Bill C-268 (Historical)

Lebanese Heritage Month Act

An Act to designate the month of November as Lebanese Heritage Month

This enactment designates the month of November as “Lebanese Heritage Month”.

Lebanese Heritage Month Act

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on August 4, 2020, an explosion devastated the city of Beirut in a country already grappling with economic insecurity and a refugee crisis.

The explosion was caused by ammonium nitrate that was improperly stored. The blast rocked the entire city and destroyed the largest port in Lebanon, the country's main entry point for food imports.

Lebanese authorities rejected multiple judicial requests to lift parliamentary immunity and allow questioning of security officials. The government also failed to execute arrest warrants against a former minister. In February 2021, Judge Tarek Bitar was appointed to lead the investigation. According to a UN special rapporteur, he faced increasing obstacles and threats to carry out his work. Up until that point, no one had been tried for the August 2020 explosion, which 215 people dead, 6,000 injured and 300,000 displaced.

Earlier this year, to everyone's surprise, the lead judge decided to resume his investigation into the explosion despite enormous political pressure. Victims of the explosion and their families have been demanding justice for more than two years. In late January 2023, the judge in charge of the investigation defied the authorities by laying charges against Lebanon's top public prosecutor, a decision that was unprecedented in the country's history. Two senior security officials were also charged with homicide with probable intent.

Today, a large part of the population associates this tragedy with the corruption and negligence of the ruling class, which tried to put an end to the investigation to avoid charges. Since 2019, Lebanon has been plunged into an unprecedented socio-economic crisis largely associated with corruption and negligence on the part of the ruling class. Earlier this year, demonstrators blocked streets in Beirut and other cities to protest against deteriorating living conditions and the weakening of the Lebanese currency. The situation has only gotten worse.

Eighty-five kilometres north of Beirut, an ambitious architectural project is also falling into disrepair, a sign of the various governments' failure to properly manage the country for years, even decades. That does not inspire much hope. Fortunately, however, UNESCO urgently added the 70-hectare site between the historic centre of Tripoli and the Al Mina port to the List of Word Heritage in Danger.

To give a bit of history, in 1962, renowned Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer was mandated by the Lebanese government to design an international fair in Tripoli. The goal of the project was to put Lebanon on the world map and attract investors. Lebanon and Tripoli were confident in their future knowing that they had an inspirational heritage. The work began in 1964.

I know that people are wondering where I am going with this, but a connection will soon become apparent. The site for the international fair is gigantic. This complex was supposed to have an exhibition hall, three museums, an experimental theatre and an open air theatre. It was a massive undertaking. The purpose of this incomparably large site was to promote Lebanese culture and traditions to the world. In the end, the project was abandoned because of the civil war in Lebanon, which started in 1975. Since then, the buildings are no longer maintained.

Despite many efforts by architects and artists to draw the attention of the Lebanese authorities and the world to the importance of preserving this exceptional complex, today to some it has become a symbol of the failure of past government decisions and, of course, the unfulfilled dream of its architect, the Brazilian we were talking about earlier.

The place is huge, but mostly deserted. It is like stepping into a dream, far from the hustle and bustle of Tripoli, Lebanon's second-largest city. It is a grandiose place with a futuristic flair, yet little known outside its borders. Despite the lack of financial resources, despite the negligence of the Lebanese authorities, it remains standing, proud, a reflection of the people and of the MPs of Lebanese origin who sit here in the House. I want to mention the member for Edmonton Manning, who will speak after me, the member for Halifax West, who spoke earlier, and my great friend from Laval—Les Îles, whom I adore.

I would be remiss if I failed to mention my dear friend from Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, who has Lebanese roots. Despite all our differences of opinion and our political approaches, I can still tell when someone is proud. He stands up for his constituents, the people he represents. I want to recognize that tonight. He is even in the House tonight. I am pleased to say that.

Our colleague from Halifax West said it best when she pointed out the strength and resilience of the Lebanese community in the preamble of Bill C-268. The purpose of Bill S-246, which is before us this evening, is to encourage Canadians and Quebeckers of Lebanese origin “to promote their traditions and culture and share them”. If passed, this bill designates the month of November as Lebanese heritage month.

