During the tumultuous years of the Second World War, Canada embarked on a deeply regrettable chapter in its history: the internment of Japanese Canadians. Beginning in 1942, this policy saw the forced relocation and incarceration of over 22,000 individuals – a staggering more than 90% of the entire Japanese Canadian population – from British Columbia. This drastic measure was enacted under the guise of national security, despite the fact that the vast majority of those affected were Canadian citizens by birth, loyal to their country.

The decision to intern Japanese Canadians followed a series of escalating global tensions and wartime events. After Imperial Japan’s invasions of British Hong Kong and Malaya, the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, and Canada’s subsequent declaration of war on Japan, a climate of fear and racial prejudice took root. This atmosphere fueled the government’s actions, leading to severe consequences for an entire community.

The Ordeal: Stripped of Rights and Property

From shortly after the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor until 1949, Japanese Canadians were systematically stripped of their basic human rights and possessions. They were subjected to government-enforced curfews, interrogations, and faced immense job and property losses. Their homes and businesses were seized, and families were forcibly sent to internment camps and farms, primarily within British Columbia, but also in other parts of Canada.

The internment was not merely a relocation; it encompassed the egregious theft, seizure, and forced sale of nearly all property belonging to this displaced population. Fishing boats, motor vehicles, family homes, farms, cherished businesses, and even personal belongings were confiscated. Adding insult to injury, Japanese Canadians were then compelled to use the meager proceeds from these forced sales to pay for their own basic needs and living expenses while incarcerated – a stark illustration of the injustice they faced.

Post-War Dispersals and Lingering Restrictions

Even as the war drew to a close, the hardships for Japanese Canadians continued. In August 1944, Prime Minister Mackenzie King announced a new policy: Japanese Canadians were to be moved east of the British Columbia Interior. The official directive stated that they must relocate east of the Rocky Mountains or face deportation to Japan, a country many had never even seen, following the end of the war. This created an impossible choice for many, fracturing communities and forcing them to start anew in unfamiliar territories.

While some exemptions to this enforced no-entry zone were granted by 1947, it wasn't until April 1, 1949 – a full four years after the war's end – that Japanese Canadians were finally granted full freedom of movement. Only then could they re-enter the "protected zone" along BC's coast, the very region from which they had been so cruelly expelled. The economic and psychological impact of these years of displacement and discrimination left deep, lasting scars.

A Path Towards Redress and Reconciliation

Decades later, in a pivotal moment for Canadian human rights, an official apology was finally delivered. On September 22, 1988, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney addressed the House of Commons, acknowledging the grave injustices committed. This momentous apology came just one month after President Ronald Reagan had made similar gestures in the United States concerning the internment of Japanese Americans, highlighting a broader movement towards rectifying historical wrongs.

Alongside the apology, the Canadian government announced a significant compensation package. This included a payment of CA$21,000 to each surviving internee, recognizing the profound suffering and losses endured. Furthermore, Canadian citizenship was reinstated for those who had been unjustly deported to Japan. Following Mulroney's apology, the Japanese Canadian Redress Agreement was formally established in 1988. This led to the creation of the Japanese Canadian Redress Foundation (JCRF), which operated from 1988 to 2002. Its mission was to issue these redress payments to internment victims and to fund educational initiatives, ensuring that this dark chapter of Canadian history would be remembered and learned from.

Frequently Asked Questions About Japanese Canadian Internment

What was the Japanese Canadian Internment?

The Japanese Canadian internment refers to the forcible relocation and incarceration of over 22,000 people of Japanese descent, mostly Canadian citizens, from British Columbia during World War II, based on unfounded fears of national security.

When did the internment take place?

The internment began in 1942, shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, and lasted until April 1, 1949, when Japanese Canadians were finally granted full freedom of movement.

Why were Japanese Canadians interned?

Following Japan's entry into World War II, fueled by a climate of wartime fear and long-standing racial prejudice, the Canadian government cited "national security" concerns to justify the removal of Japanese Canadians from the Pacific coast.

Who was affected by the internment?

Over 22,000 Japanese Canadians, comprising more than 90% of the total Japanese Canadian population at the time, were affected. The majority were Canadian citizens born in Canada.

What were the conditions like during internment?

Interned Japanese Canadians faced loss of jobs and property, were subjected to curfews, interrogations, and forced to live in rudimentary camps or on farms. Their property was seized and sold, with the proceeds often used to fund their own internment expenses.

Was there an official apology or compensation?

Yes, on September 22, 1988, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney issued an official apology, and the Canadian government announced a compensation package of CA$21,000 for each surviving internee, along with the reinstatement of citizenship for those who had been deported.