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Communities seeking redress & reparations |
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In Canada's history there have been various racial, ethnic and religious groups who have suffered historical injustices, including colonialism, slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, and internment, among other forms of gross human and civil rights violations based on discriminatory and racist policies and practices. We cannot discount the fact that these injustices that were carried out in the past, were not carried out as the aberrant conduct of a few private individuals. Rather, they were decisions and actions that were institutionalized and systematically carried out by the state against particular groups of people. They were actions that were systematically implemented to contribute to the political, economic and social development of Canada, at the very least. These injustices have resulted in varying degrees of marginalization and in some cases, exclusion in terms of economic, political, social, cultural and civil rights status and opportunities for many of these groups, some markedly more than others. It has also left indelible marks of social exclusion that have transcended successive generations for these groups of people.
Consequently, for these Canadians, some form of redress or reparations, is considered to be of paramount importance in the scope of measures considered to be appropriate to compensate for historical injustices -- historical injustices that underpin the present day continuing discrimination and racism that they face, through successive generations.
Prior to the recessing of Parliament May 2004, for the federal election, a Private Member's Bill for both the Chinese and Ukrainian redress claims was tabled in the House of Commons by Member of Parliament, Inky Mark. Reportedly, the Bill has received the support of both the Conservative and NDP parties.
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