Manitoba Legislature Honours
Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion

From the Debates and Proceedings Official Report (Hansard) of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, Tuesday, May 20, 2008. (Thanks to Sig Laser for providing this.)

Mr. Speaker: Is it the will of the House to call it 11 o'clock? [Agreed]

Okay, the hour being 11 o'clock, we'll move to resolutions, and I'll call Resolution 11, Spanish Civil War.

RESOLUTION

Res. 11–Spanish Civil War

Ms. Bonnie Korzeniowski (St. James): Mr. Speaker, before reading my resolution, I would request leave to change the sixth “WHEREAS” from the words May 2000 to October 2001.

Mr. Speaker: Is there leave to change in the sixth WHEREAS the words May 2000 to October 2001? [Agreed]

Ms. Korzeniowski: I move, seconded by the Member for Burrows (Mr. Martindale), that:

WHEREAS the Spanish Civil War started in 1936 and ended with the overthrow of the democratically elected government in 1939 by fascist Francisco Franco; and

WHEREAS over 1,500 Canadians went to Spain to fight against the fascist coup and supported the elected government; and

WHEREAS the Canadians formed the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion which was the second largest contingent of international troops fighting for the elected government; and

WHEREAS these Canadians left their homes and families to stand against dictatorship and fascism in the name of liberty, democracy and freedom; and

WHEREAS all of the members of the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion are to be commended and remembered for their willingness to fight for freedom and democracy and protect those who were unable to protect themselves; and

WHEREAS in 1996 the Government of Canada formally recognized the service of these soldiers and, in October of 2001, the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson unveiled a memorial to their valour; and

WHEREAS a commemorative plaque at Winnipeg's City Hall indicates that 106 volunteers from Manitoba served in the Spanish Civil War and that 21 were killed and have been buried in Spain; and

WHEREAS the last surviving Winnipeg member of the battalion was Mr. Marvin Penn who passed away in April of 2001; and

WHEREAS these soldiers are veterans like any other and deserve our recognition and admiration.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba recognize the heroism of the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion in their fight for democracy and the rule against dictatorship and totalitarianism; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba mark the sacrifice of the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion with a moment of silence.

Mr. Speaker: Is there agreement of the House to have the resolution as printed? There were a few words misspoken here. We'll have it as printed?

An Honourable Member: As amended.

Some Honourable Members: As amended.

Mr. Speaker: As amended. Okay.

WHEREAS the Spanish Civil War started in 1936 and ended with the overthrow of the democratically elected government in 1939 by fascist Francisco Franco; and

WHEREAS over 1500 Canadians went to Spain to fight against the fascist coup and supported the elected government; and

WHEREAS the Canadians formed the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion which was the second largest contingent of international troops fighting for the elected government; and

WHEREAS these Canadians left their homes and families to stand against dictatorship and fascism in the name of liberty, democracy and freedom; and

WHEREAS in 1996 the Government of Canada formally recognized the service of these soldiers and in October 2001 the Rt. Honourable Adrienne Clarkson unveiled a memorial to their valour; and

WHEREAS a commemorative plaque at Winnipeg’s City Hall indicates that 106 volunteers from Manitoba served in the Spanish Civil War and that 21 were killed and have been buried in Spain; and

WHEREAS the last surviving Winnipeg member of the battalion was Mr. Marvin Pen who passed away in April of 2001; and

WHEREAS these soldiers are veterans like any other and deserve our recognition and admiration.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba recognize the heroism of the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion in their fight for democracy and the rule of law against dictatorship and totalitarianism; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba mark the sacrifice of the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion with a moment of silence.

It has been moved by the honourable Member for St. James, seconded by the honourable Member for Burrows (Mr. Martindale):

WHEREAS–

Some Honourable Members: Dispense.

Mr. Speaker: Dispense.

Ms. Korzeniowski: It's with great pleasure that I introduce this resolution today. This piece of history was brought to my attention on Remembrance Day of last year and I agreed that it was an injustice that the men and women who participated in the Spanish Civil War were not included in the tributes paid to the veterans of World Wars I and II and others past and present. When one reads the history I think the Chamber will agree.

