MPP Monte Kwinter Makes A Statement Commemorating The Armenian Genocide In The Ontario Legislature

Toronto, ON – Monte Kwinter, MPP York Centre, issued a statement regarding the 94th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, during the session of the Ontario legislature on Monday, April 27, 2009, reported the Armenian National Committee of Toronto (ANCT). Mr. Kwinter’s remarks referenced the Georgetown Boys, the long-standing recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the province of Ontario, as well as the annual commemoration event organized by the ANCT on April 26, 2009, at the Armenian Community Centre of Toronto, which was attended by over twenty provincial, federal and municipal elected officials and approximately 800 members of the community.

ANCT commended Mr. Kwinter for making the statement. “I would like to thank Monte Kwinter for his statement in the Ontario legislature” said Shahen Mirakian, ANCT Chair, “Ever since the Ontario legislature first recognized the Armenian Genocide in 1980, members have risen to remember the events of 1915 and show solidarity with Ontarians of Armenian descent. In carrying on this tradition, Mr. Kwinter has once again demonstrated the commitment of the people of Ontario to seek justice for victims of genocide and preventing future genocides."

The Armenian National Committee of Toronto is a chapter of the Armenian National Committee of Canada, a grassroots organization that was founded in 1965 to address the concerns of the Canadian Armenian community on a broad range of issues.

The full text of Mr. Kwinter’s statement is below:

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ANNIVERSARY

Mr. Monte Kwinter: I rise today to mark the 94th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. April 24, 1915, was the start of a planned and systematic campaign to eradicate the Armenian people by the Young Turk government of the Ottoman Empire, the last century's first case of ethnic cleansing. One and a half million Armenian men, women and children were brutally killed.

Some of the orphaned survivors of these massacres were settled on a farm in Georgetown, Ontario, in 1923 by the Armenian relief association with funds raised from ordinary Ontarians. These Georgetown Boys, as they became known, were pioneers of the thriving Ontario Armenian community, and their descendants continue to make positive contribution to Ontario's culture and economy.

In 1980, this Legislature, along with the National Assembly in Quebec and the British Columbia Legislature, recognized this tragic event. The House of Commons, the Senate of Canada and the government of Canada have all recognized this genocide as well.

Yesterday, many of our colleagues from this Legislature attended a commemoration of the first genocide of the last century at the Armenian Community Centre in Toronto. I urge you, and all of us, to commemorate this event with the Armenian community of Toronto.

I commend members from all sides of the House, past and present, for their leadership on this matter, and in particular, the member from Don Valley East, David Caplan; the member from Scarborough-Agincourt, Gerry Phillips; and the member from Scarborough Centre, Brad Duguid, who have been long-time advocates for this important issue.

The Armenian National Committee of Toronto is a chapter of the Armenian National Committee of Canada, a grassroots organization that was founded in 1965 to address the concerns of the Canadian Armenian community on a broad range of issues.