HEAD TAX- REFLECTION

The course started by stating an apology of the prime minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, on

June 22, 2006, for imposing the head tax and Chinese Immigration Act 1923, which marked the

discrimination against the Chinese people (Li, 2008). I think this step should have been taken

early in the time. Moreover, the imposition of this act was a heinous act done by the Canadian

government solely based on their selfish purpose.

The taxation procedure levied on Chinese as the head tax was ordained to prohibit immigration

after Chinese labour was not needed to make variations in building the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Between the years 1885 and 1923, Chinese immigrants had to reimburse head tax to permeate

Canada.

The tax was levied and imposed under the Chinese Immigration Act (1885) (Li, 2008). It was the

first ordinance in the Canadian record to obstruct immigration based on ethnic background.

Except for a few oddities, Chinese people had to pay at least $50 to arrive in Canada. Later it was

inflated to $100, then to $500. Over 82,000 Chinese migrants spent nearly $23 million in tax

during the 38 years the tax came into effect. The head tax was revoked when the Chinese

Immigration Act in 1923 came into effect (Li, 2008). Also inferred as the Chinese Exclusion Act,

it outlawed all Chinese immigrants until its abolition in 1947. In 2006, the federal government

admitted guilt for the head tax and other racist immigration actions targeting Chinese people.

This discriminatory law has led to many consequences such as financial problems, long

separation, and the marginalisation of society. Another significant result of this Act impeded the

development of Chinese-Canadian families.

Next, the course talks about the protests that were emerging against the Chinese head tax. The

Chinese-Canadian community, which emerged by the 1980s, organised an umbrella-like

organisation named the Chinese Canadian National Council(CCNC) (Li, 2008). It took a series of

events beginning in 1983 when two senior head-tax payers took a simple step that began a

decades-long fight for change. Dak Leon Mark and Shack Yee sought restitution from their local

member of Parliament (MP) for their $500 in head tax payments, but their plea was denied. After

winning the 1993 elections, the Liberal government did not resolve the Chinese head tax.

Actions were taken from 2000 to 2004 but settlement was not done until 2005 when the

procedure was carried behind, which was the politics of the parties. The Liberal Party had a

majority in the legislature in 2005, and it sought to call an election to extend its rule. Raymond

Chan, the Minister of Multiculturalism, presented a tax retribution plan in November 2005,

pledging $2.5 million to fund projects like as museum exhibits and school activities highlighting

anti-Chinese policies (Li, 2008). Despite this, the government has refused to apologise or

compensate head taxpayers. Finally, as previously noted, Canada's prime minister issued an

apologetic statement in 2006, but this will make no difference to those who have been victims of

past injustices.

History is the witness that all the policies and practices conducted in society are the result of

politics. Politics is so deeply ingrained in the culture of every country from the onset that how

much harder one tries, it won't make any difference to it. But from the thought of failure, one

can't give up and can't even bear the injustices done to him.
Canada, the most humble country, can do this, so we can't even think what the dictator countries

could do. Even the court didn't have much say in the proceedings to expect from other authorities.

The injustices and discrimination done by the Canadian government were beyond the idea of

humanity for which an apology and even the compensation would not be enough as in my point

of view it can't take away the grief and sorrow faced by the immigrants but anyway after the long

struggle of 25 years the issue has finally been resolved by the apology of the Canadian Prime

Minister. However, my views on this incident are very firm. I still believe that something beyond

apology should be done impeded like some privilege and reservation should be given to the

victims and their families. The Canadian government and the authorities should make a

committee to deal with this issue, and ethical justice should be delivered to the sufferers.

There are two sides of the same coin, so now coming to the positive aspects, the thing is Canada

is a developed country and to become a developed country one needs to be a little harsh in their

policies and programs, and that's exactly what Canada did. I'm not appreciating the injustices

done by them or the policies imposed but the result was a good one. They are far ahead of what

many countries aspire for in today's life.

 References

Li, P. (2008). Reconciling with history: The Chinese-Canadian head tax redress. Journal of

Chinese Overseas, 4(1), 127-140.