A group of Canadians who were not recognized for 60 years were those who left family, friends and homes to enlist in the fight against fascism in Spain in the years 1936 to 1939. These were volunteers who responded to a call to combat the forces of fascism in a civil war half a world away, and without thought of reward or fame they came to the aid of the new democratic Spanish republic against a military coup by General Franco, who was supported by the armed might of fascist Germany and Italy.

Their struggle to contain fascism didn't work, as proven with the beginning of World War II shortly after the overthrow of the democratic government of Spain by the fascist dictator General Francisco Franco. The 40,000 volunteers from 53 countries formed the legendary international brigades of the Spanish Civil War. Fifteen hundred and forty-six men travelled to Spain from Canada alone. With the exception of France, no other country gave as great a proportion of its population as did Canada.

The battalion was named the Mackenzie-Papineau, the Mac-Paps if you will, after William Lyon Mackenzie and Louis-Joseph Papineau. The namesakes of Mackenzie and Papineau had sought liberty, social justice and democracy almost 100 years earlier in Upper and Lower Canada and this was the spirit which the Canadian volunteers carried to Spain. Their courage, Mr. Speaker, inspired Pablo Picasso's famous painting, Guernica, and Ernest Hemmingway's novel, For Whom the Bell Tolls, as well as inspiring countless other works of poetry, prose and music.

They fought bravely throughout the war against terrible odds and suffered heavy losses. Less than half returned to Canada. One hundred and six of those volunteers were from Manitoba, 21 were killed. All of those killed were buried where they died fighting in Spain. Many of those who survived volunteered for the Canadian Forces when World War II began to finish the fight against fascism they had begun in Spain.

The last surviving Winnipeg member of the battalion was Mr. Marvin Penn, who passed away in April of 2001. He lived to realize, 60 years late, the recognition of the Canadian government of the valour of its citizens who went to fight fascism in 1936.

Memorial plaques were unveiled in Winnipeg and Toronto and in 1998 B.C. honoured the Mac-Paps with a plaque. In 1999 a bronze monument was erected stating, “No Pasaran.” They will not pass. This was the slogan of the Spanish anti-fascists and their international comrades and is in large text at the bottom of the monument in B.C.

In Ottawa, 2001 a monument was unveiled and dedicated to the Mackenzie-Papineau brave soldiers with Her Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson making a commemorative speech. She said: Canadians do things for many reasons. We have a free society in which we give each other room to make decisions to express ourselves, to have different political points of view. The Mac-Paps decided that this cause was important enough for them to face the anger of their own government and face a life afterwards in which very few people would recognize the idealism which had sent them to Spain. They were fighting for an idea, fighting against fascism, which became a horrible dress rehearsal for the Second World War.

To have played such a role in the development of another country is rare. That alone is something we should commemorate because it is a part of our history as Canadians and as citizens of the world. History, as Edmund Burke said, is a pact between the dead, the living and the yet unborn. Clarkson finishes with: Today we are giving the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion a lasting memorial, here, where it should be, in their own land.

Adjacent to the monument is a memorial wall containing 52 stainless steel panels on which have been inscribed the names of the 1,546 volunteers. An excerpt from the speech given by Dolores Iburri, La Pasionaria, to the assembled Brigadistas in Barcelona in 1938 as the International Brigade was disbanded, says: You can go proudly. You are history. You are legend. You are the heroic examples of democracy, solidarity and universality. We shall not forget you, and when the olive tree of peace puts forth its leaves again, come back, and all of you will find the love and gratitude of the whole Spanish people who, now and in the future, will cry out with all their hearts, long live the heroes of the International Brigade.

In 1996 the Spanish government invited the surviving members back to Spain and honoured them with Spanish citizenship.

Working with the families and men and women of our forces who live and work in my constituency has given me a deep appreciation of the emotional stress and courage it takes to leave family and face the dangers of war. Sometimes we forget and take for granted the benefits we enjoy because of their sacrifices, a democratic political process, the right of free association and assembly, human rights and social justice.

Whenever we pin a poppy on our lapels, let us also include these brave Canadians from the Spanish Civil War, the Mac-Paps, in our thoughts as we bestow honour on those who left a better world for us, the living. We will remember. Thank you.

Mr. Ralph Eichler (Lakeside): Mr. Speaker, I do want to rise today in support of the resolution brought forward by the Member from St. James (Ms. Korzeniowski).

