Chinese Immigration Act

Why was the Chinese Immigration Act put in place and how did it affect Chinese immigrants?

Canadian Pacific Railroad

The Canadian Pacific Railway, completed in 1885 connected Eastern Canada to British Columbia and played an important role in the development of the nation. However, it was built in dangerous conditions by thousands of labourers, which included more than 15,000 Chinese temporary workers working in harsh conditions for little pay - at least 600 of these workers died.

Canadian Pacific Railroad

Chinese Head Tax

All Chinese immigrants were required to pay a fixed fee, known as the Head Tax in order to enter Canada. There were only a few exceptions: diplomats, tourists, merchants, "men of science", and students. It was put into place in 1885, but was amended in 1887, 1892, and 1900, with the fee increasing to $100 in 1901 and later to $500 in 1903 - this represented a two-year salary of an immigrant worker at the time.

Head Tax

White Supremacy

White people saw Chinese immigrants as people coming to Canada just to simply live their lives, and they believed that they had more responsibilities, so they deserved a higher pay, because they had to raise families. They firmly believed that their way of life was better than all others. and saw China as a weak nation of backward people who could never learn to live like White Canadians. Anti-asian racism is still present in our society today, for example, when people immediately blamed Chinese people for starting COVID, and we are still trying to deal with this issue.

White Supremacy

Racism

People were forced to pay a year worth's of salary in order to enter Canada, yet they were still treated poorly because of the anti-Chinese feelings that became very prominent in Canada. After the First World War, the economy slowed down, and jobs were hard to find. Many whites blamed the Chinese for taking work away from white people. Anti-Chinese riots and attacks on Chinese areas were very common, and they were often treated violently. This behavior was even supported by the government.

Racism

Chinese Immigration Act

In 1923, Canada passed another Chinese Immigration Act, which stopped Chinese Immigration. Chinese people who were currently living in Canada had to register with the government, otherwise they would be deported, but no new immigrants were able to come in. This was a huge problem because Chinese men living in Canada weren't able to bring their families there.

Chinese Immigration Act

Chinatowns

Chinese people were facing extreme racism, which resulted in many harmful impacts to thousands of families. They created Chinatowns as a form of support and safety within communities. These existed in the largest cities of Vancouver, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, and Montreal. They provided essential employment, housing, banking and protection services for Chinese people.

Chinatowns

You Speak English?

You speak English?

"People see me and say, ‘Wow! You speak English?’ Sure, I speak English. I was born here, in 1895. I speak Chinese, too. I went to Central School until Grade 3. Then my father died. I was only 12 years old. I was the oldest girl, so I went to work, taking care of a baby, in Fairview. Every cent I earned, I gave to Mama. If I had stayed in school, I would have made something of myself. My brother Sam, he went to university. He was an engineer. But he couldn’t get work here, so he went to China."

Lillian Ho Wong, a hat-maker and hotel-keeper in Vancouver, British Columbia, speaking in 1981 at age 86. (Fictional character created by author Paul Yee)

... their pranks

... their pranks

"Man oh man, you would not believe their pranks. My café was on Queen Street, the Palace Grill. One day a boy comes in and orders pork chops, he sits and eats, and then he runs off without paying. I chase him. He runs. I run. He turns the corner. I turn the corner. He jumps onto a streetcar. It’s already moving. So I lose him. Another time, four men come in. They dress nice. They order steaks. Afterwards, three of them walk out. I’m at the door. They say the fourth guy is still eating. They say he’ll pay. But when I give him the bill, he says he can only pay for his own steak."

Willie Chong, café owner, Toronto, speaking in 1980 at age 68. (Fictional character created by author Paul Yee)

You got to be strong

"You got to be strong. Otherwise, you get no respect. China was weak then. No navy, no guns. You know what people called China? ’The Sick Man of Asia.’ There’s not enough for the people to eat, the government is corrupt, and foreigners run the economy. So people look down on China, and they look down on the Chinese in Canada. There’s not enough of us living here to be strong. So they pass the laws against us. And China was too weak to stand up and speak for us."

Mary Lee, a grocery store co-owner in Montréal, speaking in 1982 at age 78. (Fictional character created by author Paul Yee)