Statement from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre on the Anniversary of the Chinese Head Tax Apology
Ottawa, ON – The Hon. Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, released the following statement on the anniversary of the Chinese Head Tax apology by Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper:
“When Chinese immigrants came to our Pacific shores in the mid-19th century, they called this place ‘Gum San’ – Gold Mountain. It was a land of opportunity in the midst of the gold rush, where hard work could make one the master of their destiny.
“Even after the gold ran dry, the name stuck for those desiring a better life. Over 15,000 Chinese workers arrived to connect the continent and our country together. They worked the most dangerous jobs, building the Canadian Pacific Railway for lower pay, holding on to the promise of our nascent nation.
“But as the last spike was driven into the ground 140 years ago, the government targeted their ethnicity, imposing a crushing head tax that rose to nearly two years’ wages. Then, in 1923, the government shamefully banned Chinese immigration outright, rejecting their place within the country they helped build on Canada Day.
“Despite it all, the Chinese community grew in cities and towns, connected by the railway they toiled to construct, from Calgary to Toronto. When our nation rallied to fight in the world wars, they stood side by side with their fellow countrymen, securing freedom in Europe and the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1947.
“In 2006, the Conservative government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper apologized for these racist policies, which divided families and betrayed the contributions Canadians of Chinese heritage made in building our common home.
“Today, as we reflect on this dark chapter of our shared history, we dedicate ourselves to the promise that has made Canada home to 1.8 million people of Chinese origin – a country where anyone from anywhere can do anything.”