One thing that I do want to put on the record before I start, Mr. Speaker, and that's the comments made by members opposite in regard to private members' hour. We bring bills forward on a basis of which we feel that our representatives, that the constituents that ask us to. That's what this member has done and the Member for Morris (Mrs. Taillieu) did in the last bill.

Unfortunately, they need to take heed of the fact that, no matter what we bring forward in this House, it's important to the member that brought it forward. That's enough on that particular issue, but I do think it's very important that all members have their voice heard.

We talk about Spain and Europe and the time period that was reflected in the Spanish war from July 17, 1936 to April 1, 1939. We indeed do, on this side of the House, support our veterans, support our troops, and think it's very important that, when we take a cause, whatever that cause might be, whether it's the Spanish Civil War, World War I, World War II, they're the wars that we get involved in from one sector or another.

I know that many times we have people that step up to the plate and those that feel very responsible for what they want to believe in and are actually prepared to put their lives on. We had 1,500 plus people take part in the Spanish war, as a member from St. James pointed out; Mr. Speaker, that was finally recognized in October 2001 by the federal government and Adrienne Clarkson making that presentation, and also a plaque at the city hall of Winnipeg.

I think that it's very important to recognize the fact that these people did put their lives on the line. In fact, half of them never made it home. There was a hundred plus from Manitoba, according to the information that we're able to retrieve on this war, of which 21 Manitobans did lose their lives.

I do also want to point out that the Nationalists that were led by General Franco actually ended up winning that conflict in 1939, establishing a dictatorship for that particular country, which stayed until 1975, of which Spain began the transition to democracy. This was heavily supported by Hitler; Mussolini from Italy was also a Nationalist that took part in that particular war and certainly had a significant impact on the outcome of it.

The battalion that was headed up by the Canadian delegation, William Lyon Mackenzie and Louis-Joseph Papineau who led the Canadian rebellions in 1837, was also significant. Mackenzie led the Upper Canada Rebellion while Papineau and Robert Nelson led a rebellion in Lower Canada. The rebellion in both French and English Canadians against the British colonial government laid the groundwork for the establishment of the responsible government. In fact, the Mac-Paps were a battalion of Canadians who were part of the 15th International Brigade on the Republican side. They fought to support the elected government of Spain.

They were the second-largest international contingent fighting for Republicans. Volunteers for the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion came from all across Canada and were from a working-class background. I know the battalion fought three major battles: Aragon offensive, which was August to October of 1937, the Battle of Teruel, which was December of 1937 to April of 1938, and the third battle was the Battle of Ebro, which was Catalunya and Valencia, which was July to September of 1938.

The soldiers, as I said, fought very bravely for what they believed in. By the end of the Spanish Civil War, almost half of the Canadians that did volunteer were disbanded or returned, but went on to serve in World War II. Some of them had difficulties, in fact, returning to Canada, either facing financial or government opposition for one reason or another. As I said, there were a number of people that took part in that particular war that were from the Hitler side and also from Italy.

I think that it's important here today to remember the fact that what we did, in fact, was support the veterans for what they believed in and what they put their lives on the line to do. I think the lives lost should be remembered and honoured. As a nation, we should never forget or ignore any part of our history.

In fact, the experiences of these soldiers are a part of Manitoba and Canadian history which has been outlined, as I had spoke earlier, by the commemoration in October of 2001 with a monument and then the plaque that was established at City Hall here in Winnipeg.

I know that members on this side of the House, we have a couple of other speakers who want to put a few things on the record in regard to the Spanish Civil War. But we do look forward to the remaining debate on this particular resolution that's been brought forward from the Member for St. James (Ms. Korzeniowski).

Certainly, anything we do to remember our veterans, as you know, I'm very passionate about supporting our veterans, as I had brought in a bill to establish the veterans' licence plate, which was followed up by the government, in doing so, to remember those veterans who fought for our country, to give them our freedom, to give them our sacrifices, and honour them for what they have done for us in this great country of Canada and this province of Manitoba.

With that, we'll look forward to debate on the rest of the resolution, Mr. Acting Speaker.

Mr. Gerard Jennissen (Flin Flon): First of all, I want to congratulate the Member for St. James for bringing forth this private member's resolution.

