We Canadians are rightfully proud of our country’s tolerance and diversity. However, we must not forget that our laws have not always reflected this attitude.

In 1923, Parliament passed the Chinese Immigration Act — also known as the Chinese Exclusion Act — which unjustly banned (with very few exemptions) Chinese immigration to Canada. This legislation was passed despite the fact that over the previous 38 years, the government had collected $23 million from Chinese immigrants through the equally disgraceful head tax charged during that period.

Yet, despite the unfair treatment that took place over decades, Chinese immigrants remained loyal to Canada. In the years before the Immigration Act, Chinese immigrants were integral in helping complete the toughest parts of the Canadian Pacific Railway and uniting our young nation.

After war broke out in Europe during the Second World War, Chinese-Canadians continued to show their patriotism by volunteering for the Canadian Armed Forces. They served with distinction, even being called upon by Great Britain to serve in the Special Operations Executive.

However, even after the war ended, this unjust treatment remained in place. These brave Veterans were not given equal treatment under the law and their families were denied the right to immigrate to Canada.

Fortunately, it didn’t take much longer for lawmakers to see the error of their ways. In May of 1947, the Government of Canada struck down the Chinese Immigration Act.
     
Central to changing this unjust law was the bravery shown by people such as Douglas Jung. Mr. Jung was a patriotic Canadian who served his country with bravery during WWII, and dedicated himself to helping stop discrimination against Chinese-Canadians.

In fact, Mr. Jung ran as a Progressive Conservative candidate in the 1957 federal election. Just ten short years after the Chinese Immigration Act was struck down, Mr. Jung became Canada’s first Chinese Canadian Member of Parliament.

Stories such as Mr. Jung’s remind us that the society we live in today was not created overnight. Rather, it was built through the hard work of those who were determined to change it for the better.

In 2006, Prime Minister Stephen Harper helped address this period in our history by formally apologizing on behalf of the Government of Canada for imposing a head tax on Chinese immigrants.

Only by remembering how far we’ve come can we continue to ensure that society continues to be tolerant and accepting of all walks of life.

This May, we celebrate the 68th anniversary of the end of the Chinese Immigration Act and remind ourselves of the bravery of the Chinese-Canadians who fought discrimination and injustice, and helped build a better Canada.

-30-