Honourable senators, Canada has an important role to play on the global stage, but we have to be realistic: our influence has its limits.

In spite of all our diplomatic efforts and all our goodwill, it is extremely difficult to prevent individuals acting on behalf of their governments from violating the rights of their own citizens, those who publicly denounce corruption or who simply try to exercise their fundamental rights.

However, there is something we can and should do as a country.

We can send a message to those human rights violators that they simply are not welcome here. We can refuse them entry to Canada. We can refuse to enable them to shelter their assets here, assets too often tainted with the blood of those whose rights they so egregiously violated.

That's what Bill S-226 would do, and that's why I support it. It is focused but, yet, of general application. It is firm in its message and potential impact, but it's fair and flexible in its application; it is fundamentally consistent with our most basic values and interests as a country.

The bill is focused. It targets individuals who are responsible for or complicit in extrajudicial killings, torture or other gross violations of internationally recognized human rights. It does not target countries or their people.

The bill is of general application, as many have already mentioned. It does not single out any one country or regime. The bill is firm in the message that it sends, and when it's triggered, its provisions would have a very real impact. But it's also designed to be fair in the way in which the bill is applied.

Even more importantly, this bill is flexible and does not tie our government's hands. Rather, it gives it a tool to use when circumstances justify it. In that regard, the bill respects the paramount role that our constitutional system assigns to the government in relation to foreign affairs.

Honourable senators, Canada prides itself as being a country that stands up for human rights around the world. Bill S-226 would reinforce that stand by authorizing our government to take prompt action to avoid Canada becoming a haven for human rights violators from abroad.

I support Bill S-226 and urge you to do the same.