Blog
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 most part German and...
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 Committee of the...
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,...
Refugee Rights day
Since refugees are commanding so much attention these days, it's appropriate that Canada celebrates Refugee Rights Day annually on April 4. It marks the anniversary of the Supreme Court's far-reaching 1985 Singh decision. This landmark decision takes its name from...
Canada’s Proposed Immigration Ban
Has Canada ever implemented or attempted to implement an immigration ban similar to US President Donald Trump’s recent executive order prohibiting the entry of individuals from seven predominantly Muslim countries? The answer, unfortunately, is “yes.” In 1911, steps...
Conspicuous Consumption
On of the many things that we invariably associate with this holiday period is food — and lots of it. Whether we are celebrating Christmas or Hanukkah, which this year began on the evening of Saturday, December 24 and ends on the evening of Sunday, January 1, 2017,...
“Canadianization”
Conservative leadership contender Kellie Leitch has certainly ignited a controversy with her suggestion that prospective immigrants to Canada should be vetted for "anti-Canadian values." In making this pitch, she's probably trying to enlist the support of hard-core...