Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast has criticized the Canadian foreign minister's remarks about the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic. During the Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, which was held from October 21 to 26, 2012 in the Canadian city of Quebec, John Baird slammed Iran for alleged violation of human and religious minorities' rights. According to Press TV, Mehmanparast said on Wednesday: “It is regrettable that Canada’s minister of foreign affairs… takes advantage of the privilege of hosting this meeting to make spiteful remarks which are contrary to the international summit’s objectives.” The Iranian official said such “irresponsible literature” is against accepted international norms and is a “forward escape” tactic to avoid responsibility for the deplorable situation of human rights in Canada, particularly with regard to the country’s indigenous community. Activists say there has been a significant rise in human rights violations together with an unprecedented crackdown on freedom of speech since Canadian Premier Stephen Harper took power in 2006. Native Canadians remain among the poorest members of the Canadian society with most of them suffering poor educational, economic and social conditions. The UN has also strongly condemned Canada's record on children's rights, accusing Ottawa of systematic discrimination against aborigines and immigrants.