Canada v Nishi

Canada v Nishi

In Re Immigration Act and Toku Nishi et al., [1928] 41 BCR 199
Masakichi Nishi arrived in Canada in 1914, obtaining a certificate of naturalization. His wife, Toku Nishi, and their two children arrived in Canada in 1928, and were refused entry. A Board of Inquiry determined that they were “within the class of prohibited immigrants” and could not enter until they held valid passports issued by “the Government of the country of which they were subjects or citizens.” (200) The applicants claimed they had a right to enter Canada according to section 3, subsection (t) of the Immigration Act. Justice Murphy noted that this section’s provisions only concerned the illiteracy of the immigrating relatives of admitted immigrants; as the Nishi family was “otherwise disqualified,” due to their lack of a proper passport, they were prohibited from landing. (200) The application was dismissed.
Plaintiffs
Defendants
The Crown
Judges

Metadata

Title

Canada v Nishi

Credits

Researcher: Monique F. Ulysses
Researcher: Lauren Chalaturnyk
Metadata author: Connell Parish
Metadata author: Gordon Lyall
Publication Information: See Terms of Use for publication and licensing information.
Source: British Columbia Supreme Court. British Columbia Reports. 1928.

Terminology

Readers of these historical materials will encounter derogatory references to Japanese Canadians and euphemisms used to obscure the intent and impacts of the internment and dispossession. While these are important realities of the history, the Landscapes of Injustice Research Collective urges users to carefully consider their own terminological choices in writing and speaking about this topic today as we confront past injustice. See our statement on terminology, and related sources here.