Canada to acknowledge injustice against Chinese

Canada has designated the Exclusion of Chinese Immigrants as an event of national historic significance.

"The designation of the Exclusion of Chinese Immigrants as a national historic event, 100 years since its enactment, acknowledges the tragic injustice that Chinese Canadians suffered while also offering an opportunity to reflect on the importance of combating anti-Asian racism," said Steven Guilbeault, minister of environment and climate change and minister responsible for Parks Canada.

The designation on Tuesday means there is now an official memorialization of the grave historical injustice of the Chinese Exclusion Act, acknowledging its xenophobia, human rights violation, racial discrimination and systemic racism.

It hampered the development and engagement of the Chinese community and had an adverse impact on generations of Chinese families, according to Lloyd Wong, an associate professor emeritus of sociology at the University of Calgary.

"Our hope is that this memorialization will serve as a call for all Canadians and key institutions in Canada to strengthen educational efforts which recognize the long-term impacts of this exclusionary legislation and to be aware and to combat contemporary anti-Asian and anti-Chinese racism in Canada while never forgetting the past," said Teresa Woo-Paw, chair of the Action, Chinese Canadians Together Foundation.

The 1923 legislation replaced the first Chinese Immigration Act, also known as the Chinese Exclusion Act, of 1885, which included various head taxes (entry taxes) among other measures to deter immigration from China.

After the act was repealed in 1947, Chinese immigration was placed under the jurisdiction of the Immigration Act in the category of Asian immigration more broadly. Asian immigration was limited to spouses and unmarried children aged 18 or younger of men already living in Canada.

In 1955, the age restriction for dependents was increased to 25. In 1967, overt racial restrictions were removed, and the Immigration Act has continued to evolve.

Official apology

In 2006, after two decades of lobbying, Chinese Canadians received an official apology from the federal government for the head taxes and the exclusion of Chinese immigrants.

Mary Ng, Canada minister of small business, export promotion and international trade, said the Exclusion Act not only prevented Chinese immigrants from coming to Canada, but also reinforced the negative stereotypes and prejudice against Chinese Canadians.

"We contribute to every aspect of Canadian life, from business to arts and culture to sports and science to teachers, to front-line healthcare workers, to farmers, to professionals, and of course to political life," Ng said at an event commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Exclusion Act in Toronto.

"I'm happy to say that now we have eight Chinese-descent Members of Parliament in Canada across all parties, and we serve Canadians in different parts of the country," Ng said. "So, all of us together make an incredibly strong voice."

Canada senators Victor Oh and Yuen Pau Woo, in partnership with the Action, Chinese Canadians Together Foundation, will host a National Remembrance Ceremony on June 23 to mark the 100th anniversary of the introduction of the Chinese Exclusion Act.