Thank you. I appreciate that.
We've gone through this list. We've talked about how Pierre Trudeau said emphatically the matter was closed. There would be no excuses, no compensation, and no apology. That's the Liberal record. Jean Chrétien said the same thing. Paul Martin did nothing until an ACE agreement, which had no money budgeted, was hastily crafted when the government was in its death throes. You've indicated that you've looked into this. You can't find any reference to these funds that are claimed, and I appreciate that.
I want to refer to something. Do you know one thing that's really bothering me? I've indicated to you personally that my family was in this country when this occurred. When this occurred, there had been decades of racism and so forth, I would argue, shame that extended beyond this, and to the best of my knowledge I'm the only person whose family was in this country at that time. I said the other day that I don't claim to be a better Canadian of Italian descent than anybody else on this committee, but I do speak to it with experience. My father actually did change his name, as did a lot of his family members, so they would fit in better. My grandparents refused to speak Italian in the house, even though their English was bad, because they wanted their kids to be Canadian and not to be discriminated against.
One thing that really bothers me is the impugnment of solid Canadians who have stepped forward to work on a historical recognition program. I want to refer to something written by.... And you know, this is this elitist attitude, Ms. Minna, once again, impugning Canadians who have stepped forward.