November 4, 1990 - Italian Canadian WW2 Internment - a podcast by Stephen Hammond

Prime Minister Brian Mulroney apologizes to Italian Canadians for World War II internment. While Canada’s mistreatment of Japanese Canadians before, during and after World War II became well known, its mistreatment of Italian Canadians was less publicized. Of course, being at war with fascist Italy prompted suspicions about some Canadians of Italian descent as well. Although Canada detained hundreds of Italian Canadians in internment camps, few had their property seized as did Japanese Canadians. Even so, years of discussions ensued before Canada agreed to acknowledge its injustices to this community. On November 4, 1990 in Concord, Ontario, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney apologized to the Italian community in a speech addressed to the National Congress of Italian Canadians and the Canadian Italian Business Professionals Association. The speech was not accompanied by monetary compensation, because Italian Canadians had agreed that, given the lack of property seizures, it was not necessary. However, 15 years later, in November 2005 the federal government agreed to a redress package of $2.5 million initially, to be paid to Italian Canadian organizations to support educational and commemorative exhibits. The amount was expected to rise to $12 million in total, however, none to be given to individuals who were detained during the war.

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