New Canadian

An editorial from March 3, 1942 (source - Kitagawa, 8-9)

The first steps taken - immobilization of fishing boats, special registration, parole permits, and detention of certain individuals - were accepted, on the whole, as obviously necessary in war-time.

More drastic steps emerging from the Ottawa conference in January - the removal of alien nationals and the banning of short-wave radios and cameras - were likewise accepted. In spite of the fact that almost a quarter of its gainfully employed were affected by the removal order, the whole community was prepared to recognize that government authorities were forced to draw some line between citizens and non-citizens in guarding against the most probable source of danger.

But tremendous pressure - arising in the first place from very sorry sources indeed - was brought to bear upon the government. In quick order, a whole series of repressive measures, unlike anything before in the history of the nation, have been authorized. In effect, the new orders uproot completely without regard some 23,000 men, women and children; brand every person of Japanese origin as disloyal and traitorous; and reduce to nothing the concept and value of Canadian citizenship.