OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he will deliver a formal apology in the House of Commons on May 27 for the internment of Italian-Canadians during the Second World War.

In a virtual meeting, Trudeau confirmed the date of the apology with some family members of Canadians of Italian background who were interned during the war.

Trudeau says in a news release the Italian-Canadian community has carried the weight of the unjust policy of internment during the Second World War.

He says he wants to acknowledge the wrongs that were done to people of Italian heritage in Canada during the war, and honour the families of those who were interned and discriminated against as a result of this historical injustice.

Canada interned hundreds of people of Italian background after Italy declared war against Canada in 1940.

The news release says in addition, tens of thousands of Canadians of Italian heritage were declared "enemy aliens," and faced pain, hardship, and discrimination.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 14, 2021.

——

This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship.

The Canadian Press