It was hoped that the head tax spouse ex-gratia cheque would
arrive in time, so that a photo copy could be buried with Mrs. Der, so
that she could take it to show her husband in the afterlife, as is
Chinese custom of "burning paper money" to take with the deceased.
Mrs. Der was the oldest head tax spouse that applied for the ex-gratia payment. She was the feisty 101 year old who climbed 2 flights of stairs to attend a head tax redress meeting in November 2005. She met Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Secretary of State Jason Kenney. They had both promised to get a cheque to her.
Unfortunately the couriered package did not arrive in time for the wake. It has been since discovered that the courier arrived at the house while everybody was attending the wake. The cheque was recieved by the Der family later on Friday evening.
The following is from Victor Wong, executive director of CCNC
hi everyone:
Sid Tan and I represented CCNC at the Mrs. Der' s funeral service yesterday. She was surrounded by family and friends and a strong contingent from HTFSC (Daniel, Cynthia, Fanny, Foon, and George). Mrs. Der's grandson, gave a moving eulogy: Mrs. Der had brought him over to Canada at age 7 and raised him while assisting her husband at their restaurant business in Northern Alberta. They chose Canada and we are stronger for it.
The Federal Government had informed me on Wednesday morning that Mrs. Der's cheque had been released and couriered to the family however, as of 10am Friday, the family members had not received it and they had to leave the house for the service.
"The Government Failed Mrs. Der AGAIN" became the rallying theme yesterday at her wake.
Mrs. Der was the oldest head tax spouse that applied for the ex-gratia payment. She was the feisty 101 year old who climbed 2 flights of stairs to attend a head tax redress meeting in November 2005. She met Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Secretary of State Jason Kenney. They had both promised to get a cheque to her.
Unfortunately the couriered package did not arrive in time for the wake. It has been since discovered that the courier arrived at the house while everybody was attending the wake. The cheque was recieved by the Der family later on Friday evening.
The following is from Victor Wong, executive director of CCNC
hi everyone:
Sid Tan and I represented CCNC at the Mrs. Der' s funeral service yesterday. She was surrounded by family and friends and a strong contingent from HTFSC (Daniel, Cynthia, Fanny, Foon, and George). Mrs. Der's grandson, gave a moving eulogy: Mrs. Der had brought him over to Canada at age 7 and raised him while assisting her husband at their restaurant business in Northern Alberta. They chose Canada and we are stronger for it.
The Federal Government had informed me on Wednesday morning that Mrs. Der's cheque had been released and couriered to the family however, as of 10am Friday, the family members had not received it and they had to leave the house for the service.
"The Government Failed Mrs. Der AGAIN" became the rallying theme yesterday at her wake.
Ronald Leung who was representing BC Minister Chuck Strahl did deliver a message to the family from the Prime Minister. The family did receive the cheque last night when they returned home but I have to wonder if there is some joss in this: maybe a wink from Mrs. Der or maybe Mrs. Der was playing a little trick on this Government.
More than 480 spouses have made an application and we understand that about first 100 cheques for the spouses will be released in the next 2 weeks. Already 41 of 44 head tax payers have received their payments.
Mrs. Der and her family are the first to receive a spouses' cheque.
We'll remember her always. May she rest in peace.
Victor Wong
CCNC Executive DirectorWe'll remember her always. May she rest in peace.
Victor Wong
