When Canada Tried to Exclude Black Americans

February, Black History Month, brings to mind the attempts authorities once made to keep Blacks out of Canada. One of the more notorious of these was made in the early years of the 20th century. It occurred in 1910, when federal officials wanted to seal the Canadian...

MAVERICK FEMALE POLITICIANS

For weeks now, two maverick female politicians have dominated the news, both fighting for what they regard as an inviolable principle: the non-interference of government in the judicial system.  Their actions bring to mind another maverick female politician, but...

THE CANADIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON REFUGEES

When the massacre of six men at a Quebec City mosque was commemorated In Parliament recently, the Conservative leader, Andrew Scheer, observed, “Our country has always welcomed those seeing freedom and better lives.” How wrong he was. Canadian history is replete with...

The “Accidental Immigrants”

The death on October 18, 2017 of Dr. Gregory Baum, one of the twentieth century’s leading Roman Catholic theologians, brings to mind the saga of Canada’s so-called “accidental immigrants.” These were the approximately 2,500 enemy aliens — for...

The Person’s case

It will probably come as a surprise to many Canadians that October 18 is Person’s Day, the day that commemorates an historic decision made on October 18, 1929. This was the ruling handed down by Canada’s then highest court of appeal — the Judicial...

Another Commemoration

This year, Canada celebrates its one hundred and fiftieth birthday. a century and a half as a nation based on immigration. There will, of course, be other public milestones marked this year, some of which will receive little recognition,but which, nevertheless,...