Liberals call on Harper Government to protect Canadians traveling abroad
OTTAWA - Today, The Honourable Jim Karygiannis, Member of Parliament for Scarborough-Agincourt, Ken Boshcoff, Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay-Rainy River and The Honourable Dan McTeague, Member of Parliament for Pickering-Scarborough East, in response to the release by the Mexican Government of the investigation report of the Ianiero murders, called on the Harper Government to put in place measures to protect Canadians traveling abroad.
The measures would consist of:
· Establishing a Protocol, under the existing Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty, which would ensure that the investigative assistance of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is immediately requested should another tragedy, like the Ianiero murders, happen, and
· Issuing a Travel Advisory for Canadians traveling to Mexico.
"The Mexican Government botched this investigation from the beginning." said Mr. Karygiannis. "It appears that Mexican officials were more interested in protecting their tourist industry than properly investigating the deaths of two Canadian tourists. Harper and his government must step up to the plate."
"This tragic event affected not only the Ianiero family, but two of my constituents - Cheryl Everall and Kimberly Kim." said Mr. Boshcoff. "The Canadian government must ensure that their good names are cleared. The Harper government must make sure that this never happens again."
"The Government of Canada has an obligation and a duty to stand up for two Canadian citizens who have been brutally murdered abroad and to bring to justice those responsible for their murders." said Mr. McTeague. "It is unacceptable for the government to turn their backs and cave in to the Mexican decision to abandon the case and pass the buck after such a shoddy investigation. Canada must demand answers and ensure that justice will prevail."
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