Xenophobia In Canada During The Second World War

econd World War was when Canada and the allies were desperate for victory and would do anything in order to achieve. Most of the time these acts lead to difficult situations among the citizens of the country. For example, xenophobia was a great issue in Canada during the Second World War, especially to immigrants with Japanese and Italian descents. Since Canada was at war against the Axis Powers, the Canadian government had an ultimate fear of betrayal from Japanese and Italian Canadians. This results in the abandonment of rights for enemy aliens. On the other hand, many of the Japanese and Italian Canadians supported the war effort a hundred percent and were not interested in going against Canada and the allies. The cruel treatment of Japanese

and Italian Canadians in the Second World War was not justified.
To begin with, the Canadian government was fearful since Japan and Italy were allies with Germany.

For this reason, Japanese and Italian Canadians were placed in small internment camps with many other people with the same descents. The internment camps had no running water or electricity and had little amounts of food. 1 In addition, they worked for a long period of time but received such a small amount of money. For instance, the Italian Canadians were paid only 20 cents a day.2 As a consequence the enemy aliens were not even allowed to speak their mother tongue because soldiers feared they may be planning an attack, revenge or escape.3 In general, the Canadian government shamed the Japanese and Italian Canadians just because of their cultures. These enemy aliens were kept in captivity in a country known for freedom. Therefore, all of the mistreatment was due to fear and racism, the Canadian government discriminated the Japanese and Italian

Canadians.
At the same time the Canadian government removed the rights of enemy aliens. In other words, on June 10, 1940 the War Measures Act applied to the Italian Canadians. Likewise, on February 24, 1942, the War Measures Act was performed on the Japanese Canadians by Prime Minister Mackenzie King.4 Thus, all of the Japanese and Italian Canadians' property were sold in order to pay for the internment camps where the enemy aliens were staying.5 Also, some businesses by Japanese or Italian people were confiscated and made illegal. The businesses that were not shut down often lost lots of customers. In like manner, enemy aliens were bullied or ignored by their friends at school. Many of the children had to quit school to earn money for their families while their fathers were interned.6 At the same time, they were often separated from their families and friends. On the whole, the lives of Japanese and Italian Canadians went downhill because the Canadian government approached the War Measures Act and fully avoided Habeas Corpus. In conclusion, the Japanese and Italian Canadians had little hope for the future since everything had been taken away from them.
However, Japanese and Italian Canadians supported the war effort and were not a threat to Canada's society.

For instance, Japanese men served in the Allied forces during the war.7 Likewise, Italians contributed through buying Victory Bonds which helped the Allied forces receive needs in order to fight.8 Furthermore, the Japanese and Italian Canadians pledged allegiance wholeheartedly to Canada and the allies."We were Canadian born and just trying to show that we too were Canadian."9 However, the Canadian government avoided the contributions from the Japanese and Italian Canadians. As a result, the government took advantage of these enemy aliens and interned them even though they were faithful to their country. To conclude, the Japanese and Italian Canadians were treated with no respect despite all they have done for Canada and the

allies.
On the whole, the mistreatment of Japanese and Italian Canadians during the Second World War was highly unreasonable and unnecessary. For this reason, 40 years after, on September 22, 1988, an apology for the disrespect of Japanese Canadian citizens was made by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney along with some funds. On the other hand, the Italian Canadians did not receive acknowledgement for their internment. Ever since Japan and Italy became part of the Axis Powers, Canada acted with fear and immediately went against anyone with Japanese and Italian descent. The Canadian government made these enemy aliens suffer and took away their human rights. Whereas both the Japanese and Italian Canadians contributed to the war effort. Canada was blinded by xenophobia which resulted in internment of Japanese and Italian Canadians. In the course of the war governments acted in a heartless way in order to defeat other countries but did not realize by doing so substantial problems arose