In order to address fears and perceived threats at home, Prime Minister Robert Baldwin’s government created a piece of legislation that would give them special powers to deal with issues regarding national interests within Canada, specifically to preserve the security of Canada. This document was called…. “The War Measures Act” The W.M.A. gave the Canadian government the power to arrest and detain suspected enemies of the nation. It gave the ability to govern by decree when it perceived there to be a time of “war, invasion or insurrection, real or suspected”. Decree:  The government could simply pass orders and laws and avoid the parliamentary process required to pass legislation….undemocratic/illiberal

Internment  the imprisonment or confinement of people, commonly in large groups, without a trail…..for example - enemy citizens in wartime or terrorism suspects Though not strictly PRISONERS OF WAR, civilian internees were generally treated according to international POW (prisoner of war) standards.

During WORLD WAR I enemy aliens were subject to internment, but only if there were "reasonable grounds" to believe they were engaged in espionage or otherwise acting illegally. 3 groups were the focus of internment during the First World War Ukrainians –  who had emigrated to Canada from territories under the control of the Austro-Hungarian Empire Germans and Austrians Turks/Bulgarians

Of 8579 men at 24 camps across Canada 5954 were Ukrainians – from areas controlled by Austria-Hungary 2009 Germans 205 Turks 99 Bulgarians 81 women and 156 children, dependants of male internees, were voluntarily interred Prisoners Compound, Castle Mountain, AB.

Your notes for this portion for the next portion the powerpoint are questions that need to be answered as we go…….before we begin this section, take a minute or two to look over the questions in your note handout to see what you are looking for and responding to.

Japanese Internment (WW2)  Racism against “Orientals” high in Canada prior to the war, especially coastal BC Examples:  Refused to allow people of Japanese descent to be on a voters list o Medical students could not register to be physicians unless they were on a voter’s list  Many neighborhoods would push out any Japanese families, and then cities would complain that the Japanese were isolating themselves in their own communities

 After bombing of Pearl Harbor, the nation was fearful of Japanese spies  Citizens and the BC provincial gov’t convince the federal government to use the War Measures Act to intern Japanese nationals at first (immigrants who were not yet citizens), later extended to all of Japanese descent (even citizens of Canada) Canadian security agencies (like RCMP) said it was unwarranted and unnecessary

 the government authorized the removal of "enemy aliens" within a 100-mile radius of the BC coast.  22,000 Japanese Canadians were given 24 hours to pack before being interned. This notice was distributed throughout British Columbia. If any Japanese were found in the prohibited areas listed, they would be incarcerated.

 Japanese families were forced from their homes, many families were split up (husbands sent to different camps)  Many sent to interior BC and southern Alberta – cheap/slave labor Alberta – farm labor BC/Alberta – infrastructure (roads)  Living conditions sub-standard, property sold to “pay for the costs of internment”  60% of all Japanese Canadians living in Canada were born in Canada – legal citizens

A road crew of interned Japanese men building the Yellowhead Highway.

 After the war government encouraged Japanese Canadians to move back to Japan Some had to take language lessons because they didn’t know how to speak Japanese

 Not one spy was ever discovered  Many of their rights were not restored until 1949 (years after the German internees had their rights restored – ex. right to vote)

 1988 – government gives a formal apology and provides compensation - $21,000 for each surviving internee

Considering the video and power-point, get together with 2 or 3 other people and discuss the following points. You will be given mins, then brought back as a class to discuss as a larger group. Do you think that any government has the right to intern people to protect their national interests of security? How do you judge Canada’s actions in regards to internment? Justified or Unjustified? Looking at the 8 stages of genocide from your previous notes, what stage would you put Canada in regards to internment of “enemy aliens”? Be able to defend. Can you think of any other circumstances or situations where the Canadians or the Canadian government has acted in an ultra- nationalistic way?