Why did the Ukrainian-Canadians, Italian-Canadians, and Japanese-Canadians have their rights taken away?

• A. Because the government believed they would overwhelm the economy
• B. Because they were the only immigrants allowed
• C. Canada wanted to promote assimilation
• D. Because the Canadian government believed that the immigrants may have been a threat to society

Answer: (D)

During wartime, governments sometimes restrict civil liberties when they fear security threats. In Canada’s history, people from countries at war with Canada were viewed as potential risks. This led to emergency measures that limited freedoms, confiscated property, and, in the case of Japanese-Canadians during World War II, forced relocation to internment camps. Ukrainian-Canadian and Italian-Canadian communities were also affected when labeled as enemy aliens in the wartime period. The common thread is the belief that these groups could threaten society, so rights were taken away to protect national security.