Member Statement by MP Barry Devolin (Haliburton – Kawartha Lakes – Brock)
November 28, 2007
Today, Barry Devolin MP was proud to co-sponsor a motion that acknowledges the genuine tragedy that befell the comfort women, victims of the Japanese Imperial Army’s practice of coerced sexual servitude.
“The Conservative government has taken a leadership role in ensuring that the tragedy endured by comfort women is properly acknowledged,” said Mr. Devolin.
Earlier this week, Mr Devolin met with four survivors of the comfort women system—from Korea, China, the Philippines, and the Netherlands—to hear about the crimes inflicted on them. Along with other Conservative MPs in attendance, Mr. Devolin listened to these women’s stories, the better to ensure these are preserved in the annals of history.
In addition to supporting today’s motion, the Conservative government has been consistent in standing up for comfort women: Mr Devolin and Secretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity) have held numerous roundtables with affected communities in Toronto and Vancouver; Conservative MP Nina Grewal raised the issue in the House; and numerous ministers have raised this with their Japanese counterparts.
“Today is a day during which Canadians can look to the evils of the past, the better to ensure they are not repeated. We are proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with those victims of one of the worst humanitarian tragedies of the last century,” said Mr Devolin.
