Canadian Heritage Committee on Nov. 24th, 2009

[Maria Minna, Liberal, Beaches—East York, ON]

I want to go to anyone of you who wants to answer. The program that exists now, the CHRP program, what did Mr. Kenney tell you was his rationale for establishing it? Has he ever given you a specific answer about why that was established?

[Dominic Campione]

The CHRP program was announced in Parliament in June 2006. Immediately after the election of the Conservative government, I wrote to the prime minister, asking about his position with respect to honouring the agreement, and also asking for an apology. He had promised an apology to the Chinese community during the election campaign. In June 2006, without our knowledge, in the House, the announcement of the CHRP came on its own. We were not advised or consulted.

[Maria Minna, Liberal, Beaches—East York, ON]

Did Mr. Kenney ever explain why?

[Dominic Campione]

Why it was....

[Maria Minna, Liberal, Beaches—East York, ON]

Why they chose to go in that direction.

[Dominic Campione]

No, there was no reason given.

[Maria Minna, Liberal, Beaches—East York, ON]

To this day you've not received any explanation.

[Dominic Campione]

No.

[Maria Minna, Liberal, Beaches—East York, ON]

Do you know of any reason for that?

[Dominic Campione]

No.

[Maria Minna, Liberal, Beaches—East York, ON]

I just wanted to make that clear.

It's important to note that the Italian-Canadian community is represented by organizations. I was a member of an organization called COSTI.

Given that you're all here and you are all in agreement, what would be the immediate next step that you want to see for this committee and for the government to do?

[Antonio Sciascia]

The immediate thing would be an apology. Restitution is not the most important thing. Two weeks ago, our community foundation organized an activity, a ball, and we raised $1.4 million. So money is not the issue.

[Maria Minna, Liberal, Beaches—East York, ON]

Nonetheless, Mr. Sciascia, my assumption would be that there should be a fund to address the situation with respect to—

[Antonio Sciascia]

Yes, there should be--

[Dominic Campione]

We want the committee, the House, to approve the bill and then proceed. The foundation is already in place. In fact, a resolution has been passed as to who is going to sit on that NCIC foundation. There are members—

[Maria Minna, Liberal, Beaches—East York, ON]

Okay. So you have the infrastructure in place--

[Dominic Campione]

The infrastructure is in place.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

Your time is up, Ms. Minna.

Mr. Pomerleau, please.

[Roger Pomerleau, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Personally, I have no problem recognizing that you are the true representatives of the Italian community. I think that the people who came here did in fact represent some kangaroo committee more or less set up by the government for their own reasons that I do not wish to know about for the moment. The National Congress of Italian Canadians, Casa D'Italia, we have heard about these for 50 years. That is the Italian community.

However, I find one thing surprising when I see you all sitting here. Do you also represent women? There is not a single woman among you. If one exists, she should also be sitting here.

[Fernando Forcucci]

Sons of Italy president is a lady, Ms. Josie Cumbo.

[Roger Pomerleau, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Very well. She should have come along. It seems a little strange. All of the other groups have at least one woman in them.

[Dominic Campione]

Just to mention this, there were also four women who were interned, and we do have women on our committee at the National Congress of Italian Canadians.

[Antonio Sciascia]

There are four women on our board of directors.

[Carole Lavallée, Bloc, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Well, bring them along.

[Nino Colavecchio]

We represent the past.