Chinese Canadians receive public apology for head tax

Ottawa - The Canadian Chinese community received a long-awaited public apology from the Canadian gouvernment for a head tax which Chinese immigrants had to pay upon landing on Canadian soil.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper presented the formal apology in the House of Commons and offered symbolic compensation to head tax payers, their widows and children.

The compensation includes some money for community projects.

A group of about 100 head tax survivors and their relatives from across the country arrived in Ottawa Wednesday by a train dubbed "Redress Express," to witness the event.

The journey, which started off last Friday from Vancouver, the starting point of Canada's Pacific Railway, symbolizes the painful connections between early Chinese immigrants and the railway.

The head tax, ranging from 50 Canadian dollars to 500, was assessed on Chinese immigrants from 1885 until 1923 when immigration from China was banned entirely. Canada opened its doors again to Chinese immigrants in 1947.

Chinese immigration to Canada began in 1858. About 6,500 Chinese workers labored on the Pacific Railway from 1881 to 1885. The head tax was applied immediately after the railway was completed.

About 81,000 people are believed to have paid the tax, which amounted in some cases to about two year's wages.

There are about 35 survivors.

More on the Chinese Community

Source: newswire.ca - Thursday, June 22, 2006

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