During WWII, the Canadian Government Interned Japanese Canadians

Japanese Bomb Pearl Harbour! December 7, 1941, President Roosevelt declares it “The Day of Infamy”. December 7, 1941, President Roosevelt declares it “The Day of Infamy”.

The Battle of Hong Kong Hong Kong surrendered on Christmas Day Of the 1,975 Canadians, 290 were killed and 493 wounded. A further 260 died in the awful conditions of prison camps in Hong Kong and Japan.

The Canadian War Measures Act “gave the government sweeping powers to ensure the security, defence, peace, order, and welfare of Canada.” “gave the government sweeping powers to ensure the security, defence, peace, order, and welfare of Canada.” Used to imprison CANADIANS of German, Ukrainian, and Slavic descent in WWI. Used to imprison CANADIANS of German, Ukrainian, and Slavic descent in WWI. In 1941, following bombing of Pearl Harbour, 1,200 fishing boats were seized by the Canadian navy In 1941, following bombing of Pearl Harbour, 1,200 fishing boats were seized by the Canadian navy By Canadian Government order, Japanese Canadians were interned and moved into camps By Canadian Government order, Japanese Canadians were interned and moved into camps

Japanese Internment in Canada ■ The movement of 23,000 Japanese Canadians during the war was the largest mass exodus in Canadian history.

Internment Timeline 1941 (December 8): 1,200 Japanese Canadian fishing boats are impounded. Japanese language newspapers and schools close (January 16): Removal begins of Japanese immigrant males from coastal areas (February 24): All male Japanese Canadian citizens between the ages of 18 and 45 ordered to be removed from 100-mile-wide zone along the coast of British Columbia (February 26): Mass evacuation of Japanese Canadians begins. Some given only 24 hours notice. Cars, cameras and radios confiscated for “protective measures”. Curfew imposed (March 4): Japanese Canadians ordered to turn over property and belongings to Custodian of Enemy Alien Property as a “protective measure only” (March 25): British Columbia Security Commission initiates scheme of forcing men to road camps and women and children to “ghost town” detention camps.

Outcomes of Internment After the war, the federal government decided to remove all Japanese Canadians from British Colombia. After the war, the federal government decided to remove all Japanese Canadians from British Colombia. The Japanese were forced to choose between deportation to war ravaged Japan or dispersal East of the Rocky mountains. The Japanese were forced to choose between deportation to war ravaged Japan or dispersal East of the Rocky mountains. Public protest would eventually stop the deportations, but not before 4000 Japanese left the country. Public protest would eventually stop the deportations, but not before 4000 Japanese left the country.

For several years after the war, Japanese Canadians were not allowed to return to the coast. For several years after the war, Japanese Canadians were not allowed to return to the coast. In April 1948, four years after Japan had surrendered, all Japanese people living in Canada became enfranchised citizens again (allowed to vote), and were allowed to return to British Columbia shortly after. In April 1948, four years after Japan had surrendered, all Japanese people living in Canada became enfranchised citizens again (allowed to vote), and were allowed to return to British Columbia shortly after. Today, the entire internment fiasco is recognized as Canada’s worst human rights violation. Today, the entire internment fiasco is recognized as Canada’s worst human rights violation.

Acknowledging Wartime Wrongs Forty-three years after the end of the war, Prime minister Brian Mulroney acknowledged the wrong doings of the Canadian government and announced the awarding of $21,000 for each individual directly wronged. Forty-three years after the end of the war, Prime minister Brian Mulroney acknowledged the wrong doings of the Canadian government and announced the awarding of $21,000 for each individual directly wronged. Is this an acceptable redress to the issue? Is this an acceptable redress to the issue?

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