The Head Tax issue affects many Canadians - not just Chinese-Canadians. I am a 5th generation descendant of Rev. Chan Yu Tan, who came to Canada in 1896. My father's father, Wong Wah, came to Canada in 1888 at age 16, and later managed his brother's store as it became the largest Chinese merchant store in Victoria's Chinatown.
I am also a committee member for the BC Coalition of Head Tax Payers, Spouses and Descendants. I first became interested in the issue back in the mid-1980's when I attended a meeting organized by community leaders, where I saw Margaret Mitchell, Tommy Tao and Roy Miki speak. In April 25th, 2006, I met Parliamentary Secretary Jason Kenney when he came to Vancouver for a Community meeting, held at the Richmond Gateway Theatre.
Today, there are many questions about head tax registration and for information.
People can go to the websites listed below for head tax registration with community groups. This information will be presented to the Government to help identify head tax certificate information. It is NOT official government registration.
BC Coaltion for Head Tax Payers, Spouses and Descendants.
www.headtaxpayers.ca
Chinese Canadian National Council
http://www.ccnc.ca/sectionEntry.php?entryID=72&type=Event
Ontario Coalition for Head Tax Payers and Families
www.headtaxredress.org
Vancouver Public Library is now inundated with patrons seeking head tax information. Click on http://www.vpl.ca/ccg/
Head Tax Information - info sheets are available in CHINESE and ENGLISH
For stories on head tax issues collected and/or written by Todd Wong:
http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog/ChineseHeadTaxissuesGimWongsRideforRedress
Chinese Canadian Historical Society of BC
www.cchsbc.ca
See the video of the historic November 26th, 2005 protest against Liberal PM Paul Martin and the Agreement in Principle signing of the ACE program.
Calling for a Just and Honourable Redress By Alex Mah
Vancouver, British Columbia
picture: PM Paul Martin arrives amidst protestors in Vancouver Chinatown
Film Synopsis
On November 26, 2005, government compliant groups met at the Chinese Cultural Centre in Vancouver to put forward a "no apology, no compensation" agreement-in-principle between the National Congress of Chinese Canadians and the Liberal federal government represented by Multiculturalism Minister Raymond Chan.
Individuals and community groups, representing head-tax payers, their spouses, descendants and supporters organized a leafletting and information line at the conference and subsequent photo opportunity attended by Prime Minister Paul Martin at the SUCCESS complex in Chinatown.
