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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 42

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage met at 11:07 a.m. this day, in Room 371, West Block, the Chair, Gary Ralph Schellenberger, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Rod Bruinooge, Dean Del Mastro, Ruby Dhalla, Jacques Gourde, Carole Lavallée, Roger Pomerleau, Pablo Rodriguez, Gary Ralph Schellenberger and Tim Uppal.

Acting Members present: Paul Calandra for Nina Grewal, Pat Martin for Charlie Angus and Massimo Pacetti for Scott Simms.

In attendance: Library of Parliament: Marion Ménard, Analyst ; Michael Dewing, Analyst . House of Commons: Wayne Cole, Legislative Clerk.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference of Friday, March 6, 2009, the Committee resumed consideration of Bill C-302, An Act to recognize the injustice that was done to persons of Italian origin through their “enemy alien” designation and internment during the Second World War, and to provide for restitution and promote education on Italian-Canadian history.

The Committee resumed its clause-by-clause study of the Bill.

The Committee resumed consideration of the amendment of Massimo Pacetti, — That Bill C-302, in Clause 3, be amended by adding after line 16 on page 2 the following:

“(2) The Prime Minister shall, in the House of Commons, offer the apology referred to in subsection (1) on behalf of the Government of Canada and the Canadian people.”

Dean Del Mastro moved, — That the amendment be amended by replacing the text of Clause 3 with 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.”

The Chair ruled the proposed subamendment inadmissible because it was beyond the scope of the Bill, as provided on page 766 of House of Commons Procedure and Practice, Second Edition.

Debate continued on the amendment of Massimo Pacetti.

Pablo Rodriguez moved, — That the Committee proceed to the putting of the question immediately, without debate.

After debate, by unanimous consent, the motion was withdrawn.

Debate continued on the amendment of Massimo Pacetti.

Dean Del Mastro moved, — That the Committee do now adjourn.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 4.

At 11:55 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Richard Dupuis
Clerk of the Committee

2010/01/29 11:13 a.m.