For Immediate Release December 12, 2002

Mark brings Chinese redress issue to Parliament’s attention

Ottawa – Yesterday in the House of Commons, Inky Mark, Progressive Conservative Critic for Citizenship and Immigration rose to bring the issue of Chinese-Canadian recognition and redress to the government’s attention.

His statement was as follows:

“Mr. Speaker, in 1885, to discourage Chinese immigration, the federal government introduced the Head Tax and later the Chinese Exclusion Act, which remained in place until 1947.  This Act prohibited the Chinese from immigrating to Canada as they were considered unfit for citizenship.

The Head Tax and Chinese Exclusion Act remain two of the worst examples of legalized racism in Canadian history.  Yesterday, I introduced my Private Member’s Bill, C-333 entitled the Chinese Canadian Recognition and Restitution Act.  This Act, if passed by Parliament, would provide an apology to over one million Chinese Canadians and restitution in the form of an educational foundation.

I brought this issue to the Prime Minister’s attention in October and I hope that he will resolve this matter before he leaves office.  The Prime Minister’s legacy can and should include righting the injustices of the past”