Of course I support this initiative. The Bloc Québécois will support it wholeheartedly. I hope that my colleagues from the other parties will do the same. I fail to see how anyone would not do the same. The month of November is very important to the culture of that country, particularly because it celebrates independence, which was recognized on November 22, 1936, and became effective in 1945, after the Second World War. Independence is important.

A nation's desire to protect and pass on its culture, traditions and characteristics alone is often the strongest incentive to achieving sovereignty. Like a flame, culture warms people's hearts in uncertain times like the ones people in Lebanon are currently facing. Culture gives a glimmer of hope to those who are suffering.

That is why, in this period of uncertainty that has been going on for far too long, I want to assure the people of Lebanon and citizens of Canada and Quebec—because one day Quebec will be independent—of Lebanese descent that the Bloc Québécois supports the bill and supports them in their desire to make their unique traditions and culture known in Quebec and Canada, the traditions and culture that they were able to protect by becoming independent.

I will close by saying this. Every time a people becomes independent, they become a model for nations that are also trying to protect their traditions and culture. The road to independence is long and often fraught with challenges. To quote one of the greatest actors that Quebec has ever known and who just happened to be my grandfather, despite everything, “Independence will always hold a place in our hearts, with luminous clarity. It is self-evident”.

I would say that Quebec is my only country, but the Lebanese can say that Lebanon is their only country.

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

moved that Bill S-246, An Act respecting Lebanese Heritage Month, be read the second time and referred to a committee.

Mr. Speaker, it is always a privilege to speak on behalf of the people of Halifax West.

Today, as a proud Lebanese Canadian, I am honoured to speak on Bill S-246, which would designate the month of November as Lebanese heritage month across Canada.

First I want to thank Senator Jane Cordy for shepherding this bill in the Senate chamber. The bill had its origins with my private member's bill, Bill C-268, last year.

It was a special honour to testify at the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology when the bill was being considered at that place, not only because I represent many Lebanese Nova Scotians in Halifax West but also because I have worked throughout my life to share, celebrate and preserve Lebanese culture, language and traditions in Canada.

I speak to this bill as the daughter of first-generation Lebanese immigrants to Canada from the tiny village of Diman. I also spent years of my childhood growing up surrounded by grandparents and elders of the village before fleeing war and reuniting with extended family and community back in Nova Scotia.

I joined, at the age of 15, Diman Association Canada, a group that was founded in 1973 by second-generation teenagers whose parents emigrated from the village of Diman. This group continues to flourish and celebrates its 50-year anniversary September 30.

I also joined the Canadian Lebanon Society of Halifax and was elected for the first time in 1993, over 30 years ago, as the first female president, serving six terms. The last was in 2013, when I entered politics. This organization, founded in 1938 and headed by Lieutenant Edward Francis Arab as its first president, is one of the oldest such organizations in North America.

It was founded by first-generation Lebanese immigrants who wanted to stay connected to their heritage, their culture and their mother tongue.

We mark its 85th anniversary this November.

I am also a former parish council member at Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church. In Halifax, there are two Lebanese churches, Our Lady of Lebanon and Saint Antonios Orthodox Church, and each year each church hosts a summer Lebanese festival, one in June and the other in July, for all to enjoy.

A week ago, Our Lady of Lebanon hosted the Lebanese Cedar Festival with food, music, dance performances and so much more. It was a proud moment for me to see my children volunteering at the festival and my grandchildren doing the Lebanese dabke.

It was a welcome source of fun and community building and a chance to show our love and provide support to feed Nova Scotia and others in the community.

Through my involvement in all these groups, I have met people and groups across the country.

I know how significant this recognition would be, as the provincial recognition was significant when we proclaimed it in Nova Scotia in 2018.

When our Senate colleagues spoke to Bill S-246, they shared the stories of Lebanese Canadians from across the country, such as the Lebanese peddlers and fur traders who arrived in the late 1800s and early 1900s in P.E.I., Victoria and Edmonton.

There is business owner Annie Midlige, the first Lebanese immigrant in Ottawa.

There is George Shebib, who introduced the card game tarabish to Cape Bretoners in 1901.

There is William Haddad, a shopkeeper's son who became one of the first Arab judges in Canada.