This resolution has a very personal dimension for me as probably the only member in this House, as far as I know, to have been born in a Nazi occupied country, the Netherlands. We know the aftermath of what happened before, after and during that war. So, for me, it is a very live issue, although for some of our younger people, perhaps, they raise their eyebrows when you mention the Spanish Civil War.

The Spanish Civil War was a dress rehearsal for Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. In fact, Hitler's Luftwaffe worked out its kinks in Spain, together with help from Mussolini in Italy. We know the results. We know the ruthless bombing that happened to the innocent civilians of Spain, particularly Guernica, the Basque city immortalized by Pablo Picasso's painting. I point out that that airstrike was a joint airstrike with Italy as well. It wasn't just Germany.

I think it's appropriate to recognize these brave young men and women who, early on, saw the dangers of fascism. We should point out that when we talk about the international brigades, we're talking about the XV International Brigade of the Spanish Republican Army, and some 52 or 53 countries took part in this. From the United States, it was the Abe Lincoln Battalion who joined the international brigade. It was commanded by a black officer, Oliver Law. The Mac-Paps, of course, we know in Canada. Ireland sent the Connolly Column battalion. So, Mr. Acting Speaker, a large number of countries participated.

Therefore, we rise today to recognize the heroism of the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion, the Canadian battalion that fought in the Spanish Civil War from '36 to '38. Fifteen hundred Canadians left; less than half came back. That's a staggering casualty rate. One hundred and six of those people, roughly a fifth, came from Manitoba–oh, that's not a fifth. I'm sorry–one hundred and six out of the 1,500 came from Manitoba. Twenty-one of them are buried in Spain, and that's about a fifth of our delegation. The last of those Mac-Pap veterans to die in Manitoba was Mr. Marvin Penn, as my honourable colleague from St. James has already mentioned.

Occasionally, Mr. Acting Speaker, my wife and I visit Victoria, B.C., and on the grounds of the B.C. Legislature is a bronze plaque. It's a beautiful bronze plaque. It was erected in the spring of 1999, and, again, it deals with the Mac-Pap veterans. It's in honour of the Mac-Pap veterans. It states on there the slogan of the anti-fascists and the international brigades, and the slogan was: “No Pasaran.” They will not pass. An attempt to hold back the fascist. Of course, ironically, they did pass.

A year earlier, in fact, the then-premier, Glen Clark, said about the Mac-Paps, at the Legislature at a formal occasion, and I quote: “On behalf of all the people of British Columbia, 60 years too late, we honour those ... who served in this most noble of endeavours.” It's ironic that less than a stone's throw away there is another plaque, actually, a bronze bust of the explorer Quadra, a Spanish explorer who was in those waters of Canada along that particular coastline near Victoria long, long before Captain Cook. So that's also a Spanish connection.

I guess we should ask the question who were these colourful young idealists who left home and family to fight for liberty abroad. I'll just mention a few of them, three of them, in fact. They are an extremely diverse group. Graham Spry, the father of CBC, was there. He organized medical support for the international brigades. Dr. Norman Bethune, a physician, a thoracic surgeon, a medical innovator who became a battlefield surgeon in Spain, he was there. He developed the first medical mobile unit, a model for the later MASH units, the Mobile Army

Surgical Hospital, and he was involved with blood transfusions. Bethune left Spain and went to China to fight against Japanese invaders who, incidently, were, of course, connected with Germany and Italy later on. He is a hero to hundreds of millions of people in the People's Republic of China but, unfortunately, he is little-known in Canada.

Another Mac-Pap veteran was William Arthur Kardash, who, together with his wife, Mary, are from Winnipeg. Bill Kardash was an MLA in this very Legislature from 1941 to '58. Bill Kardash lost his right leg in battle. He died in 1997. As I've already mentioned, the last veteran of the Manitoba Mac-Paps, Marvin Penn, passed away in 2001.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, I urge all members to support this resolution. I think it brings to mind the great role that the Mac-Paps played. Often I wondered, had they been more successful, had they actually won, then we wouldn't have had to worry about Normandy and later on to try to stop Hitler and Mussolini. Unfortunately, they gave their lives in a cause that they lost. It's in Spain and the blood was shed in Spain.

