The long-awaited official apology has finally arrived. Today, as promised in 2019, the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, apologized to the Italian-Canadians for the internment suffered in World War II. More than 600 Italian-Canadians were interned after Italy declared war on the Allies in 1940, while 31,000 people were reported as “foreign enemies”. “It was an incredibly exciting time, an important day for Italian Canadians in my constituency and throughout the country – said federal MP for King-Vaughan and Minister of Seniors Deb Schulte – it was a moving day especially for families. In the past I have had the opportunity to talk to some of them and I am sure this was a very, very significant day for the family members of the interned people, a historic day”.
It took 70 years to arrive at a formal apology, to get three simple words out of a prime minister’s lips: “We are sorry.” “What matters is that today is an important day, that this moment has finally arrived – adds Schulte – there is a great job behind it, Joyce Pillarella has done an incredible research, gathering information, gathering families waiting for this extraordinary day. It’s true, it took time but finally this moment has arrived and we should all celebrate.”
It was a dark time for Italians who emigrated to Canada. Kept under control, forced to provide fingerprints, to turn up once a month to local authorities, viewed with distrust and even interned in fields that have become infamous as those of Petawawa and Hamilton in Ontario. Without any limited charges and without due process. Guilty only of being of Italian origin, only to be released, without any compensation for the confiscated assets.
“Fighting the fascist regime that stood with Nazi Germany was right but blaming law-abiding Italian-Canadians was wrong,” Trudeau said yesterday in Parliament. And it was also sad that the apology came when there were very few internees still alive. “We cannot change the past, we cannot change the course of history but we can recognize the mistakes made previously. Since the head of the Canadian government is recognizing them, we are certainly taking a step forward to heal the wound caused to the Italian-Canadian community, a wound that has never been completely healed – adds Minister Schulte – admitting the mistake committed is also an opportunity to learn the lesson, to ensure that what happened does not happen again”.
A historical injustice for Italians in Canada – many of whom also had Canadian passports – who, despite being exemplary citizens, were to blame for being Italians. Italians who had chosen Canada as their second homeland, who contributed with social, economic and cultural momentum to the country but who were accused as “enemy aliens”. Yes, foreign enemies.
From liberal Prime Minister Mackenzie King – who at the time ordered the internment of Italian-Canadians – to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who today made an apology: now the circle can finally be closed.
