Ottawa, August 1, 2011 — The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, issued the following statement recognizing the historical importance of August 1, Emancipation Day.
“On this day in 1834, slavery became illegal throughout the British Empire.
“In the late 1700s, a movement to abolish the transatlantic slave trade emerged in the British Parliament. Shortly thereafter, in 1793, Upper Canada, led by Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe, became the first province in the Empire to move toward abolition. This encouraged thousands of slaves to follow “the North Star” from the United States to Canada via the anti-slavery network that became known as the Underground Railroad.
“Many of these grateful free black men fought gallantly for the Empire against American expansionism in the War of 1812 and, in 1819, the Attorney General of Upper Canada, Sir John Robinson, declared that Canadian courts would guarantee the freedom of slaves who took up residence within our borders. Fifteen years later, on August 1, 1834, Canada's example became the general rule of Empire.
“Canadians are proud to have led the fight to end slavery. From Mathieu de Costa to the black Loyalists, black Canadians form a treasured part of our Dominion's history. Their stories are our history, their inspiration our legacy, and their emulation our duty.
While other countries continue to condone and suborn slavery, oppression and human trafficking around the world, Canadians should not fear to stand as our ancestors did against this ancient evil or, like them, be outspoken in defense of individual liberty and the rule of law.
“Today, in particular, we also remember the work of abolitionists such as William Wilberforce across the British Empire. Men and women who worked to drive popular opinion against complacent commercial interests, often at great personal sacrifice, that others might share their freedom.”
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For further information (media only), please contact:
Candice Malcolm
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca
