Question 1 The Mennonites came to Canada because they were promised religious freedom, the right to operate their own schools, and exemption from military service. True. After a history of persecution, one of the conditions of Mennonite immigration to Canada was the right to operate their own schools where Bible lessons and the German language would be taught. It was only a number of years, however, before the Manitoba government reneged on those privileges as well as the one granting military exemption. In 1890 the Manitoba Public School Act was passed declaring all public schools state-controlled, tax-supported and non-sectarian. Pleas and petitions for compromise were made by the Mennonite community but to no avail. The Mennonites then continued on their migration to Saskatchewan, and then Alberta. Next Top of Page