1. Canada: a nation of Discrimination?
Intolerance in the 1920s
Canada: a nation of Discrimination?

2. Emily Murphy and the Person’s case

3. Persons’ Case Why can Murphy’s appointment as judge be challenged?
How are women declared “persons”?
1929: Emily Murphy is appointed a magistrate (judge) in Alberta
She wants to be a senator
Opposition: a woman is not a “person” under BNA act & can’t hold public office
1928: take the case to supreme court of Canada – rules that Women are not “persons” under the constitution
Challenge ruling: go to the Privy Council in Britain
Privy council rules that women are persons Oct. 18, 1929
Meaning: Women can now legally hold public office

4. Immigrants in 1920s Who is allowed into Canada?
Immigrants for Russia: seen as socialist revolutionaries
Preference given to US and British immigrants
allow more immigration to increase domestic market for businesses – many live in slums and have terrible wages
Asian: strict restrictions
1922: restrict Japan to 150 servants and labourers per year
1923: Chinese Exclusion Act replaces Head Tax (until 1947)

5. Aboriginals in 1920s
How does Canada discriminate against first nation s people?
1920s: Aboriginals not “persons”
Cannot vote provincially or federally (1960)
Conditions on reserves: dire poverty
Open hostility and discrimmination
Residential schools aimed at assimilation – children removed from home, physical and emotional abuse

6. Aboriginals in 1920s
How does Canada discriminate against first nation s people?
1920s: challenge Federal Gov. on:
Potlatch ceremony (made illegal)
Aboriginal Title and Cut-off lands: Government is taking land/ moving people at will
First Nation Action:
Will petition British Privy council for help
Allied Tribes Of BC petition gov. for Treaty Negotiations
Response:
Arrests
Federal Gov. changes the Indian Act so they can keep taking land without consent (no longer allowed to complain)

7. Aboriginals in 1920s
How does Canada discriminate against first nation s people?
Response:
Arrests
Federal Gov. changes the Indian Act so they can keep taking land without consent
Parliamentary committee recommends no treaties in BC, and Indian act is changed to forbid raising and accepting $ to further land claims (can no longer complain)

8. African Canadians in 1920s
Are African-Canadians discriminated against?
Discrimination
Ex. Nova Scotia 1918 Education Act created separate schools for “Blacks” and “Europeans” until 1954
1921: Supreme court of Quebec ruled in favour or segregated movie theatres in Montreal
But,
1919: Brotherhood of Railway Workers is first union to support Black members
1924: Edmonton City council refuses to ban African Canadians from public parks and pools

9. 1920’s: Regional differences
Complaints of Maritimes?
Of Farmers on Prairies?
Why does the Progressive party form?
Maritimes feel their influence on gov. declining due to small population and slow economy (demand for Alberta oil, not coal)
Prairies: farmers frustrated by national policy on tariffs on foreign goods – benefits manufacturers (buy Canadian) but not crops sold in world market – want free trade
Farmers form own political party provincially, and get seats
Federal: farmers create the Progressive Party (want free trade and public railways)