Should The Chinese Head Tax In Canada
The Chinese head tax was levied on Chinese immigration to Canada between 1885 and 1923, under the Chinese Immigration Act (1885). With few exceptions, Chinese people had to pay $50 (later raised to $100, then $500) to come to Canada. This anti-Chinese legislation was the first in Canadian history to exclude immigration on the basis of ethnic origin. When the tax was removed from the Chinese Immigration Act in 1923, Chinese immigration was banned until 1947.
Background
Although the first major wave of Chinese immigrants began with the 1858 gold rush, more than 15,000 Chinese labourers arrived from 1881 to 1885 for the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald acknowledged the necessity of Chinese labour, but as construction of the railway neared completion, he willingly yielded to prejudiced and discriminatory politicians, trade unionists and public …show more content…
In 1887, Chinese women married to non-Chinese men were exempted from the head tax, as well as any Chinese person travelling through Canada by railway en route to another country. An 1892 amendment required that any Chinese person who temporarily left the country register with immigration authorities. In 1908, students were no longer exempted from the head tax. In 1917, immigration officials gained the right to arrest any Chinese person believed to be in Canada illegally. In 1921, Chinese people leaving Canada without registering and anyone away for more than two years had to pay the head tax upon his or her return.
The head tax was in effect for 38 years (1885–1923) and approximately 82,000 Chinese immigrants paid nearly $23 million in tax.In 1906, Newfoundland, still a British colony, passed the Act Respecting the Immigration of Chinese Persons, commonly known as the Newfoundland Chinese Immigration Act, which introduced a $300 head tax. Newfoundland’s head tax remained in effect until Newfoundland and Labrador joined Confederation in
Background
Although the first major wave of Chinese immigrants began with the 1858 gold rush, more than 15,000 Chinese labourers arrived from 1881 to 1885 for the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald acknowledged the necessity of Chinese labour, but as construction of the railway neared completion, he willingly yielded to prejudiced and discriminatory politicians, trade unionists and public …show more content…
In 1887, Chinese women married to non-Chinese men were exempted from the head tax, as well as any Chinese person travelling through Canada by railway en route to another country. An 1892 amendment required that any Chinese person who temporarily left the country register with immigration authorities. In 1908, students were no longer exempted from the head tax. In 1917, immigration officials gained the right to arrest any Chinese person believed to be in Canada illegally. In 1921, Chinese people leaving Canada without registering and anyone away for more than two years had to pay the head tax upon his or her return.
The head tax was in effect for 38 years (1885–1923) and approximately 82,000 Chinese immigrants paid nearly $23 million in tax.In 1906, Newfoundland, still a British colony, passed the Act Respecting the Immigration of Chinese Persons, commonly known as the Newfoundland Chinese Immigration Act, which introduced a $300 head tax. Newfoundland’s head tax remained in effect until Newfoundland and Labrador joined Confederation in