The Chinese Exclusion Act: 100 years later
June 24, 2023
100 years ago on July 1, 1923, Canada passed the Chinese Exclusion Act targeting one racialized group, the Chinese, barring them from coming to Canada. In the 24 years of that law, fewer than 50 Chinese people officially immigrated to Canada! This is a dark moment in our history. Today, there are 1.8 million Canadians of Chinese heritage. We are proud Canadians and contribute to every aspect of Canadian life - from business, arts & culture, sports and science, teacher and front line health care workers, construction workers, in the professions of medicine, law, engineering and more…and in civic life like Politics!
Today we unveiled a plaque to recognize the Exclusion Act as a national historic event and it will be placed at the Chinese Museum in Vancouver. I pay respect to our ancestors who fought with unity and resilience to have the Act finally repealed in 1947. Let us never repeat this chapter discrimination, racism and exclusion!
