During WWII, the Canadian During WWII, the Canadian Government Interned Government Interned Japanese CanadiansJapanese Canadians

Japanese Bomb Pearl Japanese Bomb Pearl Harbour!Harbour!

December 7, 1941, President Roosevelt December 7, 1941, President Roosevelt declares it “The Day of Infamy”.declares it “The Day of Infamy”.

The Battle of HongThe Battle of Hong KongKong

Hong Kong surrendered Hong Kong surrendered on Christmas Day 1941. on Christmas Day 1941.

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

The Canadian War Measures The Canadian War Measures ActAct

““gave the government gave the government sweeping powers to ensure sweeping powers to ensure the security, defence, peace, the security, defence, peace, order, and welfare of order, and welfare of Canada.”Canada.”

Used to imprison Used to imprison CANADIANSCANADIANS of German, Ukrainian, and of German, Ukrainian, and Slavic descent in WWI.Slavic descent in WWI.

In 1941, following bombing of In 1941, following bombing of Pearl Harbour, 1,200 fishing Pearl Harbour, 1,200 fishing boats were seized by the boats were seized by the Canadian navy Canadian navy

By Canadian Government By Canadian Government order, 23 000 Japanese order, 23 000 Japanese Canadians were interned and Canadians were interned and moved into campsmoved into camps

Japanese Internment in Japanese Internment in CanadaCanada

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

Internment TimelineInternment Timeline 1941 (December 8):1941 (December 8): 1,200 Japanese Canadian fishing boats 1,200 Japanese Canadian fishing boats

are impounded. Japanese language newspapers and schools are impounded. Japanese language newspapers and schools close.close.

1942 (January 16):1942 (January 16): Removal begins of Japanese immigrant Removal begins of Japanese immigrant males from coastal areas.males from coastal areas.

1942 (February 24):1942 (February 24): All male Japanese Canadian citizens All male Japanese Canadian citizens between the ages of 18 and 45 ordered to be removed from between the ages of 18 and 45 ordered to be removed from 100-mile-wide zone along the coast of British Columbia.100-mile-wide zone along the coast of British Columbia.

1942 (February 26):1942 (February 26): Mass evacuation of Japanese Canadians Mass evacuation of Japanese Canadians begins. Some given only 24 hours notice. Cars, cameras and begins. Some given only 24 hours notice. Cars, cameras and radios confiscated for radios confiscated for ““protective measuresprotective measures””. Curfew . Curfew imposed.imposed.

1942 (March 4):1942 (March 4): Japanese Canadians ordered to turn over Japanese Canadians ordered to turn over property and belongings to Custodian of Enemy Alien property and belongings to Custodian of Enemy Alien Property as a Property as a ““protective measure onlyprotective measure only””. .

1942 (March 25):1942 (March 25): British Columbia Security Commission British Columbia Security Commission initiates scheme of forcing men to road camps and women initiates scheme of forcing men to road camps and women and children to and children to ““ghost townghost town”” detention camps. detention camps.

Outcomes of InternmentOutcomes of Internment

After the war, the federal government After the war, the federal government decided to remove all Japanese Canadians decided to remove all Japanese Canadians from British Colombia.from British Colombia.

The Japanese were forced to choose The Japanese were forced to choose between deportation to war ravaged Japan between deportation to war ravaged Japan or dispersal East of the Rocky mountains.or dispersal East of the Rocky mountains.

Public protest would eventually stop the Public protest would eventually stop the deportations, but not before 4000 deportations, but not before 4000 Japanese left the country.Japanese left the country.

• • For several years after the war, For several years after the war, Japanese Canadians were not allowed Japanese Canadians were not allowed to return to the coast.to return to the coast.

• • In April 1948, four years after Japan In April 1948, four years after Japan had surrendered, all Japanese people had surrendered, all Japanese people living in Canada became enfranchised living in Canada became enfranchised citizens again (allowed to vote), and citizens again (allowed to vote), and were allowed to return to British were allowed to return to British Columbia shortly after.Columbia shortly after.

• • Today, the entire internment fiasco is Today, the entire internment fiasco is recognized as Canada’s worst human recognized as Canada’s worst human rights violation.rights violation.

Acknowledging Wartime Acknowledging Wartime WrongsWrongs

Forty-three years after the Forty-three years after the end of the war, Prime end of the war, Prime minister Brian Mulroney minister Brian Mulroney acknowledged the wrong acknowledged the wrong doings of the Canadian doings of the Canadian government and announced government and announced the awarding of $21,000 for the awarding of $21,000 for each individual directly each individual directly wronged.wronged.

Is this an acceptable redress Is this an acceptable redress to the issue?to the issue?

LinkLink

http://www.japanesecanadianhistory.net/other_resources.htm#tr