Evidence of meeting #38 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 apology.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Bloc
Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC
Mr. Sciascia, you have said on a number of occasions that money is not the issue, that an apology in the House of Commons is what really counts. Would you accept an amendment to the bill to withdraw the provisions on compensation?
President, Quebec Region, National Congress of Italian Canadians
We support the bill. What I was driving at is that money is not a priority for us. It is an apology that matters. It is about atoning for the errors of the past. Money is secondary. However, if we really want to correct the errors of the past, we need programs to educate Canadians about Canada's history. And the Italians are part of this history.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
We'll hear from Mr. Del Mastro for a short question, and then from Mr. Calandra.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
Thank you very much.
I actually want to go back to where Madam Lavallée was. I made the assertion that most of the problems associated with CHRP had to do with the dollar figure involved with CHRP, that it wasn't seen to be enough money.
We have a number of things in the bill like the direction for a stamp to be created and so forth, and I understand that the member who brought in the bill has indicated that he would be open to removing this. I think that's good. It was problematic. I think there's consensus around that.
If this is just about an apology, if it's just about getting an apology in the House, why wouldn't you support just amending the bill such that it calls for an apology in the House?
Former President, National Congress of Italian Canadians
There are two aspects to the historical
claims our community is making on this front.
One of them was, of course, the apology, and there was an aspect of redress. I think that when the ACE agreement was reached—and I go back to that because it's an agreement that did reach a consensus within the community—there was a financial aspect.
I think what everyone is trying to say here is that the Italian community does not require funds for its survival. We're not here for a handout, not at all, but what we are talking about is that if we are going to embark on a project of educating, of commemorating, and of making sure that this type of situation gets recognized as what happened, there has to be an educational process.
That is why we wholeheartedly support Bill C-302, in that the honourable member, when he proposed this bill, included the fact that this fund would be purely educational. In other words, we are not in a process of bricks and mortar here. What we want to establish is an educational program, which of course would have to be done with the entire community, so when we say the money is not important, what we're trying to say is that it's not like the Italian community requires this for its survival.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
No, and I understand that completely. I just wanted to make the point that everybody's saying that this is about the apology but the money's not important. The money is most definitely a stumbling block, because there's $5 million on the table and the national congress doesn't want to work with it.
I'll pass the rest off to Mr. Calandra. I did promise I'd share my time with Mr. Calandra and I have to pass it off to him.
Conservative
Paul Calandra Conservative Oak Ridges—Markham, ON
Dominic, you're excited to speak, so I'll let you speak. With respect to the money aspect--
Former President, National Congress of Italian Canadians
Am I a classified Italian because I don't support this bill?
Conservative
Former President, National Congress of Italian Canadians
Am I any less a proud Italian Canadian because I don't support the bill?
Conservative
Former President, National Congress of Italian Canadians
Yes or no, what do you think?
Former President, National Congress of Italian Canadians
How about you, Antonio?
President, Quebec Region, National Congress of Italian Canadians
I have no problem with that. Absolutely not. I respect your position.
Conservative
President, Quebec Region, National Congress of Italian Canadians
I do have to say I regret that you do have that opinion, because I don't think you understand what's happened to this community. I don't think you've met the people who have suffered in these concentration camps. I don't think you relate to the families--
Conservative
Paul Calandra Conservative Oak Ridges—Markham, ON
Sorry, I have a limited time and I have a couple of questions.
Conservative
Conservative
Paul Calandra Conservative Oak Ridges—Markham, ON
Saskatchewan?
Territories?
Any of the Atlantic provinces?
Ontario?