Minorities and Human Rights
Post-WW2
Inuit
Inuit families living in Inukjuak forced to move
Canada joined the NORAD; gave Americans control of the Arctic
Americans were building a radar station in Inukjuak
The Inuit families were not informed about the construction
Immigrants
Japanese-Canadians given full citizenship rights
Japanese-Canadians given $1,222,829
Immigrants from China, India and Sri Lanka allowed into Canada
Canada accept’s Jewish refugees
United Nations and Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Everyone given equal rights
All human beings are born equal
WW2
First Nations Soldiers
Leaders were tricked into selling reserves at cheap prices
First Nations soldiers were promised extra land and financial support after the war
When soldiers returned, they got no extra land and they weren’t given any extra financial support
Japanese-Canadians
After Pearl Harbor, America pressured Canada to do something about Japanese people living in Canada
Canada ordered all “enemy aliens” to either leave the country or go to detention centers
Men had to live in camps that had no insulation
There were 10 showers for 1500 women
French People
Only agreed to go to war if Canadian government promised it would not enact Conscription
Canadian government still enacted Conscription in 1944
Most men went to serve in the military
Women started to work in the factories
Black women faced discrimination
Forced to make dangerous things like grenades
Pre-WW2
Jewish Refugees
Canada didn't accept them
Said it was the USA and Cuba’s problem
Hitler
Became the leader of Germany
Sent Gypsies etc. to concentration camps
Targeted Jews and killed them
Stripped Jewish people of citizenship
Great Depression
Chinese people
Paid only half the wages of the white people
Roaring 20s
Famous Five
Challenged government by asking if women could be appointed to the senate
The supreme court responded by saying that they couldn’t
Eventually, the government allowed women to be appointed to the senate
Residential Schools
All First Nations children between 7-15 years forced to go to residential schools
Lots of children died at the schools
Epidemic of disease like Tuberculosis
Punished if they spoke their own language
Physically and sexually abused
Chinese People
Chinese Immigration Act
Found it very difficult to get jobs
When they applied, the companies always said they were full
WW1
Conscription
Conscription enacted in 1917
Anger in French-Canadians
Felt they had nothing to do with the war
Riots and rallies in Montreal by French-Canadians
Enemy Aliens
People from German backgrounds labelled “Enemy Aliens”
The Act that allowed women to vote also took away the right for people of German to vote
War Measures Act
Allowed government to easily put the “enemy aliens” into camps
Paid $0.25 a day
Forced to build roads and national parks
Started to work in factories
Got the right to vote in 1917
Only white women got the right to vote
Women of color didn’t get hired into the workforce
Women of color like Black still didn’t get the right to vote
Black-Canadian Soldiers
Showed their heroics in the army
Recommended to get medals but they were denied since they were black
Commander of the army said that neither him or his men would sleep or even sit with a Black soldier
French-Canadian Soldiers
Given very little supplies during WW1
The French-Canadian soldiers were not promoted within the army
The army manuals were not in French
Reactions to Canadian Declaration of WW1
Women
Didn’t have any say on if they wanted the war to happen
Had to endure the consequences of war
Pre-WW1
Komagata Maru
Forced to go back to India after 2 month stalemate
Had people from India ethnicity
1950s
Bill of Rights
First Nations allowed to vote
Protects freedom of speech, religion and press
St. Lawrence Seaway project
Communities living near the St. Lawrence river are displaced
USA pairs with Canada
1960s
Contraception
Government legalized contraception
Birth Control Pill
Official Languages Act
Equal status to French and English
Government services available in both languages
Africville
Residents forced to move to Halifax
Residents had very bad living conditions
No running water and sewage system
Canadian Radio-Television Commission (CRTC)
Show concerns of Aboriginal people
Television programming reflect Canadian culture and multiculturalism
Universal Health Care
Medical Care Act
All Canadians granted free health care
1970s
Royal Commission on the Status of Women
167 different recommendations to improve quality of life of women
Jeanette Lavelle
Pressured government by saying that the Indian Act was discriminatory
Said that if a Indian man married a non-Indian women, he wouldn’t lose Indian status
If a Indian women married a non-Indian man, she would lose Indian status
Irene Murdoch
Divorced her husband and asked for 50% of their farm
Worked 25 years on Farm
Court denied
Said it was expected for a regular farmwive to work 25 years
James Bay project
Signed without telling Aboriginal people in the area
1980s
Indian women
Could marry Non-Indian men and still keep Indian status
Inherit family land
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Gave Aboriginals treaty and normal rights
Equal rights to both men and women
1990s
Canada
Involved in global missions that helped solve human rights issues
Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples
Submits its report
Sets out 440 recommendations over a 20 year plan
2000s
MV Sun Sea
Allowed into Canada
Left Sri Lanka due to violence in country
2010s
Temporary Workers
Thousands of temporary migrant workers deported
Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Releases its report
94 actions to "redress the legacy of residential schools and advance the process of Canadian reconciliation."
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Canada agrees with it