Unjust Society in Canada, History

345 Words2 Pages
Prime Minister described “Just Society” as one in which everybody will be free in all types of expression. It was the ideal concept for a united Canada, where all the citizens will have the motivation to participate in the development of our country. Over the past few decades, Canada has been on the leading edge with equality between people, this has not always been the case. Canada discriminated its own Ukrainian-Canadians, Japanese-Canadians, and Chinese-Canadians. For these examples, Canada has not always been a “Just Society.” The first example of “unjust” society in Canada was shown toward the Ukrainians. During the First World War, Ukrainian-Canadians were branded as “enemy aliens.” Thousands of Ukrainians were interred under the War Measure Act of 1914. The Act gave also took away their right to vote for many immigrants from Ukraine. Ukrainian prisoners endured hungers and forced labour. They were not given much basic needs, leading to some prisoner to illness and even death. Even though Canada was not getting enough military enlistment during the First World War, the Canadian governments barred Ukrainian-Canadians from enlisting. For these reasons, Canada discriminated its own Ukrainian-Canadians. The last case of “unjust” society in Canada is the treatment toward the Chinese-Canada. The Chinese have contributed countless of efforts to build one of most important asset of the country, the Canadian Pacific Railways. The Chinese were mistreated by the Canadian government in many ways such as wages, basic needs, and job protections. Even after when the railway was completed, the Canadian government continues to impose further more segregation onto the Chinese from the general society. Actions like gradually incremented head taxes and elimination of their right to vote are things that the government has done. For these actions, Canada discriminated its own
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