CCNC rejects official BC apology

published by asingh on Tue, 05/20/2014 - 20:51
 

The Chinese Canadian National Council (CCNC) declines the motion of Apology offered by the BC Legislature on May 15, 2014.

CCNC has supported the Head Tax Families Society of Canada in seeking an inclusive redress with the BC Government. The BC Government is well aware of the role of past BC political leaders in formenting anti-Chinese racism, including receiving a significant share of the head taxes collected. Last year, CCNC provided the BC Government and all MLAs with a schedule of the head tax levies transferred, which totals $8.5 million, a sum with a present value of about $1 billion today. CCNC takes the view that there should be a symbolic return of these funds to the head tax families.

Unfortunately, the Apology motion lacks this basic sincerity.

“A government should never be seen to be profiting from racism, but this is what has happened here today,” Victor Wong, CCNC Executive Director said today. “Only the affected head tax families can accept this Apology and allow the reconciliation process to begin.”

“We urge all MLAs to reflect on our views and to expend the effort to offer a meaningful apology to the Chinese Canadian community.”

Founded in 1980, CCNC is a national non-profit organization with 27 chapters across Canada and a community leader for Chinese Canadians in promoting a more just, respectful, and inclusive society.

 

Schedule of Head Tax Levies Transferred to Province of BC

Year

Paying Tax

Exempt from Tax

% Exempt

Registrations for Leave

Total Revenues

Transfer to BC

1886 to 1891

4,590

222

5

7,041

239,664

56687.5

1892

3,276

6

0

2,168

166,503

40662.5

1893

2,244

14

1

1,277

113,491

27387.5

1894

2,087

22

1

666

105,021

25437.5

1895

1,440

22

2

473

72,475

17200

1896

1,762

24

1

697

88,800

21312.5

1897

2,447

24

1

768

123,119

29900

1898

2,175

17

1

802

109,754

26400

1899

4,385

17

0

859

220,310

53262.5

1900

4,231

26

1

1,102

215,102

47362.5

1901

2,518

26

1

1,204

178,704

40512.5

1902

3,525

62

2

1,922

364,972

86287.5

1903

5,245

84

2

2,044

526,744

258050

1904

4,719

128

3

1,920

474,420

225000

1905

8

69

90

2,080

6,080

0

1906

22

146

87

2,421

13,521

0

1907

91

200

69

2,594

48,094

0

1908

1,482

752

34

3,535

746,535

363800

1909

1,411

695

33

3,731

713,131

304500

1910

1,614

688

30

4,002

813,003

356200

1911

4,515

805

15

3,956

2,262,056

1066000

1912

6,083

498

8

4,322

3,049,722

1432661

1913

7,078

367

5

3,742

3,549,242

1723991

1914

5,274

238

4

3,450

2,644,593

1279352

1915

1,155

103

8

4,373

588,124

251639

1916

20

69

78

4,064

19,389

0

1917

272

121

31

3,312

140,487

0

1918

650

119

15

2,907

336,757

0

1919

4,066

267

6

3,244

2,069,669

3145

1920

363

181

33

5,529

538,479

42008

1921

885

1,550

64

6,807

474,332

193178

1922

1,459

287

16

7,532

743,032

323518

1923

652

59

8

6,682

434,557

121418

1924

625

51

8

5,661

334,039

89319

1925

  —

—

—

5,992

308,659

 

1926

  —

—

—

3,947

25,969

 

1927

  —

2

—

5,987

14,844

 

1928

2

1

33

5,087

25,679

 

Total

82,371

7,962

9.7

127,900

22,899,072

8,506,192

Compiled by CCNC

Sourced from Canada Year Book 1929, Sessional Papers, 1887-1825, Auditor General’s Report, 1887-1924, Chinese Immigration Revenue 1886-1924

 

 

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