OTTAWA–Canadian-Armenia’s anxiously await the outcome of the vote on M-380–a motion in the Canadian parliament acknowledging the Armenian Genocide and condemning it as a crime against humanity. The vote was scheduled for late Wednesday.
The Canadian government has a history of a negative position vis–vis official recognition of the Armenian Genocide–and has actively lobbied against adoption of motions on the Armenian Genocide.
The understanding between the government and the Armenian National Committee of Canada this time around–is that the ministers constituting the government would be voting against the measure–but that members of parliament (MPs) belonging to the governing party would be allowed to vote according to their conscience.
The Turkish Ambassador to Canada has also become involved–calling on members of parliament to vote against the motion–citing harm to Turkish-Canadian economic and political interests.
Armenia’s Ambassador to Canada–in turn–has written MPs–urging them to adopt the resolution.
Canadian companies SNC Lavalin and Bombardier urged parliament’s Conservative Party members to strike down the motion–saying that its passage would harm the economic interests of Canada and Turkey.
Bombardier has a deal with Turkey to construct a railway; SNC Lavalin built the Ankara subway and has ongoing contracts with Turkey.
Turks from throughout the US and Canada have been carrying out an extensive e-mail campaign against the adoption of the resolution–while the ANCC and the AYF of Canada–have conducted their own massive e-mail campaign in favor of the resolution.