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

C-302 Second Session, Fortieth Parliament, 57-58 Elizabeth II, 2009 HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA 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 first reading, February 10, 2009 Mr. Pacetti 402066 SUMMARY The purpose of this enactment is to recognize and apologize for the treatment that persons of Italian origin received in Canada during the Second World War in spite of the contribution that they have made and continue to make to the building of Canada. The enactment also provides for restitution to be made in respect of this treatment. The restitution payment is to be applied to the development and production of educational materials relating to Italian-Canadian history and promoting ethnic and racial harmony, and to other projects agreed to by the Minister of Canadian Heritage and an educational foundation established for this purpose. Also available on the Parliament of Canada Web Site at the following address:http://www.parl.gc.ca 2nd Session, 40th Parliament, 57-58 Elizabeth II, 2009 house of commons of canada 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 Preamble Whereas persons of Italian origin have made and continue to make an extraordinary contribution to the building of the Canadian nation; Whereas, despite this contribution, many persons of Italian origin were unjustly registered and interned by the Government of Canada during the Second World War solely because of their ethnic origin; Whereas these persons were, while interned, made to labour for Canada without pay on projects such as road construction and the clearing of land; And whereas it is necessary and timely for these injustices to be publicly recognized and for appropriate restitution to be made in the form of public education; Now, therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows: SHORT TITLE Short title 1. This Act may be cited as the Italian-Canadian Recognition and Restitution Act. RECOGNITION AND APOLOGY Recognition 2. The Parliament of Canada hereby recognizes and honours the contribution that persons of Italian origin have made and continue to make to the building of Canada. Apology 3. The Parliament of Canada hereby acknowledges the unjust treatment received by persons of Italian origin as a result of their designation as “enemy aliens”, their registration and internment and other infringements of their rights during the Second World War, and apologizes on behalf of Parliament, the Government of Canada and the Canadian people of earlier times and of today for the suffering that this treatment caused. RESTITUTION Restitution 4. (1) The Minister of Canadian Heritage, in cooperation with the Minister of Finance, shall negotiate with the National Congress of Italian Canadians an agreement for a suitable payment to be made in restitution for the unjust treatment described in section 3, which agreement shall be proposed to Parliament for approval. Application of restitution (2) If the agreement referred to in subsection (1) is approved by Parliament, the restitution payment shall be applied to (a) the establishment, as agreed among the parties referred to in subsection (1), of an educational foundation that has as its objectives the development and production of educational materials that will provide information on Italian-Canadian history and promote ethnic and racial harmony, and the distribution of those materials to schools, colleges, universities, museums, community centres and cultural centres; and (b) any other educational projects relating to the contribution of persons of Italian origin to Canadian society that are agreed to by the Minister of Canadian Heritage and the foundation. POSTAGE STAMPS Commemorative postage stamps 5. The Minister of National Revenue shall instruct the Canada Post Corporation to issue a stamp or set of stamps to commemorate the internment of persons of Italian origin during the Second World War. Published under authority of the Speaker of the House of CommonsAvailable from:Publishing and Depository ServicesPublic Works and Government Services Canada