Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I did go away and work on the subamendment that I brought to the committee. It's tabled in good faith. It does change the impact of the bill, such that I think it reflects the feelings and sentiments of Canadians, while at the same time being responsible to our role as lawmakers. The subamendment would read:
That Bill C-302 in clause 3 be amended by changing the original clause to the following:
The Parliament of Canada hereby acknowledges that the treatment received by persons of Italian origin as a result of their designation as “enemy aliens”, their registration and internment, and other infringements during the Second World War was wrong, but carried out in a legal manner at the time. The government should acknowledge that these actions, while legal, were inappropriate by current standards of justice, despite the context that existed. Furthermore, it falls to all parliamentarians and citizens to protect against and ensure that similar actions must never occur again.
In addition, the following paragraph could be included:
The Prime Minister shall in the House of Commons offer his thoughts on the matter, as referred to in subsection 1 on behalf of the Government of Canada and the Canadian people. These remarks should specifically comment on the wrongs committed against the Italian-Canadian community during the Second World War, and express the regret that is felt by all Canadians.