There is Nazem Kadri, the Stanley Cup champion, and those who gave their lives for Canada, such as Charlie Younes and Lieutenant Edward Francis Arab, after whom we have named a street in the Westmount subdivision of Halifax.

There are also high-performance athletes like John Hanna, John Makdessi and Fabian Joseph from Nova Scotia.

There are artists as varied as singer Paul Anka, Drake collaborator Noah “40” Shebib, documentarian Amber Fares, Order of Ontario recipient Sandra Shamas, visual artist Jay Isaac and Order of Canada recipient Consul Wadih M. Fares, just to name a few.

There are academics and rights advocates.

There are civic leaders from all levels of government and political parties, including former senators and former members of Parliament, as well as my two federal colleagues from Laval—Les Îles and Edmonton—Manning and my former provincial colleagues Patricia Arab and Zach Churchill. There are, of course, Canada's first premier of non-European descent, Premier Joe Ghiz, and later his son Robert Ghiz, and so many more.

Indeed, Lebanese Canadians have had a strong presence in our country since the late 19th century. Today, Lebanon is represented in Canada by its embassy in Ottawa and has a general consulate in Montreal with consulate offices in Halifax, Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver. There are notable communities in Edmonton, London, Ottawa, Gatineau, Montreal and Laval, Toronto and the GTA, Windsor, Halifax, Vancouver, and Calgary.

We also have smaller enclaves in New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Winnipeg and elsewhere.

Global Affairs estimates that the Lebanese community in Canada includes between 200,000 and 400,000 people and that an estimated 40,000 to 75,000 Canadians live in Lebanon. From my experience, there are, sadly, many who have either forgotten or have lost their Lebanese heritage or even, at times, suppressed it. It makes me emotional because I have seen it. I have had those conversations. It is part of why this designation would be so important for so many people.

In my time leading the Canadian Lebanon Society, I met many who were the first of their families to arrive to this country. I would hear about how they lost their language, how they worked hard to erase their difference and how they anglicized their names. It is easy to forget this today in the diverse and welcoming place Canada has become, but there was a time when it was seen as embarrassing to claim one's heritage.

The assimilation and prejudice that Lebanese Canadians faced, the need to hide their roots from others, had a major impact.

I can tell members about the children and grandchildren of Lebanese immigrants I have met, who grew up never telling people they were Lebanese because of what their families endured when they first came to Canada.

If there is one thing that is true about Lebanese people, it is that we are very resilient, like the cedar on the flag of our homeland.

In fact, the marginalization past generations experienced only pushed them to build closer bonds with others. I think of my own father in the early days of his immigration journey, when he worked a number of jobs, including at what was then the local Coca-Cola plant, and the friendships he forged with his African Nova Scotian peers.

I note the stories Senator Simons shared in her comments on this bill, recounting the relationships built between the early Lebanese fur traders in Alberta and the Cree and Métis trappers. These industrious folks learned the indigenous languages to forge friendships and do business, yet for too many their Lebanese heritage may be lost or hard to rediscover.

I can tell members that the designation of Lebanese heritage month in my home province has sparked many people to rediscover their Lebanese heritage, to do the digging and to share the stories of their grandparents, folks like Charlene Rahey-Pedersen in Nova Scotia, who reached out to me when she heard we were working on designating a heritage month and initiated the North Sydney and Area Lebanese Heritage Group.

That is one reason why these recognitions matter. They prompt discovery.

This project to designate November as Lebanese heritage month has prompted so many parliamentarians to approach me to share stories from their constituencies and provinces. I know many.

Since the arrival of Abraham Arab in 1894, many Lebanese people from Diman have chosen to make Halifax their home.

Many families like mine can trace their roots to that sacred place. Their impact is so profound that 10 years ago, The Globe and Mail published an article on the many big developers from Diman who built the city of Halifax through major projects such as the Nova Centre, The Trillium, King's Wharf, The Vuze and so on.

We also have the Sisterhood of Diman, a group of pioneering women such as Cristine Goshen Kahil who have worked hard over the years to raise money for the education and emancipation of the next generation.

The spirit of Lebanese Canadians shines through their hard work, determination, and love for their family and community. We work extremely hard because so many of us came from such humble beginnings, and when we succeed we give back so the road is easier for those who come next, and the communities we call home see success as well.

