Chinatown after the Chinese Exclusion Act, 2023. Illustration by Rosena Fung.
File information | File dimensions | File size | Options |
Original JPG File | 2000 × 1100 pixels (2.2 MP) 16.9 cm × 9.3 cm @ 300 PPI |
1.5 MB | Restricted |
Screen | 1400 × 770 pixels (1.08 MP) 11.9 cm × 6.5 cm @ 300 PPI |
354 KB | Restricted |
Resource ID
10283
Access
Open
Date of Creation
2023
Keywords
Chinatown, Chinese Exclusion Act, Chinese Canadian
Program Category
Education and Engagement
Rights
Heritage Toronto and Rosena Fung (artist)
Caption
Chinatown after the Chinese Exclusion Act, 2023. Illustration by Rosena Fung.
Description
The Act to Prevent Chinese From Acquiring Crown Lands (1884) in B.C. and the federal Chinese Immigration Act (1885) reflected a growing anti-Chinese movement in Canada. After completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1885, Chinese labour was no longer considered desirable. A popular phrase among politicians and the media, Liberals and Conservatives alike, was “White Canada forever.” As a result, a $50 tax was imposed on Chinese immigrants in 1885, later raised to $100, then $500 — the equivalent of two years wages for a labourer. Though the head tax disencourage many from coming to Canada, 82,000 Chinese arrived in Canada during the 38 years it was in place, including Henry and Charlie Chong. The head tax raised nearly $23 million in revenue but didn’t completely ban Chinese immigrants from entering. To further prevent Chinese immigration to Canada, on July 1, 1923, the 58th anniversary of the Dominion of Canada, the government passed a new Chinese Immigration Act that banned all Chinese immigrants from entering Canada.