o - Memorial University of Newfoundland DAI

Fascism amongst French and English-Canadians managed to grow and in some
areas flourish because Fascist orpniz.ations tapped into an existing slnin or latent
anti-semitism. They did not awe anti-semitism, they only used it to fiutber their
goals. Anri-Semitism in Canada was intmsified by the mountina pressure to allow
Jewish refuaees fleeina: Hitler into ear.da. While the Canadian Government did not
accept the political rdupes, believing that in times of unemp'oyment immigration
should be halted, the debate brought increasing anti-semitism to light. J Throughout
the L930s Fascist! were allowed, in the name of freedom or speech, to spread their
doctrine to Iarp secmena of the Canadian populK:e.
Between 1936 and 1940 many members of the Italian and German-Canadian
communities felt a conflicting loyalty between their bomdand and their adopced
councry. Added to this was the cOIl.(usion with which Canadian authoritic:.!l !¥kIed the
issues or nationality, citizenship and loyalty. During the mid·l9'30s the Canadian
government did not appear 10 have a problem accepting the interference of both the
German aDd Italian Consular Off"1Cia!s in Canadian affaD. Both Italian and German-­
Canadians were under tbe impression 1bat: the orpniz:aliods they joined wue approved
or by the Canadian aovrmment- Atxl, durina the 19JOs their impression was
undetstaodable u Prime Minisla' Kina. certainly up to the mid·l9JOs at least.
appeared to approve of bodt Hitler and Mussolini. Even when the Canadian
government realized the extent of the dnal they still did little until circumstances,
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