World War One had impacted the lives of Canadians on many aspects. The Canada entered the war as Britain declares war on Germany in August 1914 because most of Canadians were of British heritage. The war brought Canadians opportunities to show their strength and patriotism in the Canadian forces. Canadian munitions industry provides plenty jobs and prosperity for Canadians at home. However, many Canadians did not find Canada entirely welcome during the war and postwar years (Kelley 225). In Canada, many changes in policy were made to help the war effort and to meet the interests of the majority group at home and returning veterans during this period. The Government of Canada negatively impacted the lives of many minority groups during World …show more content…
War One and the 1920s, as it restricted the rights of immigrants from enemy countries, limited Indigenous People’s power to control over their reserves and prohibited nearly all immigration from China. Immigrants from countries which Canada fought against in World War One were negatively impacted by the Canadian government because their rights were restricted during and after the war. As Canada entered the war in 1914, there was a raising public hostility toward immigrants from countries which Canada fought against as many Canadians feared these immigrants may sabotage internal security and the war effort. Although the Canadian government believed these immigrants did not pose potential threats, it passed the War Measure Act in response to the increasing calls of suppression from the public. The act enabled the governor in council to authorize acts deemed necessary for the security, defense, peace, order and welfare, and gave them the power over arrest, detention, exclusion and deportation. As a result, a large number of immigrants from Germany, Austro-Hungarian Empire, Turkish Empire, and Bulgaria was negatively impacted (Kelly 171-172). They were labeled as enemy aliens, and their rights and liberties were restricted. They were forced to carry identification cards and report regularly, prohibited to publish or read anything in a foreign language or leave the country without permission. Thousands were interned in internment camps (Hoogeveen et al. 190). Immigrants from enemy countries continued to be negatively impacted by the government’s policy after the war. Although restrictions on naturalized enemy aliens were eased after the war, the Immigration Act of 1919 excluded new immigrants from entering Canada, and the Naturalization Act of 1920 prohibited enemy aliens from naturalizing. The manner in which the government introduced policies to handle immigrants from enemy country stripped their rights and freedom and had caused great damage to their lives. Indigenous Peoples were also negatively affected by the Canadian government as it limited their rights to their land. During the war, thousands of Indigenous Peoples enlisted in the Canadian military; many hoped that their record would persuade the government to correct the wrongs that had been done and to grant them the same rights as other citizens, but most of them were disappointed by the reality as they returned (Hoogeveen et al. 227-228). During the final year of the war, the Greater Production campaign came into operation to increase agricultural production in response to the war needs. The Canadian government amended the Indian Act so that the Greater Production activities could be operated easily on Indian reserves, which were considered idle and ideal for farming at that time. This act allows the Superintendent General to lease the land to non-Indian farmers or to farm the land as a government operation without the consent of the band (Taylor 17-19). The situation of Indigenous people was exacerbated as the surviving soldiers returned. The Soldier Settlement Act of 1917 was introduced to meet the demand of returning soldier. It allowed the Soldier Settlement Board to grant free farmland and loan money to qualified veterans in return for their contribution during the war. However, the result was disappointing as the land granted had poor quality and most of the suitable land was Indian reserves. The Soldier Settlement Act of 1919 officially permitted the board to acquire lands in Indian reserves by compulsory purchase. Even before the new Act, land in Indian reserves was already validly surrendered and placed in the hands of the Soldier Settlement Board (Taylor 17-19). Indigenous People in Canada had not only lost their rights to control the activities on their lands, but also their rights to own these lands. The unfair treatment of the Canadian government caused great damage to the lives of Aboriginal Peoples. The Chinese Immigration Act passed by the Canadian government in 1923 negatively impacted the Chinese Canadians by restricting and ending immigration from China.
Even before the Act, prejudice and discrimination was already well entrenched. Existing policies had already made it difficult for Chinese immigrants and the Chinese community. During the postwar years, anti-Asian sentiment and calls of prohibitive regulations on Chinese immigrants grew. Many feared that the Chinese population was a threat to job opportunities as they could be paid lower legally. The Immigration Act of 1923 passed by the government permitted only four classes of Chinese immigrants from entering. The few Chinese immigrants who fell within these admissible classes were not guaranteed admission and needed to go through many examinations. There were many discriminatory provisions in the act. For example, ships were authorized to bring one Chinese person for every 250 tons of tonnage compared to 50 tons for other immigrants (Kelley 207). Between 1923 and 1946, only 15 Chinese immigrants were accepted into Canada. Chinese men who priorly arrived in Canada could not unite with their families as their wives and children were allowed to immigrate to Canada. The population of the Chinese community decreased due to lack of women. ("Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21"). Chinese Canadians suffered greatly from the restrictive policy of the Canadian …show more content…
government. Because of Canadian government’s actions during World War One and the 1920s, the lives of many minority groups were negatively affected. Immigrants from enemy countries carried the label of “enemy aliens” and lost many of their rights and liberties, Indigenous Peoples experienced grievance as they lost their land and being treated unfairly by the government, and Chinese Canadians suffered from separation from family and the cessation of their communities. The experience of minority groups in World War One illustrated the racial prejudice and discrimination of the Canadian government of the period. Work Cited “Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21.” Chinese Immigration Act, 1923 | Pier 21, www.pier21.ca/research/immigration-history/chinese-immigration-act-1923. Chan, Arlene. The Chinese Head Tax and Anti-Chinese Immigration Policies in the Twentieth Century. James Lorimer & Company Ltd., Publishers, 2014. Chan, Arlene. “Chinese Immigration Act.” The Canadian Encyclopedia, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/chinese-immigration-act/. Government of Canada, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Communications Branch. “ARCHIVED – Forging Our Legacy.” Government of Canada, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Communications Branch, Government of Canada, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Communications Branch, 1 July 2006, www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/legacy/index.asp. Government of Canada; Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada.
“Aboriginal Contributions during the First World War.” Government of Canada; Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, 24 Oct. 2014, www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1414152378639/1414152548341#fn25.
Government of Canada, National Defence, Chief Military Personnel. “Aboriginal People in the Canadian Military - Chapter 5.” DHH - Aboriginal People in the Canadian Military - Chapter 5, Government of Canada, National Defence, Information Management Group, Director General Enterprise Application Services, Directorate Enterprise Application Integration Solutions, www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/pub/boo-bro/abo-aut/chapter-chapitre-05-eng.asp.
Hoogeveen, Margaret, et al. “Chapter Eight: Inequality in Canada.” Creating Canada: a History - 1914 to the Present, McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 2014.
Kelley, Ninette, and Michael J. Trebilcock. The Making of the Mosaic: a History of Canadian Immigration Policy. University of Toronto Press, 2010.
Sheffield, R. Scott. “Indigenous Peoples and the World Wars.” The Canadian Encyclopedia, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/indigenous-peoples-and-the-world-wars/.
Taylor, John Leonard., and Canada. Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. Canadian Indian Policy During the Inter-war Years, 1918-1939. Ottawa: Indian and Northern Affairs Canada,
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The journey for the Aboriginals to receive the right to keep and negotiate land claims with the Canadian government was long but prosperous. Before the 1970's the federal government chose not to preform their responsibilities involving Aboriginal issues, this created an extremely inefficient way for the Aboriginals to deal with their land right problems. The land claims created by the Canadian government benefited the aboriginals as shown through the Calder Case, the creation of the Office of Native Claims and the policy of Outstanding Business.
Historically, Canada has held a world renowned reputation as nation with a magnanimous ideological approach to providing asylum to those individuals subjected to marginalization and persecution in their homeland – regardless of their nation of origin (Ismaili, 2011, p.89 & 92). Indeed, providing sanctuary to refugees who would otherwise experience significant hardships ranging from blatant discrimination and racism to torture and genocide, has very much become an institutionalized aspect of Canadian society. However, recent changes to Canada’s immigration policy delineated in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Bill C-31 may have perhaps put this ideology in peril (Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, 2001).
Fleras, Augie. “Aboriginal Peoples in Canada: Repairing the Relationship.” Chapter 7 of Unequal Relations: An Introduction to Race, Ethnic and Aboriginal Dynamics in Canada. 6th ed. Toronto: Pearson, 2010. 162-210. Print.
Pre-World War One, Canada was looked upon not only by foreigners, but also by Canadians, as being just a British Colony.