I guess it's very sad that we have to wait 60, 65, 70 or more years to recognize them officially, but we're doing it now. I urge all members to support this resolution. As Governor General Adrienne Clarkson said in 2001, and I quote: It is fitting that we recognize 65 years later the historic moment for which these men and women went to fight in a foreign war. They were fighting for an ideal. They didn't have to go, but they went because they were called to duty. They were fighting for freedom and democracy. They were fighting fascism and Nazism.

The Mac-Paps fought for an ideal. True, we've waited decades for any kind of recognition, but we can continue to recognize them now. I hope that all members of this Legislature support the resolution from the Member for St. James (Ms. Korzeniowski). Thank you, Mr. Acting Speaker.

Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Inkster): I, too, would like to put some words on the record for the passage of this Spanish Civil War resolution. We all recognize the value and contributions that members of the forces have done in the past, continue to do today and, no doubt, will also well into the future. Canada can stand proud with the many of those that have represented our country so well and nobly over the years. The Spanish Civil War is yet another example of how Canadians have contributed to the world development of democracy and ensuring that there's free will and so forth throughout the world.

I appreciate the Member for St. James brought forward the resolution. I suspect it's one of those resolutions that would receive support from all members of this Legislature because of the very nature of the resolution. In fact, Mr. Acting Speaker, it wasn't that long ago that we had what I thought was one of the more moving sessions or days of sitting. We had members of the legion, or people that have fought in wars, sitting inside the Chamber, actually right behind us, where typically we would have during Throne Speech invited guests inside the Chamber to listen to a Throne Speech.

One of the more moving days that I believe that I experienced was the day in which we had legionnaires on the floor of the Legislature, right behind the MLAs. It was somewhat interesting that I could just swivel my seat around and look in the faces of individuals that sacrificed so much in order to enable us to be able to speak inside this Chamber in the fashion in which we do. Quite often I think sometimes we take it for granted. Mr. Acting Speaker, I don't think that there's anything that we could do that could give a true appreciation of the efforts that our forces have gone to battle on our behalf, on behalf of rights and freedom of expression and democracy and so forth.

I found it was very interesting in terms of the comments from all members of the Chamber thus far on the resolution, recognizing that Manitoba played a very significant role in the Spanish Civil War. The Member for Flin Flon (Mr. Jennissen) made reference to an individual that actually served inside this Legislature, that participated, that Manitoba had just over a hundred individuals that were directly involved. Sadly, as in any given war, people will die, soldiers die, and we had just over 20 that had passed away in defending the rights, freedom of speech and so forth.

We acknowledge that the Mac-Pap Battalion, in the role that it played in the Spanish Civil War, was, put simply, an amazing contribution, and we just want to stand and acknowledge the value of that contribution in support of the resolution. We, as I said at the onset, believe that all members of the Legislative Assembly do support the resolution because it is a resolution that's worthy of support by each and every one of us.

Thank you, Mr. Acting Speaker.

Mr. Doug Martindale (Burrows): I, too, commend the Member for St. James (Ms. Korzeniowski) for introducing this resolution on the Spanish Civil War.

We know that the Spanish Civil War was not an official war as far as the Government of Canada was concerned, and so those Canadians who did take part in it took part in spite of the wishes of their government. The result was that when they returned home they were not considered veterans and, therefore, they were not eligible for any benefits or pensions. They were really a forgotten group of people for many decades, overshadowed by those who fought in the Second World War and the Korean conflict.

So it is appropriate that many years later, we are paying tribute to them and recognizing their role in fighting against fascism. As the Member for Flin Flon (Mr. Jennissen) pointed out, had they been more successful, maybe the Second World War would not have been necessary. Had France and the United Kingdom and the United States and Canada tried to stop fascism in Spain, they might have sent a message to Germany and Italy and might have prevented them from invading other countries and precipitating the Second World War.

I would like to pay tribute to one individual who's already been mentioned, namely William Kardash, who was a veteran of the Spanish Civil War. He was also a member of the Manitoba Legislature for North Winnipeg from 1941 to 1958.

