Mr. Vincent Della Noce (Parliamentary Secretary to Secretary of State of Canada and Minister of Multiculturalism and Citizenship):

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate my friend for bringing to my attention and the attention of the House this important issue.

The hon. member for Don Valley East has again raised the important question of community redress. He will know that I have a very special interest in this issue which I have been working on for about six or seven years.

He is totally right in what he just said about this Parliament and the Prime Minister. I was there and I heard it with my own ears. I heard about those Italians. Some of those poor internees must be 86 years old by now. Mr. Serafino from Ottawa and Mr. Capograno from Montreal heard those words, those apologies. I wish that every community could have heard this man say this. I quote Mr. Serafino: "It sounded like music to my ears. I wish my wife was alive and here with me to hear these words".

At the request of the Prime Minister, the Minister of Multiculturalism and Citizenship met with representatives of communities whose members have concerns about treatment of some of their members by past governments of this country. By the way, on June 10 of last week it was 53 years since those things happened to my community and nothing has been done about it. The minister discussed how the government could best symbolize recognition of this treatment.

The principal groups with whom the minister met included the Chinese Canadian National Council, the

National Congress of Chinese Canadians, the National Congress of Italian Canadians and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.

I would like to point out that this is the first government to give serious consideration to this matter. I say as a personal comment that I have been pursuing this matter since 1986. I feel that this government, our government, will be willing to take that kind of action and it is the only one that can do it, but I hope it can do it fast enough.

The government has discussed a fair and reasonable package with the communities concerned. The government has said it will move ahead if the package receives broad support across the communities concerned.

I know that some communities are playing politics on this issue. I hope they stop that because in 53 years there was nothing done about this.

When the government makes a proposal for community redress, it must also ensure that the decision is fair and equitable for all Canadians. The issue is not only about recognizing certain facts of our history but also deciding how we intend to progress as a nation founded on the principles of justice, equality and respect for all.

That is the firm commitment the Government of Canada has made, and that is why it is doing everything it can to deal with this question in the appropriate manner, and I hope that our government will succeed.

Mr. Vincent Della Noce (Laval-Est):

Madam Speaker, from May 31 to June 6, Canadians all across the country will celebrate National Access Awareness Week, which promotes a fundamental value of our society: equal opportunity for all citizens. Based on community participation and partnership among the disabled and various sectors of activity, this national week is meant to be a special opportunity to emphasize the active participation of the disabled in the life of our society.

In Canada, tangible progress has been made in the quality of life and social and economic integration of the disabled, but much still remains to be done. Today I call upon my colleagues to take an active part in National Access Awareness Week and thus to promote the full and complete integration of the disabled in Canadian society. Access is more than a wish; it is a right for 4.2 million disabled Canadians.

Mr. Vincent Della Noce (Laval-Est):

Madam Speaker, after the XS magazine of Florida and its racist attacks

against Quebecers and dinosaur Don Cherry's attitudes, today we have a new comic book called Justice League Task Force from the United States which makes vicious attacks against Quebecers:

- took nearly a month to track them to Montreal, French

separatists, radicals, who want Quebec to secede from Canada.

Murdering these people is "politically correct murder".

I cannot believe our children will read this junk on violence. There is no murder that is politically correct and every Canadian should know that.

I hope the Minister of Communications or others will order that this magazine be banned immediately from Canada, removed from all stores and kept away from our children.

Furthermore I think it is particularly unfortunate that this comic book delivered in a box, was printed in Canada, because it says: Imprimerie Quebecor, Montreal, Ronalds.

Mr. Vincent Della Noce (Laval-East):

Madam Speaker, as mentioned by my colleague from Toronto, Don Cherry's comments always set people talking. As I said yesterday, Cherry should be called to order.

It is completely beyond my understanding how the CBC, one of the most respectable Canadian institutions, can tolerate a sports commentator showing such a degree of stupidity, if not fanaticism, and I do not understand why Molstar, a wholly owned subsidiary of Molson Canada, would pay such a clown. But we can take heart at the strong reactions Don Cherry's attitude stirred up all over Canada.

Canadian society made big progress on its way to promoting equality and respect for all its citizens, but such unfortunate incidents remind us we still have a long way to go.

Madam Speaker, in conclusion, I would like to say that this House has the responsibility to urge the CRTC, Molson and the CBC to put an end once and for all to racist and defamatory comments aimed at members of our cultural communities, particularly at francophones.

Mr. Vincent Della Noce (Laval-Est):

Madam Speaker, I rise in the House today to speak out against the deplorable attitude of hockey commentator Don Cherry, who deliberately made fun of francophones when he said that the people of Sault Ste. Marie spoke the right language.

You will recall that in 1990, this francophone city officially proclaimed itself unilingual English, a decision to which I strongly objected at the time.

Mr. Cherry's racist and reactionary remarks, made in reference to certain players, are quite unacceptable. What right does he have to tarnish the reputation of hockey players and francophones in this country?

May 26, 1993

In a country known for its tolerance how can we let the image we project abroad be tarnished in this way? On the grounds of free speech? That is hardly a good excuse. Madam Speaker, we don't want censorship, but we do want respect.

As I see it, the right of a person to express his or her opinions no longer exists if, as a result of it, the personal integrity of others is undermined. Racism, for instance, constitutes a violation of our most basic rights. Racism is unacceptable and should be condemned whenever it is encountered.