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Pearl Harbor
During this time the Americans were not involved in WWII. That is until the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor the effects and trauma of the ordeal could be felt all the way in Canada. Racism and discrimination rose exponentially in North American countries. Many Japanese had trouble finding jobs after that and were often secluded and shunned at work and other social places. -
Japanese Internment Camps
During WWII Canadadian civilians lived in fear of Japanese spies, Because of this the federal government took action. They removed all Japanese immigrants and Canadian civilians alike away from the coast and moved them into internment camps. They took away their property, boats, houses, anything they owned. A total of 27,000 Japanese were 'relocated' to these camps. -
The Issei
Keeping the internment camps under constant supervision dwindled the amount of white military officials Canada had at their dispossal. So the government allowed Canadian born Japanese known as 'Issei' to act as supervisors for slightly better living conditions. -
Living Conditions
The living conditions of the Japanese in the internment camps was far lower than what could be considered healthy. The roof leaked, rats infested most cabins, and you had to share a single cabin with usually 5 or more families. Hygiene was a thing of the past, showers or baths were extrremely difficult to acquire, since you had share the same bathroom with a large amount of people. -
Worked to the Bone
During WWII the Canadian government had a 'brilliant' idea to put the interned populace to work. This included Chinese and Natives, they worked on orchards and other odd jobs the white populace couldnt spend time on. With most of the white men at war, there was never a shortage of work to be done. -
Prime Minister Mackenzie King
Prinm Minister Mackenzie King had many commendable achievments ranging from the unemployment insurance, and tariff agreements with the US and Britain. Prior to the bombing of Pearl Harbor King was not viewed as a racist. However, historians point to a specific diary entry when referring to King's racism toward the Japanese. On August 6, 1945, King wrote in his diary:"It is fortunate that the use of the bomb should have been upon the Japanese rather than upon the white races of Europe." -
Repatrinated and Resettlement
In April 1945, Japanese Canadians were given the choice to move east of the Rockies or be repatriated to Japan. Many chose to move east to the city of Toronto. By 1947, most Japanese Canadians had moved from British Columbia to the Toronto area. -
1946-1970 Immigrants Boom Years
After WWII, Canada's number of immigrants and economy boomed. Since the war between the Japanese and Germans ended, Canada obtained a whopping amount of 430,000 immigrants. It included many races ranging from Japanese to German. over the course of 4 years. (1946-1950) exceeding the amout obtained in the last 15 years. -
Number of Immigrants 1910-1950
1910- Estimated 40,000
1920- Roughly around 175,000
1930- Around 150,000
1940- Around 135,000
1950-Canada recieves around 1,500,000 from Europe alone. -
Immigration Act
In 1952 a new Canadian Immigration Act was finalized. The 1952 legislation allowed Special Investigating Officers to deny entry on cultural, climactic, and social bases. In this manner, exclusions on the basis of race did not have to be explicitly stated in the legislation; they could be accomplished on a case-by-case basis. This deception allowed the federal government to escape international criticism or embarrassment, while at the same time keeping Canada "White."
