Objective Conditions
The Chinese Immigration Act of 1923, the year when control of Canada's foreign policy was given to the Parliament from Britain, was the first and only act ever introduced by Parliament that banned immigration from a specific ethnic group. The act was passed on July the 1st of 1923. The following passage, from the Library and Archives of Canada, describes the discrimination felt by the White Canadians that led to the Head Tax and Immgration Act.
"White British Columbians also firmly believed that their way of life was better than all others. They saw China as a weak nation of backward people who could never learn to live like white Canadians. Moreover, they said that Chinese people carried diseases and other bad habits (such as smoking opium) that threatened Canada's well-being. Racism against Chinese and other immigrant groups such as Japanese and South Asians, as well as against First Nations peoples, were expressions of a powerful belief in white superiority." (1)
Adding to the Immigration Act, there were also many laws discriminating against the Chinese; for example, officers were allowed to arrest any Chinese person if the officer believed they were in Canada illegally. There were also restrictive covenants, which prohibited the Chinese from buying property outside of Chinatown.
Since Canadians preferred white labor, and the chinese were left with the lowest paying jobs with the worst working conditions. Employers, however argued that "Chinese immigrants came here without families ... [therefore] the Chinese could work for lower wages and would take jobs away from white workers."
The fact that most of the Chinese had come here without their families is true. Most men had left their wives and family behind in China, and could not bring them into Canada, however, in war-ravaged China, the men in Canada were a vital source of income for their families back in China.
"My own grandfather paid the Head Tax in 1912 and returned to China on four occasions to marry and father four sons. He was unable to bring his family over to Canada until the Chinese Exclusion Act was finally repealed in 1947. Even then, the Canadian Government imposed restrictive quotas and it was not until 1968 when he was able to unite the entire family in Canada." (2)
-Lee Ming Fung, CCNC
"White British Columbians also firmly believed that their way of life was better than all others. They saw China as a weak nation of backward people who could never learn to live like white Canadians. Moreover, they said that Chinese people carried diseases and other bad habits (such as smoking opium) that threatened Canada's well-being. Racism against Chinese and other immigrant groups such as Japanese and South Asians, as well as against First Nations peoples, were expressions of a powerful belief in white superiority." (1)
Adding to the Immigration Act, there were also many laws discriminating against the Chinese; for example, officers were allowed to arrest any Chinese person if the officer believed they were in Canada illegally. There were also restrictive covenants, which prohibited the Chinese from buying property outside of Chinatown.
Since Canadians preferred white labor, and the chinese were left with the lowest paying jobs with the worst working conditions. Employers, however argued that "Chinese immigrants came here without families ... [therefore] the Chinese could work for lower wages and would take jobs away from white workers."
The fact that most of the Chinese had come here without their families is true. Most men had left their wives and family behind in China, and could not bring them into Canada, however, in war-ravaged China, the men in Canada were a vital source of income for their families back in China.
"My own grandfather paid the Head Tax in 1912 and returned to China on four occasions to marry and father four sons. He was unable to bring his family over to Canada until the Chinese Exclusion Act was finally repealed in 1947. Even then, the Canadian Government imposed restrictive quotas and it was not until 1968 when he was able to unite the entire family in Canada." (2)
-Lee Ming Fung, CCNC
1. Identify the source
The photograph depicted above is "A Chinese work gang on the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks near Rogers Pass, British Columbia."
2. Location
This picture was taken in British Columbia near Rogers Pass. Although this picture was taken in 1889, it accurately represents the lives of Chinese immigrant workers until 1967.
3. Objects
In this photo, you can see the chinese are living and resting in very crowded tents along the railroad. Many shovels can be seen, some stuck into the ground, others being used by workers.
4. People in the Photograph
The people in this photo are all men; most are unmarried or have left their families behind in China. They are dressed in shabby clothes, dirty from labouring all day on the railroad.
5. Actions
The people in the photograph are resting; a group of people are sitting on the ground to eat while others are chatting amongst themselves, a daily part of the lives of Chinese workers.
6. Purpose of the Photograph
The picture appears to be a professionally taken photo to be published, to show how the Chinese were given the worst jobs.
7. Historical Context
As Sir Robert Borden stated in his 1909 speech, the government stands for "a white Canada, [and] the protection of white labor." (1) Working on the railroad was one of the dirtiest and most difficult jobs. Workers could spend weeks at a time away from home.
This photograph illustrates how the Chinese were almost always given the worst jobs, ones white Canadians did not dare to do. Doing low paying and demeaning jobs was the only way Chinese workers could pay for their families back in China or in Canada if they were lucky. Speeches by important political figures such as Robert Borden encouraged white labor, later pushing for the Chinese Immigration Act.
The photograph depicted above is "A Chinese work gang on the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks near Rogers Pass, British Columbia."
2. Location
This picture was taken in British Columbia near Rogers Pass. Although this picture was taken in 1889, it accurately represents the lives of Chinese immigrant workers until 1967.
3. Objects
In this photo, you can see the chinese are living and resting in very crowded tents along the railroad. Many shovels can be seen, some stuck into the ground, others being used by workers.
4. People in the Photograph
The people in this photo are all men; most are unmarried or have left their families behind in China. They are dressed in shabby clothes, dirty from labouring all day on the railroad.
5. Actions
The people in the photograph are resting; a group of people are sitting on the ground to eat while others are chatting amongst themselves, a daily part of the lives of Chinese workers.
6. Purpose of the Photograph
The picture appears to be a professionally taken photo to be published, to show how the Chinese were given the worst jobs.
7. Historical Context
As Sir Robert Borden stated in his 1909 speech, the government stands for "a white Canada, [and] the protection of white labor." (1) Working on the railroad was one of the dirtiest and most difficult jobs. Workers could spend weeks at a time away from home.
This photograph illustrates how the Chinese were almost always given the worst jobs, ones white Canadians did not dare to do. Doing low paying and demeaning jobs was the only way Chinese workers could pay for their families back in China or in Canada if they were lucky. Speeches by important political figures such as Robert Borden encouraged white labor, later pushing for the Chinese Immigration Act.