Bill was born in 1912 and raised in Saskatchewan in the farming country north of Saskatoon. At an early age, he was aware of and concerned about the living and working conditions of farm families. He became involved in the farmers' movements to organize for better prices for their products. By age 14, he was already speaking at meetings and rallies. He believed that the people, workers and farmers who produced the wealth of the country, should receive their fair share of that wealth. As a young man in the Depression years, Bill became increasingly concerned about the rise of fascism. When General Franco attacked the democratically elected government of the Spanish Republic, Bill volunteered to go to Spain, convinced that a victory for Franco and his fascist supporters would lead to a wider global conflict.

As a 25-year-old lieutenant in the tank corps of the international brigades, Bill was wounded, losing a leg. When he returned to Canada, he was enlisted by the Committee for Democratic Spain to tour Canada to inform Canadians about the involvement of the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion and the need for support in stopping not only Spain, but also Italy and Germany from further military aggression.

After settling in Winnipeg, Bill was elected to the Manitoba Legislature in 1941 and re-elected thereafter for 17 years. As a veteran of the Spanish Civil War, he offered his services at the outbreak of World War II to the Canadian army as a tank corps instructor. As an MLA, he was enlisted by the government to speak to workers at factories and to citizens at rallies to promote the sale of victory war bonds. The records indicate that the response to his appeals for financial support from Manitobans for the war effort was extremely high.

Bill Kardash was elected first as a member of the Labour Progressive Party, then the Communist Party. Despite ideological differences with his legislative colleagues, Bill won the respect of members throughout his several terms in office for his clear style of speaking, his political acumen, and his sincere commitment to his constituents.

I'm pleased to have known Bill and his wife Mary, who was a long-time Winnipeg School Division school trustee, and also their family, especially their daughter Nancy, who's my constituency assistant.

It is appropriate that we pay tribute today to Bill Kardash and to others who fought, other Canadians and other Manitobans who fought in the Spanish Civil War because they felt it was important. Many of them gave up their lives, many of them were injured, like Bill Kardash, because it was a cause that they believed in. It was a very unpopular cause. It was not supported by their government, but a cause that moved them to go to Spain and many of whom died that were buried in Spain.

So, we thank the Member for St. James (Ms. Korzeniowski) for this opportunity to speak on this resolution and to recognize the heroism of the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion and their fight for democracy and the rule of law against dictatorship and totalitarianism.

Thank you.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Altemeyer): Honourable Member for Thompson. Oh, sorry. Honourable Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs.

Hon. Steve Ashton (Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs): First and foremost, MLA for Thompson. Thank you, Mr. Acting Speaker.

I'm very pleased to speak on this resolution and I appreciate the efforts of the Member for St. James in bringing this forward. It's not the first time we've had opportunity to debate the contributions of the Mac-Paps. In fact, I can recall actually having the opportunity to have living Mac-Pap veterans in the gallery on a resolution that was debated previously. By the way, the Conservatives voted against it and I hope in the spirit of recognizing the historic contribution of the Mac-Paps and perhaps a little bit of reconciliation that we will see unanimous passage in this House because I think history has shown that the Mac-Paps, volunteers that went to fight to defend the democratically elected government of Spain in 1936 and on towards the end of the civil war were ahead of their time. They recognized the growing fascist threat and in fact, with the loss of the democratic government in Spain, it did, I think, provide a preface to the Second World War, not just in terms of the momentum that the Fascists gained, but quite frankly, from the terrible tactics they used, both the Nazis and the Fascists used tactics that were later to be used in the Second World War, the deliberate targeting of civilians, the blitzkrieg, all of the terrible sorts of tactics that we saw applied in the Second World War.

And they were ahead of their time. It was a very difficult time, of course, for Canadians in the middle of the recession, but they went as volunteers, and as the Member for St. James pointed out, Canadians were very significant in their role both in terms of their per capita contribution, but whether it be through such distinguished individuals, Dr. Norman Bethune, Graham Spry, they really captured the spirit of idealism and of course, we have a Manitoba connection, Bill Kardash, former MLA who was part of the Mac-Paps and was here when the original resolution was debated.

I also had the opportunity, Mr. Acting Speaker, to visit Spain shortly after the fall of fascism. It's important to recall, by the way, that the fascist government in Spain did not fall, democracy did not come back to Spain until 1975. I still recall, I had a rather interesting experience of–well, let's put it this way, there was an attempted mugging and I was on the receiving end of it and I ended up going to the police station to report the crime. What struck me about it, by the way, was they showed me a number of the pictures and essentially, a lot of the pictures were of transvestites and others that, of course, would have been considered criminals under the fascist government and this is only a few years after.

