Ukrainian Canadian Restitution Act passes second reading (04/03/05)

Ukrainian Canadian Restitution Act passes second reading

OTTAWA - The Ukrainian Canadian Restitution Act, Bill C-331, passed its second reading in the House of Commons on Thursday, March 24, receiving the support of members of Parliament from all four parties in the House.

The measure, introduced as a private member's bill by Inky Mark, Conservative member of Parliament from Dauphin-Swan River-Marquette (Manitoba), now goes to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage before proceeding for its third and final reading in the House of Commons.

Mr. Mark said during debate in the House of Commons: "During World War I the Canadian government unjustly interned more than 8,000 Canadians of Ukrainian and Eastern European heritage in labor camps throughout Canada. For 85 years the federal government has refused to acknowledge that this event occurred. My bill is a resolution to the fight for recognition that has gone on for 20 years."

Bill C-331 has been endorsed by groups representing Canada's Ukrainian community. It has also been supported by the Conservative Party of Canada, the Bloc Québécois, the New Democratic Party, as well as some Liberal members of Parliament.

Speaking in favor of the bill on March 24 were: Stephen Harper, leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, Bernard Bigras from the Bloc Québécois, Borys Wrzesnewskyj of the Liberal Party, Joy Smith, Conservative MP from Kildonan-St. Paul (Manitoba) and James Bezan, Conservative MP representing Selkirk Interlake (Manitoba). (The text of remarks by MPs Harper and Wrzesnewskyj appear on the right.)

At the conclusion of the debate, the bill was given unanimous consent by the House of Commons.

Mr. Mark argued that "It is time that the Liberal government deal with this issue," adding "One million Ukrainian Canadians have waited too many years for the recognition that they deserve. The previous prime minister promised to correct this injustice and it was a promise broken. Will this Liberal government leave a similar legacy? Acknowledgment is not too much to ask. Canadians and the Liberal government must accept our history for what it is, learn from it, and give justice to those from the Ukrainian community."

Commenting on behalf of the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association, which has been in the forefront of efforts to secure redress for the 1914-1920 internment operations, Chairman John B. Gregorovich said: "The Ukrainian Canadian Restitution Act enjoys the endorsement of the Bloc Quebecois, the NDP and the Conservative Party of Canada, and even of some Liberals, like Borys Wrzesnewskyj, who was courageous enough to stand up for what is right. We are, of course, especially grateful to the Honorable Stephen Harper for so unambiguously underscoring his support, and that of the Conservative Party of Canada, for redress to the Ukrainian Canadian community."

Mr. Gregorovich added: "We look forward to passage of Bill C-331 and to negotiating a comprehensive settlement with the government of Canada, hopefully while the last known survivor of the internment operations, Mary Manko, can still bear witness to such a historic reconciliation. As Mr. Harper noted, Mary turns 97 this summer, and we would all like to present her with the gift of closure. She deserves at least that much for what she and her family endured during Canada's first national internment operations."

The Ukrainian Canadian community's campaign for redress has been ongoing for two decades.

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