Scandal: Chinese Immigrants In Canada

Scandal: a disgraceful action with damage to reputation (Google). Though Canada may be a proud nation, much of the dark past is deeply buried. One of the many scandals of Canada includes forcing the Chinese to pay head taxes reveal Canada’s racist and unjust past. There is a significant relationship between the increasing amount of head taxes and the decreasing Chinese population in Canada. With the Gold Rush in the 1860s, many Chinese immigrants arrived in Canada to search for a fortune of their own. Little did they know that the head taxes would increase from fifty dollars to five hundred dollars in a matter of three years (n.a., Taxing) to reduce the numbers of Chinese immigrants. Inching its way with the small steps being taken to addressing
the few survivors and their descendants, the Canadian government begins the lengthy process of apologies and admittance to their former mistakes. The Gold Rush was effectively bringing the Chinese people to Canada.
It all began with the Fraser Gold Rush in 1857 and the Cariboo Gold Rush in 1861 (Chan, 14), many foreigners came to strike it rich in Canada. The majority of the miners were of the Chinese race (Chan, 13), much to the dismay of fellow Caucasian miners. Within just two years of the Fraser Gold Rush, the town of Victoria, British Columbia, has grown in population from just 300 to 4461, with the Chinese population at about 1580 (Chan, 15). This issue pertains to rights and laws that are relevant to the everyday life of the many Caucasian individuals, as many felt that the Chinese people were taking over all the jobs and eventually, their town. Anecdotal evidence often provides a deeper look into an issue, in this case, the story of Chin Wong. Chin came to Canada in 1911 at the age of twenty to find a job (The). He returned to China at the age of 40 to get married (The). He married late because he came from a poor background and the five hundred dollar head tax was almost impossible to pay off and put him in great debt (The). He returned to Canada within a year to avoid repaying the head tax and got a job in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory (The). He worked hard and was paid poorly, but at least he was starting to earn his keep (The). In 1947, when he made enough money, he paid one thousand dollars to get his wife and son to come to Canada (The). This was one of the many tales that revealed the hardships and
sufferings the Chinese people had to endure as they were prosecuted by the Caucasian race. There were many racist and unjust measures taken to avoid mass Chinese immigration, such as increased head taxes. The Chinese Immigration Act was modified several times, with important and significant changes in the 1900s (n.a., Taxing). In 1900, the original head tax of fifty dollars was doubled to a hundred dollars and required all the Chinese people who leave Canada to return in a year, or face paying the head tax upon stepping on Canadian soil (n.a., Taxing). Even though the head tax was doubled, the flow of Chinese immigrants had not stopped a single beat. Then, in 1903, the Act was revised yet again to increase the head tax to five hundred dollars (n.a., Taxing). This had slowed down the rush of Chinese immigrants (n.a., Taxing); however, there were still some men willing to risk all their life savings in order to have a job and live in Canada. However, this was still not enough for the Canadian government. In 1921, the laws was modified so that every person of Chinese origin who leaves Canada without registering will be handed a five hundred dollar head tax, as in the case of first arrival (n.a., Taxing). It was also added that the absence from Canada could go no longer than two years, otherwise, a five hundred dollar fee will be charged upon return (n.a., Taxing). This shows overwhelming evidence that the Canadian government is trying every way possible to keep the Chinese people out of Canada. And this is a racist and prejudiced act. The slow road to justice first begins with apologies and reparations by the Canadian government. It was not an easy path, and anti-Chinese feelings were prominent in the 1920s. This was evident in 1923, when the Chinese head tax was repealed, however, a new constitution, the Chinese Exclusion Act, came in place (Moran, 7). This forced many of the Chinese Canadians to return to China and prevented many more from entering. The goal of this legislature was to remove and prohibit any Chinese immigration, whatsoever. Because of the many hardships and sufferings they had to endure, many of the surviving former head tax payers and their descendants demand for apologies and compensations. The amendments began in 1947, when all the Chinese people who had paid the head tax became Canadian citizens (Moran, 7). This gave them the right to vote, to own farms and businesses, and to settle down on the Canadian soil that they can call home. Furthermore, in 1982, Canada passed the Charter legislature, which cites the sense of injustice towards the Chinese (Moran, 7). This was met with a huge round of approval from the Chinese Canadians. About 105 years from the first payment of the head tax, the Canadian government finally opens up with remorse and speaks of the racist and unjust acts that were humiliating to the Chinese Canadians. Stephen Harper, in 2006, expresses his “deepest sorrow for the subsequent exclusion of Chinese immigrants” (n.a., Prime). Harper had promised that he will make “symbolic payments” of 20,000 dollars to the former head tax payer or their spouse if deceased (n.a., Prime). Though quite late, it was the least the Canadian government could do by admitting to the past mistakes and compensate for the damage done. Though Canada may be a great and powerful nation, the future generations should not forget the many wrongs of Canada.
Forcing the Chinese people to pay the head tax is a glimpse of Canada’s racist and unjust past. The Canadian government had many hideous ideas in mind to restrict the flow of the Chinese immigrants streaming into Canada. This was evident in the increasing head taxes over the years, as well as the Chinese Exclusion Act. The Canadian government has only begun this long and tedious journey of apologies, reparations, and acknowledging the Chinese people as true Canadian citizens. Canada has much explaining to do, and no matter what the circumstances are, the Chinese people have suffered long enough to earn a few words and actions from the Canadian government. Without any actions being taken or accounted for, many of the Chinese people feel undervalued and not a true Canadian citizen. Canadians should work together and not look at each other’s race. It is a matter of individuality and uniqueness that makes Canada a mosaic of humankind, all part of a whole, a country, who is proud of its colourful and diverse nation, a country that is honoured to be a part of a new civilization. A country called
Canada.