The Chinese Immigration Act, 1923, also known as the "Chinese Exclusion Act" (the duration of which has been dubbed the Exclusion Era),[1] was a Canadian Act of Parliament passed by the government of Liberal Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King, banning most forms of Chinese immigration to Canada.[2][3] Immigration from most countries was controlled or restricted in some way, but only the Chinese were completely prohibited from immigrating to Canada.
Before 1923, Chinese immigration was heavily controlled by the Chinese Immigration Act of 1885, which imposed an onerous head tax on all immigrants from China.
After various members of the federal and some provincial governments (especially British Columbia) put pressure on the federal government to discourage Chinese immigration, the Chinese Immigration Act was passed. It went into effect on 1 July 1923. The Act banned immigrants of Chinese heritage from entering Canada except those under the following titles:
Because Canada became a signatory following World War II of the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights, with which the Chinese Immigration Act was inconsistent, the Canadian Parliament repealed the act on 14 May 1947 (following the proclamation of the Canadian Citizenship Act, 1946 on 1 January 1947). However, independent Chinese immigration to Canada came only after the liberalization of Canadian immigration policy under the governments of John Diefenbaker and Lester Pearson, first by the elimination of restrictions based on national origins in 1962, followed by the establishment of the world's first points-based immigration system in 1967.[4]
Redress and legacyedit
Since the 1 July Dominion Day holiday coincided with the enforcement of the Chinese Immigration Act, Chinese-Canadians at the time referred to the anniversary of Confederation as "Humiliation Day" and refused to take any part in the celebration.[5][6][7]
On 22 June 2006, then-Prime MinisterStephen Harper apologized in the House of Commons.[8] The first phrase of the apology was spoken in Cantonese Chinese, despite the overwhelming number of affected Chinese who are versed in the Taishanese dialect. He announced that the survivors or their spouses will be paid approximately CA$20,000 in compensation for the head tax.
On 15 May 2014, then-Premier of British ColumbiaChristy Clark apologized in the Legislative Assembly.[9] The apology motion was unanimously passed and aims to make amends for historic wrongs. Unlike the federal apology, no individual compensation was provided. However, CA$1 million was promised to be put into a legacy fund which would help legacy initiatives. The formal apology went through a three-month consultation period with various parties to help ensure that the apology was done properly.
The centenary of the bill's commencement was marked on 1 July 2023; a national remembrance ceremony was held by the Senate on 23 June, while proclamations and memorial ceremonies were held in communities such as Calgary and Halifax.[5][6][7][13] The newly-founded Chinese Canadian Museum in Vancouver also opened to the public that day.[14][15]
^"Chinese Canadian Recognition and Restitution Act". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Commons, Canada. 2005-04-18. p. 1100.
^Stoke, Harold W. (1933). "Some Problems of Canadian Federalism". American Political Science Review. 27 (5): 806. doi:10.2307/1946903. ISSN 0003-0554. JSTOR 1946903. S2CID 147095086.
^"Chinese Immigration Act, 1923 | Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21". pier21.ca. Retrieved 2022-12-06.
^Ng, Wing Chung (1999). The Chinese in Vancouver, 1945-80: The Pursuit of Identity and Power. UBC Press. pp. 120–121. ISBN978-0-7748-0733-3.
^ abMan, Guida; Wong, Keefer (2023-07-06). "A century after the Chinese Exclusion Act, Chinese women still face challenges in Canada". The Conversation. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
^ ab"Government to recognize historical significance of Canada's ban on Chinese immigrants". CTVNews. 2023-05-29. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
^"Throwback Thursday: 'The Red Tiger' by Chuck Lim". 25 February 2021.