Approximately 620,000 Canadians fought during the First World War. Nearly 700,000 if we account for the men and women that enlisted in the Canadian units outside of the Canadian Expeditionary Force and in the British forces. Of which, almost 173,000 Canadians were wounded and about 67,000 Canadians had lost their lives by November 11th, 1918. These casualties were devastating in numbers. Canada needed to regain the good faith of its people, despite the fact that it was still a colony of Britain. Canadians knew very little about why the war had started, or the significance of the events that instigated it. But, Canadians were called upon to fight it, therefore now was the greatest need for there to be better compensation for our returning Veterans than ever before. This was the time when the ground work for the Veterans Assistance Programs of today was laid down. Of ...
Introduction “We are all treaty people” Campaign. The year 1907 marked the beginning of treaty making in Canada. The British Crown claims to negotiate treaties in pursuance of peaceful relations between Aboriginal peoples and non-Aboriginals (Canada, p. 3, 2011). Treaties started as agreements for peace and military purposes but later transformed into land entitlements (Egan, 2012, p. 400).
Battles such as Vimy Ridge, the Second Battle of Passchendaele and the Battle of the Somme were some of the worst battles that the world can find Canadian's. Our northern nation had boasted over 600,000 soldiers to the battlefields whilst also providing vital manufacturing facilities and training soldiers from across the world. The strong imperial bond between Canada and the 'Motherland' was an important factor in Canada's decision to participate wholeheartedly in World War I, and influenced many in their decision to join the army. Most Canadians felt a strong connection to the British Emp...
Before the war, Canada’s most important sector in its economy was agriculture. However, this was changing drastically after and during the war as industry began to take over as being more important. Canadian production of war material, food supplies, and raw materials had been crucial during the war. After the war, it was only natural that big investments were being made in mining, production, transportation, and services industries. Canadian cities were becoming very important contributors to the economy. This was also bringing in waves of post-war immigration, the backbone of Canada’s multicultural society we know today.
Canadians contributed in many ways to help our country's great efforts in the First World War. Canadians had literally the whole country and made enormous demands on the Canadian people, whether they were involved in the actual fighting or remained on the home front to work in industry or farming to support the war effort. Canada grew tremendously through the war as a nation, individually and emotional. Canadian troops had to be strong and responsible as they were always running from one front to another and had to be strong so that the little thing don’t bother them so they don’t become emotionally unstable, then could end there life. Strength played a major role through the war as did courage and every Canadian troop had those two components making them a strong army to attack against.
Robert, Jean-Claude, Dr. "Immigration Acts (1866 - 2001)." Canada in the Making. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2013. .
...panese Canadian Interment and Racism During World War II." IMAGINATIONS. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Jan. 2014.
The Indian act, since being passed by Parliament in 1876, has been quite the validity test for Aboriginal affairs occurring in Canada. Only a minority of documents in Canadian history have bred as much dismay, anger and debate compared to the Indian Act—but the legislation continues as a central element in the management of Aboriginal affairs in Canada. Aboriginal hatred against current and historic terms of the Indian Act is powerful, but Indigenous governments and politicians stand on different sides of the fence pertaining to value and/or purpose of the legislation. This is not shocking, considering the political cultures and structures of Aboriginal communities have been distorted and created by the imposition of the Indian Act.
Comack, E. (2012). Racialized policing: Aboriginal people's encounters with the police. Black Point, Nova Scotia: Fernwood Publishing.
Every year, over 250,000 people make Canada their new home. Attracted by its education system, economy and universal healthcare system, there are few other places in the world like it. All Canadians are guaranteed equality before the law and equality of opportunity, regardless of where they are from. However, some might argue that Canadian policy has not been put into practice as well as it should be. Is the concept of true equality a far-fetched idea? It seems that Canada has taken great measures to promote the integration of immigrants socially, but can the same be said for their integration economically? Politically? To judge whether or not Canada has been successful at promoting the integration of immigrants in these realms, a deeper understanding of Canadian policy must be considered.
Stoffman, Daniel. Who gets in: What's wrong with Canada's immigration program, and how to fix it. Toronto: Macfarlane Walter & Ross, 2002.