OTTAWA - The House of Commons is scheduled to continue its debate on April 20 on Private Member's Motion M-380 to recognize the Armenian Genocide. After the second reading, the House must vote to adopt or reject the motion. Due to scheduling reasons, it is unlikely that the House will vote on the motion on April 20. It is foreseen that the vote will take place on the following day.

Motion M-380, which had its first reading on February 25, was moved by MP Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral (Laval Centre, BQ), and seconded by MPs Sarkis Assadourian (Brampton Centre, Liberal), Jason Kenney (Calgary Southeast, Conservative Party of Canada) and Alexa McDonough (Halifax, New Democratic Party).

According to the House Order Paper and Notice Paper, Motion M-380, was originally scheduled to be tabled on April 28. Because of a last-minute arrangement between Madam Dalphond-Guiral and Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East), a switch of motions took place and the Armenian Genocide recognition motion was brought forward by one week.

Dr. Girair Basmadjian, president, Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC), expressed the Armenian community's appreciation to Ms. Davies for her humanitarian and courageous gesture to switch her private member's motion with madam Dalphond-Guiral motion, to allow the vote to take place before the 89th anniversary commemorations of the Armenian Genocide on April 24.

"We hope that the House of Commons will adopt this motion on the eve of the 89th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, and put and end to the anguish of Canadian-Armenians so that we can begin the healing process," Dr. Basmadjian said.

The ANCC has campaigned diligently for 25 years for Canada's recognition of the Armenian Genocide. As in the Senate's recognition of the Armenian Genocide, ANCC has been a driving force behind Motion M-380.

Motion M 380 reads: "That this House acknowledges the Armenian genocide of 1915 and condemns this act as a crime against humanity."