CANADA House of Commons Debates VOLUME 140 Ï NUMBER 061 Ï 1st SESSION Ï 38th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Monday, February 21, 2005 Speaker: The Honourable Peter Milliken CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) All parliamentary publications are available on the ``Parliamentary Internet Parlementaire´´ at the following address: http://www.parl.gc.ca 3725 HOUSE OF COMMONS Monday, February 21, 2005 The House met at 11 a.m. As early as 1788, the first Chinese to Canada were 50 carpenters and craftsmen who built a fort on Canada's west coast. Seventy years Prayers later the first Chinese gold miners arrived in British Columbia to join thousands of gold miners travelling up the Fraser River. Their arrival marks the establishment of a continuous Chinese community in Ï (1100) Canada. In 1861 a Chinese baby was born in Victoria, the first to be [English] born in Canada. BUSINESS OF SUPPLY In 1872 the British Columbia Qualifications of Voters Act denied both the Chinese and first nations people the right to vote. This The Speaker: It is my duty pursuant to Standing Order 81(14) to discrimination based on one's race continued to plague the Chinese inform the House that the motion to be considered tomorrow during in Canada for the next 75 years. consideration of the business of supply is as follows: That the House call upon the government to implement the measures Between 1880 and 1885 thousands of Chinese were employed by recommended in the latest Auditor General's report to improve the framework for the Canadian Pacific Railway to construct the iron bridge that the accountability of foundations, in particular, to ensure that foundations are subject brought this country together. In total, 15,700 Chinese were recruited to performance audits that are reported to Parliament and that the Auditor General be appointed as the external auditor of foundations. to work on this endeavour, one that played a large part in bringing British Columbia into Canadian Confederation. Ï (1105) Once that feat was completed in 1885, the federal government introduced an act to collect a head tax of $50 per person to restrict [Translation] the entry of Chinese immigrants to Canada. After 1902 the head tax was raised to $100 and then in 1903 raised again to $500. Despite This motion, standing in the name of the hon. member for this burden, more and more Chinese made Canada their home. Medicine Hat, is votable. Copies of the motion are available at the Table. By 1919, 6,000 Chinese, over 210 families, were living in [English] Vancouver. In Toronto, 2,100 Chinese were making a way of life in Canada. Across Canada almost 37,000 Chinese were part of our It being 11:06 a.m., the House will now proceed to the communities and towns. consideration of private members' business as listed on today's order paper. Even after a dozen Chinese served in the Canadian army in the first world war, in 1923 the Chinese Immigration Act was introduced. This exclusion act prohibited Chinese immigrants from entering Canada with few exceptions. This meant that wives and PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS children were not able to join their husbands and families and all Chinese, even those born in Canada, had to register with the [English] government. CHINESE CANADIAN RECOGNITION AND REDRESS ACT Despite this blatant racial discrimination, they continued to make Ms. Bev Oda (Durham, CPC) moved that BillC-333, an act to a life here in our country. Their efforts included some 500 Chinese recognize the injustices done to Chinese immigrants by head taxes Canadians fighting in our armed forces during World War II. The and exclusion legislation, to provide for recognition of the Chinese Canadian community was also diligent in raising money for extraordinary contribution they made to Canada, to provide for our war effort. redress and to promote education on Chinese Canadian history and racial harmony, be read the second time and referred to a committee. Finally, in 1947 the exclusion act was repealed and Chinese Canadians were given the right to vote in federal elections. Ten years She said: Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to speak to Bill C-333 later, in 1957, Douglas Jung was the first Chinese Canadian elected today, the Chinese Canadian Recognition and Redress Act. I thank to the House of Commons. However not until 1967 were the Chinese the member for Dauphin—Swan River—Marquette for his work on given the same immigration rights as any other group seeking to this important bill. make their life in this country. 3726 COMMONS DEBATES February 21, 2005 Private Members' Business The Chinese Head Tax and the Exclusion Act are the two most I have questions for the member about her bill. Why has the known acts of discrimination in the history of this community. They member chosen to limit the consultation, limiting it only to one are acts of a government that says it is rooted in democracy and of a organization representing the Chinese Canadian community when in country that is proud of its multicultural heritage. fact there are a number of fine organizations that represent members of the Chinese Canadian community? Why is there a limitation on The Chinese Canadian community was one of the first diverse the consultation process in the bill? cultural communities to come to Canada. After over a century of its presence we have left this mark of racism in our legacy. Could the member also tell us why she has placed a limitation on Today, despite a history of racism, struggle and alienation, the the kind of compensation that might be negotiated as a result of the Chinese Canadian is a thriving, contributing community across negotiations around Bill C-333? Why, for instance, has she not made Canada. They are great contributors to all segments of our society. I it possible for individuals who were directly affected by these am asking the House to support Bill C-333 as recognition of these terrible acts to be compensated? acts of government that were based solely on race and to signify that despite their hardships the Chinese Canadian community has Ï (1115) historically played a key role in the making of this country. Ms. Bev Oda: I thank the member for his support and his Ï (1110) questions. The act has been crafted in such a way as to ensure that I am proud to be a member of the House and, almost 50 years after the bill is recognized by the House and gains the support that it Mr. Jung, the first Chinese Canadian to serve here, to have an needs. I believe that over almost a century of injustice we have to opportunity to redress a wrong that for over a century has never been make the first step, which is the recognition of the injustice, and we recognized by our governments. also have to recognize the contribution of the Chinese Canadian community to Canada and to our history. No one person or groups of persons should be lessened by their race or heritage. Racism is not and should not be a part of my I believe we have to recognize diversity even within the Chinese community or my country, Canada. Racism and prejudice are not Canadian community. The organization I have noted in my bill is acts in which anyone or any country can take pride. They are one that is an umbrella organization and represents a grand diversity embedded in attitudes, comments, slurs and acts of ignorance. We of all the communities involved right across the country. must always be vigilant to ensure that racism is not allowed to overtake our own acts and attitudes. As well, this offers the government an opportunity to stand up and We can be vigilant, but every generation must be made alert and take the initial first steps in working with the community, not only to aware of its insidious presence, and so, in Bill C-333, I propose both find a way that is agreeable and compatible with the government's recognition of the racism under which the Chinese community has will but also with that of the communities, finding the way so that, become a part of Canada and redress for this country's part in its first of all, the recognition is there and also that there will be some racist acts to this community. form of redress which will be negotiated to the satisfaction of the communities. Bill C-333 will provide for the recognition of the historical injustices that were brought to the Chinese community as well as its Mr. Roger Valley (Kenora, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, Canada is a extraordinary contribution to our country. Bill C-333 will also country of openness, proud of its diverse heritage, where values of provide for education on the Chinese community and its history in fairness, generosity, respect and caring have shaped its history. It is a our country and the promotion of racial harmony. country of opportunities that respects and celebrates the cultural, racial, ethnic and religious diversities of its population. As We must all take responsibility in making Canada the truly Canadians, we have a collective responsibility to make every effort multicultural country we are so proud of. Yes, today we are to sustain a society that values all of its members and treats them responsible for what happens tomorrow, but I believe that we must with dignity and respect. remember our history and learn from it. By recognizing our past, we can move on with increased vigour and a sharper eye if we recognize our wrongs and enable increased vigilance in the future.