 At the start of World War II, William Lyon Mackenzie King and his government rounded up anyone they felt posed a threat to the federal government.  This list included Enemy Aliens, Communists and Extreme Radicals.  The government rounded up a total of 2,400 people and imprisoned them.  Of that 2,400, half of them were political opponents who were Communists and Extreme Radicals

 The War Measures Act (WMA) was created in 1914 by Prime Minister Robert Borden  The WMA gave immense power to the government. It allowed them to:  (a) Censor, control and suppress publications, writings, maps, plans, photographs, communications and all other means of communication;  (b) Arrest, detain, and deport any citizen they feel necessary;  (c) Allow martial law (military control) in society;  (d) Permit arrests without habeas corpus (right to due process) and set up curfews for citizens;  (e) Any person who is an enemy alien would not be released upon bail or otherwise discharged or tried, without the consent of the Minister of Justice;

 December 7, 1941 Japan attacks Pearl Harbour. That same day President Franklin Delano Roosevelt declares war on Japan.  Within a few days FDR rounds up US Japanese citizens that his government felt posed a threat to US citizens.  British Columbians use the attack on Pearl Harbour as their means to “eliminate oriental's from their province” and racism becomes patriotiism as well.

 Jan. 7, 1941  A Special Committee of the Cabinet War Committee recommends that Japanese Canadians not be allowed to volunteer for the armed services on the grounds that there is strong public opinion against them.  Dec. 7, 1941  Japan attacks Pearl Harbor. Canada declares war on Japan. Under the War Measures Act, an Order in Council calls upon all Japanese nationals to register with the Registrar of Enemy Aliens.  Dec. 8, 1941  1,200 fishing boats are impounded and put under the control of the Japanese Fishing Vessel Disposal Committee. Japanese language newspapers and schools are closed. Insurance policies are cancelled.

 Dec. 16, 1941  Government passes motion requiring mandatory registration of all persons of Japanese origin, regardless of citizenship, with Registrar of Enemy Aliens.  Feb.7, 1942  All male "enemy aliens" between the ages of are forced to leave the protected coastal area before April 1. Most are sent to work on road camps in the Rockies.  Feb. 24, 1942  Government empowers the Minister of Justice to control the movements of all persons of Japanese origin in the protected area.

 Feb. 26, 1942  Notice is issued by the Minister of Justice ordering all persons of "the Japanese race" to leave the coast. Cars, cameras and radios confiscated. Dusk-to- dawn curfew is imposed.  Mar. 25, 1942  B.C. Security Commission initiates a program of assigning men to road camps and women and children to ghost town detention camps.  Oct  22,000 persons of whom 75% are Canadian citizens (60% Canadian born, 15% naturalized) have been uprooted forcibly from the coast.

 Jan. 23, 1943  Order in Council grants the Custodian of Enemy Alien Property the right to dispose of Japanese Canadian properties in his care without the owners' consent.  Aug  Prime Minister King states it is desirable that Japanese Canadians are dispersed across Canada. Applications for "voluntary repatriation" to Japan are sought by the Canadian government. Those who do not must move east of the Rockies to prove their loyalty to Canada. "Repatriation" for many means exile to a country they have never seen before.  Sept. 2, 1944  All internment camps are ordered closed and Japanese in internment camps make a decision to go to Japan or stay in Canada

 1) Before the decision to move Japanese citizens from British Columbia’s coast to internment camps, the RCMP concluded to both the B.C. government and Federal government that Japanese citizens posed no threat to Canadians.  “I cannot see that they constitute the slightest menace to national security” – General Maurice Pope on the proposed round-up of Japanese citizens.

 2) At the end of the war, the Canadian government gave Japanese citizens two options:  a) the federal government would pay for the transportation of their family back to Japan or  b) Japanese citizens would have to find their own way to live on their own east of the rocky mountains.  *Note that all of the Japanese citizens personal items were confiscated and sold at government auctions. Also 70% of these citizens were Canadian born citizens.

 It was not until 1988 that our government apologized for the mistreatment of Japanese citizens during World War II.  Any Japanese citizen who was still alive in 1988 was given $21,000 for the mistreatment of our government.  The government would not pay the $21,000 to survivors of family members who went through the hardship of the internment camps.

 1) Was it right for the government to set up internment camps for Japanese Citizens? Yes or No and why?  2) What were the pros and cons of treating the Japanese the way we did?  3) What kind of reaction would we have in our current era if we set up such camps for any other ethnic group?  4) Should a government use the War Measures Act? If so, what would be grounds to use it in our current era?  5) How would you feel if you were a Japanese citizen in Canada and you knew that your private properties were sold at government auctions, and that you were (forced*) to return back to Japan once the war was over?

 1) What was the biggest thing that shocked you about the government’s policy on internment camps? Why?  2) Do you think the government was justified in what they did? Explain  3) Can you see a time when we may have to use the War Measures Act in our current era, much like they did during World War II? If so when and why?