Ontario legislature recognizes Nanjing Massacre Commemorative Day

The provincial parliament of Ontario, home to Canada's largest Asian community, has unanimously passed a motion designating every Dec 13 as Nanjing Massacre Commemorative Day to commemorate the killing of 300,000 Chinese by Japanese troops in Nanjing during World War II.

Motion 66 approved on Thursday was proposed by Soo Wong, MPP, a member of the legislature and the first female Chinese-Canadian to be elected to the Ontario legislature.

"I am pleased that the legislature unanimously passed Motion 66 declaring December 13 the Nanjing Massacre Commemorate Day in Ontario," said Soo. "This day will allow all Ontarians to reflect, to honour and to remember the victims, survivors and families affected by the atrocity that occurred 80 years ago in Asia."

Bill 79 is the Nanjing Massacre Commemorate Day Act, the initial proposal raised by Soo, which passed its second reading by three Ontario political parties last year. It has already garnered more than 90,000 petition signatures, and If passed, Dec 13 will become an official commemorative day in the province.

Bu the bill faces objections from Tokyo and the local Japanese community to win passage as a private bill in the Ontario Legislature.

"From December 2016 to present, No Private Members Bills (PMB) have been passed in the Ontario legislature," Soo stated in the legislative session. "Given this fact, I introduced Motion 66 - Nanjing Massacre Commemorative Day - in the Ontario legislature to enable all MPPs to debate and vote on this motion on the same day."

While the bill is currently in the legislative process, the motion the Ontario legislature adopted might still be steps away from becoming a law, according to Karen Lin, an activist in the Chinese community. She said Ontario should have a "moral obligation" to tell future generations about the carnage, terror and tragedies that happened in the second World War.

"For the Chinese and other Asian communities in Ontario, this motion is of great importance," said Joseph Wong, founder of ALPHA Education, an organization that promotes a critical-historical investigation of the events of World War II in Asia.

According to Wong, the adoption shows the provincial legislature for the first time recognizes that atrocities in Asia's WWII, symbolized by the horrors of the Nanjing Massacre, did occur and important enough to be remembered every year, and promoted in Ontario’s education system.

"It also means that the heritage and history of the three million Asian Ontarians are being recognized and reflected in our legislature. It provides a space for the Chinese community to commemorate and honor the victims of the Nanjing Massacre, and a foundation on which all Asian communities can build trust and reconciliation and peace." Wong said.

"As educators we have the responsibility to ensure our students understand the realities of World War II in Asia so we can have a more authentic dialogue about social justice, courage and humanity," said Gerry Connelly, ALPHA Education Board member and a former director of education at the Toronto's district school board.

"This motion for the 'Nanjing Massacre Commemorative Day' is a big step in raising awareness to stimulate this dialogue," she said.

"The Ontario Legislature passing the Nanjing Massacre Commemorative Day motion has far-reaching and broad historical and education significance," said Peter Lin, president of the Confederation of Toronto Chinese-Canadian Organizations. "It allows Ontarians and descendants to gather together to remember and honour the victims, survivors, and families affected by the Nanjing Massacre."

renali@chinadailyusa.com