Mr. Paul Dewar (Ottawa Centre, NDP): Mr. Speaker, Canadian citizen Bashir Makhtal continues to face harsh prison conditions in Ethiopia, unclear charges, and lack of access to legal representation.

The government's record on this file is one of inaction. It has not treated the file seriously. The best the government has come up with is to ask Ethiopia not to impose a death penalty on Mr. Makhtal. This is unacceptable.

The Minister of Transport and the Minister of Immigration declared that Mr. Makhtal is guilty of no wrong-doing.

It is time that Canada requested Ethiopia to drop all charges and bring Mr. Makhtal home now.

Mr. Deepak Obhrai (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, CPC): Mr. Speaker, Mr. Makhtal's trial has already started and he has received access to legal counsel. We have received assurances that Mr. Makhtal will be granted due process under Ethiopian law.

Canada has repeatedly made its concerns regarding Mr. Makhtal's case clear to the Government of Ethiopia. The Minister of Foreign Affairs has made strong representations to the Ethiopian authorities. Furthermore, I myself have made two visits to Ethiopia to make representation on this file.