Canada’s Minister of National Defense, the Hon. Jason Kenney, delivered a speech this week during the Unity March in Toronto.

“I believe in memory. We are here today, because we all believe in memory. Canada believes in memory. This is why in 2002 the Senate of Canada recognized the historical reality of the Armenian Genocide. This is why in 2004 the House of Commons, in a motion that I was honored to sponsor, recognized the historical reality of the Armenian Genocide. And this is why in 2006 the government of Canada recognized the historical reality of the Armenian Genocide,” Kenney said.

“This is why in the new National Canadian museum of human rights, at the center of our country in Winnipeg, there is a permanent exhibit of the greatest genocides of the 20th century, including specifically the Armenian Genocide, the first genocide of the 20th century,” he continued.

“This is why I was so honored to represent Canadians in visiting and paying my respects, the respects of all Canadians, to the 1.4 million victims of the genocide at Tsitsernakaberd near Yerevan in Armenia last summer. And this why my colleague Bred Butt MP, has put forward the motion 587 that will recognize April as Genocide commemoration month, recognizing the Armenian Genocide, the Holodomor, the Holocaust and the Rwandan Genocide,” the minister concluded.