Modern Liberalism In Canada

The government must take decisive action to protect citizens during times of crisis. During periods of stability, however, citizens must have freedom from unnecessary government control.

This source is a reflection of modern liberalism, the author believe that the government should not infringe on people’s rand freedoms during time of peace and stability. However during times of crisis, the government should take away the rights and freedoms of citizens. Modern liberalism is reflected heavily in developed countries, as civil rights and liberties are valued and protected by law. Modern liberalism brings together equality and rights as supported by the government, such as a constitution. In usual situations, civil liberties are not infringed
The belief of many is similar if not the same as that the author of the source portrays. There have been several times throughout history when Canada has followed the values of the source and suspended civil liberties in an attempt to contain a situation or return stability to the country. Many of the times Canada has done it, they have built up a face of fear towards the situation. An example of this was the internment of Japanese Canadians following the bombing of Pearl Harbour in 1941. After the attacks, Canada, who was already part of the war effort, declared war on Japan and internerd anybody of Japanese descent as an Enemy Alien. People were uprooted from their homes and moved to camps, sometimes across the entire country. Their belongings and properties were sold for barely what they’re worth. Why? The Canadian government used fear and propaganda to intern Canadian citizens, who just so happened to be of Japanese descent. They were treated as enemies of the country, despite being innocent. The government claimed that there was a crises within the country, and activated the War Measures Act, successfully suspending the rights of citizens. Thousands of Canadians had their lives changed forever, and for what? A crises? A crises that led to no deaths within Canada, nor any attacks. Pearl Harbour, while tragic, was an American crises, not Canadian. Yet the government suspended the liberties of thousands, claiming they were a danger. How is this justified? What danger was their to the people of Canada? How did the people born in the country, who just so happened to have been born of Japanese descent, put the country in danger? The answer it simple, they didn’t. The government used the bombing as an excuse to take away to rights of innocent