TorontoNAJC April Update
April 3, 2019
National Association of Japanese Canadians (NAJC) Negotiations with the Government of British Columbia -Public Consultations on B.C. Redress to be Held Across Canada
On March 20th National NAJC President Lorene Oikawa confirmed on a NAJC country-wide conference call that the British Columbia government has provided funding to hold community consultations on Redress measures. Consultations will be held in April, May and June.
A national Steering Committee has been appointed and includes; Eiko Eby and Les Kojima (NAJC National Executive); Art Miki and Justice Maryka Omatsu (NAJC Advisory Panel on BC Redress); Judy Hanazawa (President of the Greater Vancouver JCCA, Lynn Deutscher Kobayashi (President of the Greater Toronto Chapter of the NAJC) and Kevin Okabe (NAJC Executive Director). The steering committee will work with local chapters in carrying out these consultations.
The results of these consultations will be incorporated into a redress proposal to be presented to the B.C government in early fall. The solicitation of input will take multiple forms including public meetings; phone conference call meetings; website updates and in Toronto, an online form/questionnaire will be posted at www.torontonajc.ca after the final consultation for those unable to participate in-person.
TORONTO B.C. REDRESS CONSULTATION #1
DATE: Sunday, April 28, 2019
TIME: 1:30 P.M. to 4 P.M.
LOCATION: Momiji Healthcare Services at 3555 Kingston Rd, Scarborough, Ontario.
Email torontonajc@gmail.com or call 647 932-1296
You can register using the form on our B.C. Redress page.
BACKGROUNDOn May 7, 2012, the Legislature of British Columbia made the following apology to Japanese Canadians who were uprooted, dispossessed and imprisoned during the Second World War.
Honourable Naomi Yamamoto: (Liberal MLA, BC Minister of Advanced Education at that time)
“Be it resolved that this House apologizes for the events during the Second World War, when under the authority of the federal War Measures Act, 21,000 Japanese Canadians were incarcerated in internment camps in the interior of British Columbia and had their property seized. The House deeply regrets that these Canadians were discriminated against simply because they were of Japanese descent and believes that all Canadians regardless of their origins should be welcomed and respected.”
Subsequent to the apology, the B.C. Liberal Government did not offer any redress measures and overtures by the NAJC for further discussion were rebuffed. The 1988 Federal redress agreement, in contrast, resulted in funding for many organizations and individuals including Momiji Health Care Services, language schools and cultural centers.
With the formation of a new NDP government in 2017 the NAJC developed a plan to reopen talks on redress measures. In April 2018 President David Mitsui met with Premier Horgan followed by meetings in December and January with government officials with the current President, Lorene Oikawa.
70TH Anniversary of FREEDOM DAY Celebration
April 1, 2019
We did it! After a year of talking about commemorating this important date we launched what we hope will be an annual event. April 1, 1949 was the day that all JC’s given the vote and were able to live anywhere in Canada. Thanks to Ryerson University and the office of Dean of Arts, Pamela Sugiman a wonderful evening of franchise facts and friendship took place. Our quiz winner took home some beautiful Japanese paper donated by the Japanese Paper Place. We reached our target capacity with exactly 75 guests. Those born before April 1, 1949 were given complimentary tickets.
Thanks to our Sponsors; Ryerson University and Yosh Inouye Committee; Pat Deutscher, Lynn Deutscher Kobayashi, Ron Shimizu and Michelle Walters and Volunteers; Steven Deutscher-Kobayashi, Derek Sakauye and Thuy Truong. Thanks to our poster designer Derek Sakauye.
TORONTO NAJC HUMAN RIGHTS / SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE
We will hold our first meeting in May. Please email freedomdaycommittee@gmail.com if you are interested in joining. We have a committee of ten in place and would like to have 2-3 others.
We are starting to plan for our fall event to take place in early November. A presentation by constitutional lawyer Eric Adams on HOW JAPANESE CANADIANS SHAPED THE CANADIAN CONSTITUTION.
We will also debrief on the Freedom Day event and generate ideas for Freedom Day 2020.