During Canada's first national internment operations of 1914-1920, thousands of Ukrainians and other Europeans were branded as “enemy aliens”, were forced to do heavy labour, had what little wealth they had confiscated, and lost their right to vote. They indured these indignities not because of anything they had done but only because of where they came from, who they were.
Bill C-331, The Ukrainian Canadian Restitution Act introduced by Hon. Inky Mark, M.P., is now before the House of Commons. It calls upon the Government to recognize this injustice and, by making use of that portion of the internees' wealth that was never returned, to develop national commemorative and educational programs, to ensure that no other ethnic, religious, or racial minority in Canada ever suffers as Ukrainian Canadians once did.
For this commendable purpose help is needed. Please ask your M.P. to support Bill C-331.
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Kommentaarid on kirjutatud EWR lugejate poolt. Nende sisu ei pruugi ühtida EWR toimetuse seisukohtadega.
Curious09 Mar 2005 07:17
Apart from Peter, I wonder if there is anyone else in Canada who would send their child to a full-time Estonian school?
Peter07 Mar 2005 06:58
All Estonian-speaking Canadians should support this bill. As a direct result of WW I, the Bilingual Education Act which was in effect in most Canadian provinces was scrapped and most non-English language schools were banned. The Anglos should pay restitution to Ukranians, Germans and other ethnic groups who were forced to educate their children in English. This could be a first step to bringing back full-time Estonian language education in Canada as part of a financial restitution program to reverse past injustices.
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