Much has been written over the past two years about the Ukrainian-Canadian community's efforts aimed at securing a government acknowledgement to the effect that this country's First World War period internment operations were wrong. Between 1914-20 our people and other East Europeans were unjustly labelled as "enemy aliens," interned, disenfranchised and had their valuables and properties confiscated, often never to be returned.
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress's Civil Liberties Commission has been at the forefront of the redress campaign, carrying on with the same imagination and drive that it brought to its fine work during the critical years of the Deschênes Commission. Now, the UCC has gone a step further by establishing a formal negotiating team to resolve the twin issues of acknowledgement and redress. Our community leaders have also begun working with other ethnocultural groups (i.e. Chinese, Japanese and Italian Canadians) who suffered similar indignities at the hands of the federal authorities in years past.
To help sensitize those who may not as yet know enough about Canada's first national internment operations and their negative impact on our community, the CLC recently sent out a mass mailing, asking all those who receive its literature to help by sending the postcards and leaflets which it has provided on to the Prime Minister, other members of Cabinet and local MPs, urging Ottawa to deal expeditiously and fairly with our case. To continue with its research, educational and lobbying work the CLC is also asking our people to reach into their pockets and give generously in support of this important work. Along with the national executive of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress we whole-heartedly endorse this welcome campaign and ask all our readers and supporters, from western, central and eastern Canada, to do whatever is necessary to help the CLC resolve these issues in our community's best interests. The time for unity of purpose and commitment, from coast to coast, is upon us. Let Ottawa hear only one voice from now on, the voice that is calling for "Redress Now!"
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Document URL: http://www.infoukes.com/history/internment/booklet02/doc-052.html
Copyright © 1994 Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association
Copyright © 1994 Lubomyr Luciuk
We acknowledge the help in the preparation of this document by Amanda Anderson
Page layout, design, integration, and maintenance by G.W. Kokodyniak and V. Pawlowsky
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Originally Composed: Tuesday December 3rd 1996.
Date last modified: Thursday October 30th 1997.