You know what strikes me today, Mr. Speaker, if anyone doubts the sacrifice the Mac-Paps and what's happened historically, since the fall of Fascism, there's been a dramatic change in Spain. I look at the fact that it's gone from a very socially conservative country now to a leader in terms of progressive social attitudes. In terms of marriage, for example, in terms of same-sex marriage, it's something that Spain has pioneered with.

But how about today, Mr. Speaker? You know, I think every one of the Mac-Paps would have been proud to see the Zapatero government. The majority of the Cabinet ministers are women. The Prime Minister is an avowed feminist. We have one of the most progressive governments in Europe, and in the world, in Spain. So out of the ashes of Franco's fascism has arisen the phoenix of the ideals of the democratically elected government in the 1930s.

I look forward, by the way, to having the opportunity to visit Spain, perhaps on a private basis, because I'd like to see how far it's come. I think there's a bit of a kindred spirit right here in Manitoba with our record number of women MLAs, our clear women's agenda: by the way, many of us, men and women, in this Legislature who would consider ourselves feminists. So when I speak today about recognizing history, and the contribution they make, I think it's only fitting that, in fact, it was brought by the Member for St. James (Ms. Korzeniowski), our direct connection to the military and, of course, to military issues.

By the way, in Spain, the minister of defence is a woman, a very historic breakthrough. I'm sure if we had a minister of defence here, the Member for St. James would be the first one for consideration. But she certainly has provided a huge link to our military families. What I really appreciate with the Member for St. James, Mr. Speaker, is she understands the personal sacrifice that the military families go through, and not just in the context of war alone, but in terms of relocation throughout this country. She has been the first, I think, to put forward a vision that has now been sweeping the country, and that is the fact–we support the military.

It's not about a conflict where you stand on one war, or one posting of the military. You either support the military who are there, they sign up for the ideal of supporting Canada, of being true citizens of Canada. There's a bit of a theme here. I think the fact that the Member for St. James has extended that vision to talk about people who, many decades ago, enrolled for an ideal. I think that speaks to the contribution the Member for St. James is making, but also speaks to our ability, in this Legislature, to rise above partisan debate and make a clearer view.

I do want to say, in contrast to the first hour of private members' business, where we spent an hour talking about a liquor store, I think that we've raised the level of discussion somewhat. The Member for Morris (Mrs. Taillieu) can bring in resolutions and legislation on that basis. We all choose our priority issues. I'm really proud of the fact that the Member for St. James, in private members' hour, has given us the opportunity to talk not only about history, but the relevance of that history today.

I just want to conclude by saying that their vision lives on in Spain. Their vision lives on here in the province of Manitoba. I look forward to unanimous passage, Mr. Speaker, 25 years after this was first brought in because it may prove the degree to which here, in Manitoba, we understand the other key element which they learned in Spain, and that's reconciliation.

I note some of the comments from members, such as the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. McFadyen), indicating, perhaps, he doesn't get what reconciliation is about, and that is about learning from history, bringing people together. That's where we're headed in Manitoba. This resolution, if it passes unanimously–I look to members opposite to do the right thing–will be one more step in terms of our building a province, a model, for this country that's based on reconciliation and the fact that we accomplish a heck of a lot more when we not only recognize the history but we all work together for the future. Thank you.

Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the resolution. My colleague from Inkster has already spoken. Certainly, it is time overdue that we recognize the contribution of those of the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion who went to Spain and that we, in particular, recognize those from Manitoba who were part of the battalion and who contributed to those efforts.

So I support this resolution and let's bring recognition to those who fought, in this instance, on behalf of a cause which was certainly worthy and one which we should remember.

Mr. Speaker: Is the House ready for the question?

Some Honourable Members: Question.

Mr. Speaker: The question before the House is Resolution No. 11, Spanish Civil War. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the resolution? [Agreed]

Unanimously? [Agreed]

Is there agreement for a moment of silence? [Agreed]

A moment of silence was observed.

Manitoba Legislature Honours Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion

Manitoba Legislature Honours
Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion