Rob Oliphant, MP (Don Valley West) Speaks at Vigil in Response to Suffering of Tamil Community

For Immediate Release
February 5, 2009

OTTAWA - Member of Parliament Rob Oliphant spoke at the Parliament Hill vigil on Wednesday, where he called on the Canadian Government to demand an immediate ceasefire from the Government of Sri Lanka and to allow aid to be delivered to the Tamil communities in Sri Lanka.

Mr. Oliphant responded to the lack of relief aid currently being provided by the Conservative Government. "We firmly call upon our Government to increase Canadian relief and development aid to Sri Lank, to help rebuild war-torn areas of the country, and assist international relief agencies in their attempts to deliver aid," he said. To date the Conservatives have only provided 3 million in relief aid to Sri Lanka.

"This afternoon, in the House of Commons, I presented a petition to the Government from the residents of Don Valley West calling for pressure to be placed on the Government of Sri Lanka to allow aid to reach the Tamil population, and permit the United Nations and other relief agencies access to areas affected by the conflict," said Mr. Oliphant.

Mr. Oliphant, a long-time supporter of the Tamil community, let those present know that their cause would not be forgotten. "The Liberal Party, its Leader, Michael Ignatieff, its respected members and I will continue to raise these issues and be your voice of opposition to the current Government," said Mr. Oliphant. "Canada has always been a voice for the preservation of human rights of all citizens of the world. For too long our government has stayed as innocent civilians are being massacred in Sri Lanka. The time for action is now. The time for change is now. Together we will be that change, and we will be that action."
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Communications Advisor
Mazhar Shafiq
416-467-7275