Mr. Mario Silva, MP Davenport, recently asked a question of the Government during Question Period in regards to Mansour Osanloo...

Mansour Osanloo is a Trade Unionist who was arrested a few months ago, along with hundreds of union activists, for planning a strike to protest against the bus drivers’ working conditions in Tehran. The trade unionist was again imprisoned July 12th last when he returned to the country after a visit with the International Transport Workers’ Federation in London. His eyes have apparently been injured and he has had no medical treatment since the beginning of his imprisonment.

Mr. Mario Silva (Davenport, Lib.):

Mr. Speaker, across the world human rights groups and labour leaders continue to express their concerns about the ongoing situation in Iran. Recently, two labour leaders, Mansour Osanloo and Mahmoud Salehi, were arrested and imprisoned as a result of their efforts to create fair and safe working conditions for Iranian workers.

What has the Minister of Foreign Affairs done to help secure the release of these two labour leaders and to impress upon the Iranian government Canada's concern about human rights violations in Iran?

Mr. Deepak Obhrai (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, CPC):

Mr. Speaker, this government is very concerned by the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran, including the increased prosecution of minorities.

As my colleagues may recall, last year Canada successfully spearheaded a resolution at the UN highlighting the continued deterioration of the human rights situation in Iran. We will continue to ensure that Canada makes its position very well known to the government of Iran about the situation of human rights in Iran.

Opposition Parties have limited numbers of questions they can pose to the Government each day. Questions are reserved for pressing and important issues of the day because Question Period drives the news. Though Question Period appears unscripted, the reality is each Party approves every question and MPs have to fight to get their issue before the Commons. You get on the list, or you don’t get a question.

It is rare when a question of such a specific issue unrelated to either the news of the day or of an MPs riding, gets that approval. It is a credit to MP Mario Silva for taking up the cause, for standing with Teamsters Canada and fighting to Free Osanloo.