National Congress of Italian Canadians
Encyclopedia
The National Congress of Italian Canadians is an umbrella organization
that represents Italian Canadian organizations in Canada. It was founded in 1974 as a successor to the Federation of Italian Canadian Associations. The congress has a federated structure with seven district organizations.
. At one stage in the mid-1990s, the congress voted to drop its request for compensation and focus on clearing the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
records of surviving internees; in later years, however, it resumed its efforts for compensation.
Canadian prime minister
Brian Mulroney
apologized for the internment policy in November 1990 but did not provide financial compensation. In November 2005, the government of Paul Martin
reached an agreement in principle with Italian community organizations, including the congress, to devote $25 million to public education and commemoration efforts. Four years later, the congress accused federal citizenship and immigration minister
Jason Kenney
of using "divide and conquer" tactics within the Italian community in overseeing these revenues.
. In November 1996, it joined with the Canadian Jewish Congress
and the Hellenic Canadian Congress in issuing a pamphlet calling for renewed Canadian unity. It has also promoted the right of Italian citizens living in Canada to participate in Italian elections.
Several congress members have been active in Canadian political life, including Laureano Leone
, Rosario Marchese
, and Annamarie Castrilli.
Umbrella organization
An umbrella organization is an association of institutions, who work together formally to coordinate activities or pool resources. In business, political, or other environments, one group, the umbrella organization, provides resources and often an identity to the smaller organizations...
that represents Italian Canadian organizations in Canada. It was founded in 1974 as a successor to the Federation of Italian Canadian Associations. The congress has a federated structure with seven district organizations.
Redress for internees
Since 1990, the congress has sought compensation for Italian Canadians who were interned and arrested by the Canadian government during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. At one stage in the mid-1990s, the congress voted to drop its request for compensation and focus on clearing the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
records of surviving internees; in later years, however, it resumed its efforts for compensation.
Canadian prime minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
Brian Mulroney
Brian Mulroney
Martin Brian Mulroney, was the 18th Prime Minister of Canada from September 17, 1984, to June 25, 1993 and was leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1983 to 1993. His tenure as Prime Minister was marked by the introduction of major economic reforms, such as the Canada-U.S...
apologized for the internment policy in November 1990 but did not provide financial compensation. In November 2005, the government of Paul Martin
Paul Martin
Paul Edgar Philippe Martin, PC , also known as Paul Martin, Jr. is a Canadian politician who was the 21st Prime Minister of Canada, as well as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada....
reached an agreement in principle with Italian community organizations, including the congress, to devote $25 million to public education and commemoration efforts. Four years later, the congress accused federal citizenship and immigration minister
Minister of Citizenship and Immigration (Canada)
The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for overseeing the federal government department responsible for immigration, refugee and citizenship issues, Citizenship and Immigration Canada...
Jason Kenney
Jason Kenney
Jason T. Kenney, PC, MP is Canada's current Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism. He has represented the riding of Calgary Southeast in the Canadian House of Commons since 1997....
of using "divide and conquer" tactics within the Italian community in overseeing these revenues.
Political activism
The congress has traditionally supported Canadian federalismCanadian federalism
Canada is a federation with two distinct jurisdictions of political authority: the country-wide federal government and the ten regionally-based provincial governments. It also has three territorial governments in the far north, though these are subject to the federal government...
. In November 1996, it joined with the Canadian Jewish Congress
Canadian Jewish Congress
The Canadian Jewish Congress was one of the main lobby groups for the Jewish community in the country, although it often competed with the more conservative B'nai Brith Canada in that regard. At its dissolution, the president of the CJC was Mark Freiman. Its past co-presidents were Sylvain Abitbol...
and the Hellenic Canadian Congress in issuing a pamphlet calling for renewed Canadian unity. It has also promoted the right of Italian citizens living in Canada to participate in Italian elections.
Several congress members have been active in Canadian political life, including Laureano Leone
Laureano Leone
Laureano Leone is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1987 to 1990....
, Rosario Marchese
Rosario Marchese
Rosario Marchese is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He is a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, representing the downtown Toronto riding of Trinity-Spadina for the New Democratic Party of Ontario.-Background:...
, and Annamarie Castrilli.