finding and choose any new voting system it desires. Such are the perks of winning a majority government.

9 – There are precedents for holding voting referendums in Canada. Through referenda, in British Columbia, Ontario, and Prince Edward Island voters rejected changes to their systems.

10 – Recent opinion polls show that nearly three quarters of Canadians believe a national referendum should be held if there is to be a change in our way of voting.

If you believe there’s no reason to change our voting system or you think we must hold a national referendum before doing so, take action. Write to the Prime Minister at House of Commons, Ottawa, ON. K1A 0A6. There is no postage required to send that letter.

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February 18, 2016 | No Comments

Speaking up for rank-and-file workers

This week, I stood in the House of Commons to reaffirm our Conservative commitment to hard-working Canadians.

When our party was in power, we passed a law to allow workers to have a secret ballot when voting on whether or not to form a union.

We also passed a law that guaranteed more fiscal transparency in union books.

With the proposed Bill C-4, the Liberal government will repeal those good laws.

We believe that this is detrimental to hard-working Canadian union members, and we have heard that from the rank-and-file members themselves.

Check out the video. What do you think about this issue? I would love to hear your opinions.

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