I want to mention the Lebanese Chamber of Commerce in Nova Scotia, a volunteer-led organization that for two decades has brought the Lebanese business community together in my province. I am not aware of many such volunteer chambers of commerce in Nova Scotia, which I think is a testament to the keen entrepreneurial instincts of Lebanese Nova Scotians who are so deeply enmeshed in our broader social fabric.

Of note, the Canadian Lebanon Society of Halifax has for decades run the Lebanese Heritage Language School, a critical institution that helps ensure that our young people still have that linguistic capacity, that connection to the mother tongue and where we come from.

I know that many members of the House can appreciate how important this is.

As a former principal and volunteer, I was immensely proud that, in 2020, Nova Scotia selected the school as an approved course provider for Lebanese Arabic grades 10 and 11, two full credit courses to allow high schoolers to learn the beautiful Lebanese Arabic language. As the member of Parliament who now represents nearly half of those who speak Arabic in Nova Scotia, that matters a lot to me.

As far as language is concerned, I would like to remind my francophone colleagues of the deep bond that unites the Lebanese people with the French language. Indeed, French is a more common second language in Lebanon than English.

That is why, as someone who spoke French before speaking English, I worked hard to foster collaboration in my community between the Canadian Lebanon Society and our local chapter of the Alliance française.

Locally, we have also been blessed in Halifax to host film screenings and I want to highlight the work of the Lebanese Film Festival in Canada.

Those recognitions of our proud cultural communities matter. They are not partisan endeavours, nor are they symbolic. When we collectively decide to mark a heritage month, we spotlight a community and give those people a new platform to tell their stories, gather, dispel myths and further their enmeshment in the great Canadian multicultural fabric.

We enable them to be seen and make them feel more at home here, while learning more about our neighbours and becoming more supportive citizens.

My colleagues have debated the merit of similar bills and motions before, so just before I conclude, I will share a personal anecdote that speaks to this.

My staff put WhatsApp on my phone late last year. I got a call through it. I was hesitant to answer but I did. It was a community leader in Lebanon. They were collecting donations of $10 so children could have a little something for Christmastime. She requested that I take a moment to stand in front of something recognizable and record a video to send a message to the children, something to show those struggling in Lebanon that there is hope, something to show them that, here in the diaspora, we are thinking of them, because people around the world are watching us. When we affirm the value of diversity and of our diasporas, it matters.

To those who are here, to those who dream of being here, to those who may have lost their heritage and to those who may never visit our shores themselves, this matters.

To all those listening to me tonight at midnight Eastern time, I say šukran, “thank you”.

I look forward to celebrating this from coast to coast to coast.

Holiday Greetings

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Speaker, as we prepare to return to our ridings and families, I rise to give thanks today to my children, all of my extended family, my staff Anthony, Conor, Chris and Sam, all of my interns, and all who have worked to support me and the residents of Halifax West.

I would also like to thank all those who help us on the Hill: the Private Members' Business Office, our committee clerks and all of the analysts and interpreters.

I also offer thanks to the offices of our whips, House leaders and pages.

To all my fellow MPs and my Senate colleagues from all parties, I want to say the following.

I look forward to working together in 2023, and especially as Bill S-246 passes and proceeds to this place. It is a perfect complement to my own Bill C-268 respecting Lebanese heritage month.

I wish everyone the blessings of the season. Let us spread kindness, compassion and love.

I wish my colleagues a joyeux Noël and happy new year.

Lebanese Heritage Month

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Speaker, in Nova Scotia and in Ontario, November is officially recognized as Lebanese Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the generations of cultural, economic and civic contributions of Lebanese Canadians.

November holds great significance for Lebanese people all over the world as independence day, Eid Al-Istiqlal, is celebrated on the 22nd.

In my own province, the Lebanese presence dates back to the 1800s.

In 2018, I was part of the provincial government that proclaimed November as Lebanese Heritage Month.

Again, this year, celebrations will be held from Yarmouth to Halifax to Sydney. I am proud to have introduced Bill C-268 to recognize Lebanese Heritage Month nationally and honour, share and celebrate our culture.

I am equally proud to work with Senator Jane Cordy on Bill S-246 to do the same. I encourage all members to mark Lebanese Heritage Month in their communities, join our parliamentary friendship group and support these important bills.