Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today as an ally to add my voice to the grave and tragic issue of forced sterilization. This is not some past, dark chapter in Canadian history on which we have turned the page. It appears, based on several class-action lawsuits in front of the courts right now, that this barbaric practice is still in use. We hear now more and more voices rising up, sharing their stories, the traumas, and their terror of having been coerced into sterilization. I want to commend all of those who have spoken up to ensure that we hear their stories.
Mr. Speaker, contrary to popular belief, tubal ligation is virtually irreversible. It is undetectable to the untrained eye. Medical records are kept private for good reason, but a systemic review of these records may be the only way to begin to verify data and add weight to what is admittedly anecdotal at this time.
For us to address this issue, we must not only promise to do better, but we must take concrete steps to ensure that full and complete knowledge on the topic is gathered, preserved, and published. We must collect the stories of those who are affected and willing to come forward. We must commission a systematic review of medical records to uncover the full scope of this tragedy. We must continue to bring this to the forefront, and we must remain diligent and unrelenting as we move to take concrete action to criminalize coercion of this type. It is not simply enough to condemn this practice. We must also never forget that providing real support to those affected by this continuing tragedy is among our top priorities.
In closing, Mr. Speaker, I will repeat the words of the Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh: "If you suspect that you or someone you know has been pressured for sterilization, make it be known. No person should have the procedure performed on them without free, prior, informed consent. Anything else would be a violation of the victim's human rights."
Sadly, it appears that the echoes of eugenics still haunt us today. Thank you Mr. Speaker.