3 major events in Canadian history that illustrate racial injustice

Question 1

Chinese immigration and head tax:

Answer 1

· Chinese workers were brought over from China as contract labourers to work on the Canadian Pacific Railway, and were not allowed to bring families over
· Head tax that had continued to raise from $50 to $500 to limit the number of Chinese and South Asian immigrants to Canada (government had almost try to stopped Chinese immigration completely)

Question 2

Japanese - Canadians and internment:

Answer 2

· During World War I & II, Canadian government instituted a policy of internment of members of ethnic minority groups whom it defined as “enemy aliens”
· Japanese Canadians were interned in World War II, their homes, business, and properties were confiscated and their lives were turned on end

Question 3

Jewish refugees: did not accept immigrants

Answer 3

· During and immediately after World War II were reluctant to admit European Jews as refugees to Canada, and undertook informal measures to restrict their immigration
· Rejected a ship (St. Louis) that carried a shipload of Jews who had to turn around back to Europe to be damned