^Jiang, Xixi (2023-06-26). "Even after 100 years, the Chinese Exclusion Act's painful legacy still stings". New Canadian Media. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
^"Legacy of Canada's ban on Chinese immigration lasted longer than the law". CTVNews. 2023-07-01. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
^"Chinese Canadian Museum opens in B.C., 100 years after Exclusion Act took effect". Goldstream News Gazette. 2023-06-30. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
External linksedit
Wikisource has original text related to this article:
Chinese Immigration Act, 1923
February 16, 2024
chinese, immigration, 1923, also, known, chinese, exclusion, duration, which, been, dubbed, exclusion, canadian, parliament, passed, government, liberal, prime, minister, william, lyon, mackenzie, king, banning, most, forms, chinese, immigration, canada, immig. The Chinese Immigration Act 1923 also known as the Chinese Exclusion Act the duration of which has been dubbed the Exclusion Era 1 was a Canadian Act of Parliament passed by the government of Liberal Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King banning most forms of Chinese immigration to Canada 2 3 Immigration from most countries was controlled or restricted in some way but only the Chinese were completely prohibited from immigrating to Canada Chinese Immigration Act 1923Parliament of CanadaEnacted by14th Canadian ParliamentCommenced1 July 1923Repealed14 May 1947RepealsChinese Immigration Act 1922 Chinese Immigration Act 1887 Chinese Immigration Act 1885Repealed byCanadian Citizenship Act 1946Status RepealedThe act was repealed in May 1947 after World War II due to Canada having been a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Contents 1 History 2 Redress and legacy 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory editBefore 1923 Chinese immigration was heavily controlled by the Chinese Immigration Act of 1885 which imposed an onerous head tax on all immigrants from China After various members of the federal and some provincial governments especially British Columbia put pressure on the federal government to discourage Chinese immigration the Chinese Immigration Act was passed It went into effect on 1 July 1923 The Act banned immigrants of Chinese heritage from entering Canada except those under the following titles Diplomat Foreign student Special circumstance granted by the Minister of Immigration under Article 9 of the Act This is the class that former Governor General Adrienne Clarkson s family fell under MerchantBecause Canada became a signatory following World War II of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights with which the Chinese Immigration Act was inconsistent the Canadian Parliament repealed the act on 14 May 1947 following the proclamation of the Canadian Citizenship Act 1946 on 1 January 1947 However independent Chinese immigration to Canada came only after the liberalization of Canadian immigration policy under the governments of John Diefenbaker and Lester Pearson first by the elimination of restrictions based on national origins in 1962 followed by the establishment of the world s first points based immigration system in 1967 4 Redress and legacy editSince the 1 July Dominion Day holiday coincided with the enforcement of the Chinese Immigration Act Chinese Canadians at the time referred to the anniversary of Confederation as Humiliation Day and refused to take any part in the celebration 5 6 7 On 22 June 2006 then Prime Minister Stephen Harper apologized in the House of Commons 8 The first phrase of the apology was spoken in Cantonese Chinese despite the overwhelming number of affected Chinese who are versed in the Taishanese dialect He announced that the survivors or their spouses will be paid approximately CA 20 000 in compensation for the head tax On 15 May 2014 then Premier of British Columbia Christy Clark apologized in the Legislative Assembly 9 The apology motion was unanimously passed and aims to make amends for historic wrongs Unlike the federal apology no individual compensation was provided However CA 1 million was promised to be put into a legacy fund which would help legacy initiatives The formal apology went through a three month consultation period with various parties to help ensure that the apology was done properly On 22 April 2018 then Mayor of Vancouver British Columbia Gregor Robertson issued a formal public apology 10 The Act and its legacy have been the subject of an acclaimed documentary film and work of historical fiction Lost Years A People s Struggle for Justice 2011 by Kenda Gee and Tom Radford 11 The Red Tiger 2019 by Chuck Lim 12 The centenary of the bill s commencement was marked on 1 July 2023 a national remembrance ceremony was held by the Senate on 23 June while proclamations and memorial ceremonies were held in communities such as Calgary and Halifax 5 6 7 13 The newly founded Chinese Canadian Museum in Vancouver also opened to the public that day 14 15 See also editChinese Exclusion Act Chinese head tax Immigration to Canada White Australia policy New Zealand head taxReferences edit Chinese Canadian Recognition and Restitution Act Parliamentary Debates Hansard House of Commons Canada 2005 04 18 p 1100 Stoke Harold W 1933 Some Problems of Canadian Federalism American Political Science Review 27 5 806 doi 10 2307 1946903 ISSN 0003 0554 JSTOR 1946903 S2CID 147095086 Chinese Immigration Act 1923 Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 pier21 ca Retrieved 2022 12 06 Ng Wing Chung 1999 The Chinese in Vancouver 1945 80 The Pursuit of Identity and Power UBC Press pp 120 121 ISBN 978 0 7748 0733 3 a b Man Guida Wong Keefer 2023 07 06 A century after the Chinese Exclusion Act Chinese women still face challenges in Canada The Conversation Retrieved 2023 07 10 a b Government to recognize historical significance of Canada s ban on Chinese immigrants CTVNews 2023 05 29 Retrieved 2023 07 10 a b Calgarians commemorate 100th anniversary of Chinese Exclusion Act CTV News Calgary 2023 07 01 Retrieved 2023 07 10 Prime Minister Harper Offers Full Apology for the Chinese Head Tax 22 June 2006 Trade Ministry of International Government of British Columbia Apology Province of British Columbia www2 gov bc ca Retrieved 2023 02 16 Pawson Chad Apr 22 2018 City of Vancouver formally apologizes to Chinese community for past discrimination CBC News Lost Years at IMDb nbsp Throwback Thursday The Red Tiger by Chuck Lim 25 February 2021 Jiang Xixi 2023 06 26 Even after 100 years the Chinese Exclusion Act s painful legacy still stings New Canadian Media Retrieved 2023 07 10 Legacy of Canada s ban on Chinese immigration lasted longer than the law CTVNews 2023 07 01 Retrieved 2023 07 10 Chinese Canadian Museum opens in B C 100 years after Exclusion Act took effect Goldstream News Gazette 2023 06 30 Retrieved 2023 07 10 External links edit nbsp Wikisource has original text related to this article Chinese Immigration Act 1923 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chinese Immigration Act 1923 amp oldid 1203686857, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
