Bill C-374 (Historical)

Internment of Persons of Croatian Origin Recognition Act

An Act to acknowledge that persons of Croatian origin were interned in Canada during the First World War and to provide for recognition of this event

This bill was last introduced in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session, which ended in September 2008.

This bill was previously introduced in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session.

Sponsor

Borys Wrzesnewskyj  Liberal

Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)

Status

Outside the Order of Precedence (a private member's bill that hasn't yet won the draw that determines which private member's bills can be debated), as of Oct. 16, 2007
(This bill did not become law.)

Summary

This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament often publishes better independent summaries.

This enactment acknowledges that persons of Croatian origin were interned in Canada during the First World War under the authority of an Act of Parliament and expresses the deep sorrow of Parliament for that event.
The enactment provides for negotiations to take place between the Government of Canada and the Committee on Education, Culture and Heritage of the Canadian-Croatian Chamber of Commerce in respect of measures that may be taken to recognize the internment. These measures may include the installation of commemorative plaques as well as public education initiatives.
The enactment also allows a request to be made to the Canada Post Corporation for the issue of a commemorative stamp or set of stamps.

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from the Library of Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Internment of Persons of Croatian Origin Recognition ActRoutine Proceedings

October 30th, 2006 / 3:15 p.m.
See context

Liberal

Borys Wrzesnewskyj Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-374, An Act to acknowledge that persons of Croatian origin were interned in Canada during the First World War and to provide for recognition of this event.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce my private member's bill, the internment of persons of Croatian origin recognition act. The purpose of the bill is to acknowledge and commemorate a tragic episode in our nation's history when persons of Croatian origin were rounded up, interned, and used as forced labour in internment camps in Canada.

With the outbreak of World War I, prejudice and racism was fanned into xenophobia, culminating in the implementation of the War Measures Act by an order in council of the Canadian government. Some 5,954 so-called enemy aliens, of which close to 400 were Croatian Canadians, were interned.

While some would prefer to sweep this tragic episode of the internment operations from 1914 to 1920 into the dustbin of history, the Croatian Canadian community remembers. Through public acknowledgement by the government, it seeks to bring closure to this painful episode in our common history. Better public understanding of what happened will reinforce and promote our shared values of multiculturalism, inclusion, and above all, mutual respect.

It is my sincere hope that colleagues on all sides of the House will embrace and support this worthy and long overdue legislative initiative.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)