Speeches – 2008

The Honourable Jason Kenney

Historical Recognition Program to the Indo-Canadian Community

Vancouver, British Columbia, May 10, 2008

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Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure for me to be in Vancouver, and in particular, to have this opportunity to speak to members of the Indo-Canadian community.

Indo-Canadians have been in Canada for more than one hundred years – since the beginning of the twentieth century.  Since that time, they have played a pivotal role in building this country.

And according to 2006 Census figures, nearly one million Canadians identified themselves as Indo-Canadians.

Your community, like others, embraced the Canadian values of democracy, freedom, human rights, and the rule of law.

The list of Canadians of Indian heritage who have made their mark on our society is long and includes illustrious people from all walks of life.  For example:

  • Figure skater Emanuel Sandhu,
  • Actress Lisa Ray,
  • Film Director Deepa Mehta,
  • And my colleagues, Nina Grewal, Deepak Obhrai, and Rahim Jaffer.

You are part of a pluralist society that includes citizens from more than 200 ethnic backgrounds.  The quality of life we enjoy today can be traced to the contributions that each and every one of these communities has made to our society.

Diversity is one of this country' s greatest strengths.

At the same time, I think everyone in this room would agree that Canada' s past includes actions that are inconsistent with the values Canadians hold dear today. 

For example, as Prime Minister Harper noted while visiting Burnaby in 2006, the Komagata Maru incident is an important event in Canadian history, and one that must be properly recognized.  As the Prime Minister said:  "I also want you to know that the Government of Canada acknowledges the Komagata Maru incident and we will soon undertake consultations with the Indo-Canadian community on how best to recognize this sad moment in our history."

Our government believes it is important to ensure that Canadians have opportunities to learn about our history, including and perhaps especially the difficult periods that are part of our past. 

For that reason, in June of 2006, Prime Minister Harper first announced that the Government of Canada would provide funding for new Historical Recognition Programs. 

Subsequently, the Honourable Jim Abbott, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, met with community representatives concerning the recognition of historical immigration experiences related to the Komagata Maru.

Today, I am pleased to announce that we are following through on the Prime Minister' s commitment. Ninety-four years after the Komagata Maru incident, our Government is taking historic and unprecedented steps to acknowledge and commemorate the tragedy. 

The Community Historical Recognition Program and the National Historical Recognition Program will support commemorative and educational projects that are both community-based and national in scope.

I am pleased to announce further details of the Community Historical Recognition Program, which will make funding available for communities that were affected by wartime measures or immigration restrictions – communities like yours.  The Indo-Canadian community will be able to apply for up to $2.5 million in grants and contributions funding to commemorate the Komagata Maru incident.

Our government believes it is important to acknowledge your experiences and to highlight your contribution to the building of this country.

The Community Historical Recognition Program will provide Indo-Canadian organizations with access to funding for commemorative and educational activities that will ensure you have an opportunity to share your community' s experiences so that all Canadians can understand them.

Funding will also be available under the National Historical Recognition Program for federal government departments and agencies for national initiatives aimed at educating all Canadians on Canada' s history related to wartime measures and immigration restrictions.

In addition, our Government is working towards an official apology for the Komagata Maru incident. This will flow directly from the Prime Minister' s recognition of the tragic nature of the Komagata Maru incident, as well as the spirit of the Historical Recognition Programs, whose goal is to ensure that immigration restrictions are properly recognized and commemorated.

In closing, I look forward to seeing the initiatives Indo-Canadian organizations will undertake with funding from the Community Historical Recognition Program.

And I would like to thank everyone for coming today.