Evidence of meeting #37 for Canadian Heritage in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was process.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
John McCallum Liberal Markham—Unionville, ON
So there has been nothing concrete in terms of money or actions?
President, National Federation of Canadian Italian Business and Professional Associations
No.
Sal, are you aware of anything?
Immediate Past President, National Federation of Canadian Italian Business and Professional Associations
If I may add to what the president is saying, subsequent to the new government's taking office, the national federation and the other signatories were in discussions with the new government. those took place for a while. There were discussions. As a matter of fact, there were very pleasant discussions with the new government in order to follow through on the agreement in principle that was signed.
Liberal
John McCallum Liberal Markham—Unionville, ON
You had some nice discussions, but four years later, nothing has happened.
Immediate Past President, National Federation of Canadian Italian Business and Professional Associations
What has transpired, from what we can gather, is that at that point the government in question came up with its own CHRP, which was not approved or finalized by the four signatories. It was a unilateral process that was put in place, and a new program was put in place.
Conservative
Liberal
John McCallum Liberal Markham—Unionville, ON
I'd like to just continue.
I might also say, after discussion with my colleagues, that I'm sure our party would also be open to amendments to the bill to make it not just one name but whoever is appropriate for the task.
Immediate Past President, National Federation of Canadian Italian Business and Professional Associations
That is what we would like to see as part of our process.
Liberal
John McCallum Liberal Markham—Unionville, ON
The critic has indicated a willingness for that.
To Mr. Di Iulio, I'm a little confused, because you said at the beginning you were appointed by the minister and you're here to do your job, but I don't really understand what your job is in terms of this committee and this bill.
Chair, Italian-Canadian Advisory Committee
My job as volunteer chair of this committee is to review applications that are made to the CHRP, evaluate those applications, along with the members and staff, and recommend to the minister on those applications that meet the criteria and have been vetted on all the areas I have to look at. That's my job. That's why we're here. We were asked to come here.
Chair, Italian-Canadian Advisory Committee
We have received approximately 10 and we've approved, to the minister's office, three or four. They're being dealt with or will be dealt with.
Liberal
John McCallum Liberal Markham—Unionville, ON
You have no opinion, positive or negative, on this bill.
Chair, Italian-Canadian Advisory Committee
Sir, I have a lot of opinions. My role was to come here today, as I was asked, and I came here as the chair of this particular committee.
Liberal
John McCallum Liberal Markham—Unionville, ON
If we're debating this bill, what's the point of coming here if you can't comment at all on the bill? I don't mean to be rude; I'm just a bit perplexed. We want to know whether this is a good bill and you don't have an opinion on that.
Chair, Italian-Canadian Advisory Committee
I'm trying, sir, but it's very easy to get into the political field, which I've tried to stay away from for the first 35 years of my community work. What you're asking me to do is to get into a political situation. I'm trying definitely not to do that. I'm sorry.
Liberal
John McCallum Liberal Markham—Unionville, ON
I'm trying not to be political, but just to go on the content.
Let me ask you a specific question, then. One of the things this bill calls for is an apology. Are you in favour of that?
Chair, Italian-Canadian Advisory Committee
An apology was given. If the apology were to be given in the House of Commons, I'd say, “Great, even better”.
Liberal
John McCallum Liberal Markham—Unionville, ON
It's talking about appropriate funding after negotiations with various Italian organizations as to how that money may best be spent. Are you in favour of that?
Chair, Italian-Canadian Advisory Committee
I have varying degrees of understanding as to how much money was discussed, how much money was on the table, how much money was on a separate table, and what was agreed to by whom and when. I wasn't there personally. There's a whole personality and politics around these issues. That's why I'm trying not to give a comment.
But I do know that right now there is $5 million on the table to apply towards the community historical recognition program, and we've been asked, as Canadians with some expertise, to try to help the minister approve those....
Conservative
Roger Pomerleau Bloc Drummond, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I know, of course, that it was the member for Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel who rose in the House and introduced this bill. I personally applauded that because I know the Italian community well. My father was a contractor in the 1950s and the first people to arrive from Italy almost all settled in Villeray where my father had his business. A number of them worked for us, they spoke not a word of French or English and they wore scarves on their heads when they worked. That is how the Italian community in Montreal was born.
I know that, for a long time, a part of the community was affected by the War Measures Act that was in force during the war. As you know, Quebeckers are in general agreement with the bill's intent to recognize past injustices. Quebeckers suffered the same kinds of injustices. You will recall that the War Measures Act was invoked in Quebec in 1970. Four hundred Quebeckers were arrested for no reason at all. They were never charged, they never had their day in court, they were put in prison for political reasons, with no shred of evidence that they were guilty of anything. So we understand past injustices perfectly well and we agree with rectifying them in whatever way we can.
My question is kind of like Mr. McCallum's. I am a bit skeptical when I do not understand things. Mr. Perin, you said just now there is currently a process in place. What exactly is the difference between what is currently in place and what is contained in Bill C-302?
Vice-Chair, Italian-Canadian Advisory Committee
I was not part of the discussions leading to the agreement known as ACE. I am not very familiar with what went on before. However, I can tell you that the government has initiated a process under which Italian Canadian organizations can apply for grants specifically to commemorate the internment of Italians during the Second World War. Our committee has had two meetings already. We have examined ten or so requests and we have approved three or four of them. I feel that the commemoration objective is well on its way to fruition.
Now, my answer to you is like my colleague Mr. Di Iulio's. Would $12 million be better than $5 million? Clearly. Is the Italian Canadian National Congress the only organization that the government should be dealing with? That is not clear.
I wanted to tell Mrs. Lavallée that there is no organization in Canada—
