Prime Minister-elect Stephen Harper said yesterday that
Chinese-Canadians "deserved" an apology for state-sponsored racism
that sparked a century-old row.
"Chinese-Canadians are making an extraordinary impact on the
building of our country. They've also made a significant historical
contribution despite many obstacles," Harper said in his first
address since winning a general election.
"The Chinese-Canadian community deserves an apology for the head
tax and appropriate acknowledgment and redress. On this occasion, I
would like to take the opportunity to wish all Canadians of Chinese
descent a healthy and prosperous New Year," he said.
The Chinese New Year starts Sunday.
Prior to 1930, more than 80,000 Chinese immigrants were forced
to pay a special tax to enter Canada, of as much as 500 Canadian
dollars (US$433), or two years' salary.
Now, their descendants want redress for the tax, which was
imposed only on people from China by officials scared by a massive
wave of immigration.
Long-time protests against the measures reached deafening levels
during the election campaign, 125 years after they began, as
candidates mined for votes among the country's one million
Chinese-Canadians.
Many politicians have already personally apologized or promised
to apologize for the head tax.
However, many Chinese-Canadians want those elected to formally
stand up in Parliament to issue a formal apology and offer victims
and their families compensation.
(Chinadaily.com.cn via agencies, January 27, 2006)
