GATINEAU, August 29, 2006 The Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women, today announced that Chinese Head Tax payers living as of February 6, 2006, can now apply for ex gratia symbolic payments of $20,000.
The Head Tax was imposed on Chinese immigrants entering Canada from 1885 to 1923. Similar legislation existed in the Dominion of Newfoundland, which imposed a Head Tax on Chinese immigrants from 1906 to 1949, before joining Confederation.
"In June, Canada's new Government promised to act quickly and we have kept that promise. My Department worked diligently to put the application process in place for those who paid the Head Tax. I am hoping to outline the next phase--an application process for spouses of deceased Head Tax payers--this fall," said Minister Oda.
Application forms and an applicant's guide are available in English and French on the website of the Department of Canadian Heritage at www.canadianheritage.gc.ca. Forms and guides are also available by phoning the Canadian Heritage Help Line at 1-888-776-8584 or by visiting a Service Canada Centre near you
(www1.servicecanada.gc.ca/en/gateways/where_you_live/menu.shtml).
Applications will be accepted until March 31, 2008.
Information:
Véronique Bruneau
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women
819 997-7788
Donald Boulanger
A/Chief, Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819 994-9101
Backgrounder
The Issue:
On June 22, 2006, the Prime Minister of Canada outlined a package of redress measures. It includes:
an official apology on behalf of the Government of Canada and all Canadians for the Head Tax paid by Chinese immigrants from 1885 to 1923 to Canada, and from 1906-1949 to the Dominion of Newfoundland;
ex gratia payments (payments made voluntarily) of $20,000 to living Head Tax payers and persons who had been in a conjugal relationship with a now-deceased Head Tax payer;
a $24-million Community Historical Recognition Program to provide grant and contribution funding for community projects linked to wartime measures and immigration restrictions; and
a $10-million National Historical Recognition Program to fund federal initiatives, developed in partnership with other stakeholders.
History:
Over 15,000 Chinese labourers first came to Canada in the mid-19th century to assist in the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Once the railway was complete, a number of measures were enacted to stem the flow of immigrants from China to Canada.
Beginning with the Chinese Immigration Act of 1885, a Head Tax of $50 was imposed on Chinese newcomers. The Government subsequently raised this amount to $100 in 1900, and then to $500 in 1903. The tax remained in place until 1923, when the Chinese Immigration Act was amended and effectively excluded most Chinese immigrants to Canada until 1947. Newfoundland imposed a Head Tax on Chinese immigrants from 1906 to 1949, prior to joining Confederation.
The Head Tax was legal at the time, as acknowledged by Canadian Courts. However, the Government of Canada accepts that the Head Tax was based on race and inconsistent with the values that Canadians hold today. The redress measures announced by the Prime Minister in June were a step forward in righting this historic wrong.
The Government's Approach: Plans are to make announcements about the initiatives in three phases:
Phase 1: August 29, 2006 - application process for Head Tax payers is now in place.
Phase 2: October 2006 - living individuals who were in a conjugal relationship with a now-deceased Head Tax payer will be able to apply for payments.
Phase 3: November 2006 - details of the Community Historical Recognition Program and the National Historical Recognition Program will be announced.
