Resources and Publications Briefs and Position Papers Claims within the canadian context | Claims within the canadian context |
|
|
|
|
Within the Canadian context, there are several groups seeking some form of redress and reparations for historical acts of injustices brought against their ancestors, and in some cases survivors, by governments in Canada. Starting with the Aboriginal peoples, their land claims and treaty compliance (grounded in the Canadian Constitution, and before that the British North American Act) by the Canadian Government are at the core of their quest for redress. Separate from other groups seeking redress and reparations, the situation of Aboriginal peoples is considered as a distinct matter, premised on their status and identity as the first peoples of Canada and their related rights to nationhood and self-determination which were destroyed through the theft of their land, language and culture by the colonizers -- the effects of which are still evident among Aboriginal peoples and their communities. Consequently, Aboriginal peoples call for redress and reparations is approached differently from other communities. In addition to Aboriginal claims, there are several other racial, ethnic and religious groups who are seeking redress and reparations. According to Gerald L. Gall, May M. Cheng and Keiko Miki in their "Paper on Redress for Past Government Wrongs", prepared for the Secretary of State, Multiculturalism for the UN World Conference in 2001, there are currently 11 redress claims that have been put forward by several different ethno-racial and religious communities for past wrongs which include:
Regardless of where these communities are positioned on the continuum of engagement with government, they are purposeful in their positions and their expected outcomes. Canada's record on providing settlements for redress and reparations Since the settlement of the Japanese Canadian Redress Claim in 1988, the Canadian Government adopted a de facto "closed door" policy on any dialogue or consideration of redress and reparations for historical injustices. In fact, it has generally been accepted that the federal government established the CRRF as part of the Japanese Canadian Redress Settlement instead of paying reparations to other groups seeking redress. To some extent this was seen as a preemptive strike against the settlement of further redress claims. The Act establishing the Foundation cites, as one of the preambular statements: "And whereas, in concluding the Japanese Canadian Redress Agreement with the National Association of Japanese Canadians, the Government of Canada has condemned the excesses of the past, reaffirmed the principles of justice and equality for all in Canada and undertaken to establish a race relations Foundation" Although, the Canadian Government has declared its objection to any further provisions of redress and reparations, this has not deterred communities in the pursuit (often with steady vigilance) of their demands. In view of this moral and political divide between the Canadian Government and several discriminated communities, the strategic support of anti-racism organizations, like the CRRF and other civil society actors can play an important catalytic role in furthering progress on this agenda, and supporting the rights of communities who have legitimate claims to such measures. |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
 |  |  |
Copyright © 2005 - 2012 :: Canadian Race Relations Foundation ::Fondation canadienne des relations raciales.
