Social Problem Resolved? YES!!
"In 1983, a Chinese Head Tax payer named Mr. Dak Leon Mark in Vancouver approached his M.P., to ask her to help him seek a refund of the $500 racist Head Tax that he had been forced to pay when he immigrated to Canada. However, the request was denied when she raised the issue in the House of Commons. Soon after, thousands of Head Tax payers and the families were also demanding a refund for the Head Tax that their parents had to pay. They approached CCNC and its members to help to advocate on their behalf." (1)
"The redress campaign has gone through phrases. CCNC made this a priority in 1987 for the 1988 Federal election. CCNC also increased its media profile, conducted research, and helped spread the word in schools across the country. In the early 1990's, there was the emergence of the B.C. Coalition of Head Tax Payers, Spouses and Descendants. However, after Prime Minister Jean Chretien was elected in 1993, his government openly refused to provide any apology or redress to the Chinese community for the use of the Head Tax and the Chinese Exclusion Act." (1) CCNC and its supporters continued to raise the issue, even up to the level of the United Nations.
On June 22, 2006, in the presence of more than 200 Chinese Canadian seniors and family members, Prime Minister Stephen Harper rose in the House of Commons and formally apologized for the Head Tax, and Chinese Exclusion Act. The emotions that followed will never be forgotten by those who were there to bear witness to this historic event. "For those who were still alive, this was a long awaited moment; but for many more who had since passed away, the apology came too late." (2)
“On behalf of the people and government of Canada, we offer a full apology to Chinese-Canadians for the head tax and express our deepest sorrow for the subsequent exclusion of Chinese immigrants.”
"The redress campaign has gone through phrases. CCNC made this a priority in 1987 for the 1988 Federal election. CCNC also increased its media profile, conducted research, and helped spread the word in schools across the country. In the early 1990's, there was the emergence of the B.C. Coalition of Head Tax Payers, Spouses and Descendants. However, after Prime Minister Jean Chretien was elected in 1993, his government openly refused to provide any apology or redress to the Chinese community for the use of the Head Tax and the Chinese Exclusion Act." (1) CCNC and its supporters continued to raise the issue, even up to the level of the United Nations.
On June 22, 2006, in the presence of more than 200 Chinese Canadian seniors and family members, Prime Minister Stephen Harper rose in the House of Commons and formally apologized for the Head Tax, and Chinese Exclusion Act. The emotions that followed will never be forgotten by those who were there to bear witness to this historic event. "For those who were still alive, this was a long awaited moment; but for many more who had since passed away, the apology came too late." (2)
“On behalf of the people and government of Canada, we offer a full apology to Chinese-Canadians for the head tax and express our deepest sorrow for the subsequent exclusion of Chinese immigrants.”