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House Hansard - 9

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
December 2, 2021 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 9 - Dec/2/21
Mr. Greg Fergus (Hull—Aylmer, Lib.)
  • Dec/2/21 2:21:16 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the great William Faulkner wrote “The past is never dead. It's not even past”. Unfortunately, we see that reflected in the scourge of slavery. Today is the United Nations International Day for the Abolition of Slavery. Slavery still exists today. Its modern forms include sexual exploitation, forced labour, forced marriages and the recruitment of children in armed conflict. Slavery was abolished in Canada in 1834, freeing indigenous and Black people from this most disgusting form of abuse. However, according to the latest estimates, more than 40 million people are still victims of modern slavery. Nearly three-quarters are women and girls, and more than one-quarter are children. We, as Canadian parliamentarians, who are among the most privileged in the world, must speak out against modern slavery at every opportunity and use every tool at our disposal to act wisely. The world is watching, especially those under the yoke of slavery.
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