Chinese Head Tax in Canada

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Political forces caused the Chinese Head Tax to get higher and higher. Canadians were worried that there were too many immigrants, and were also afraid that immigrants would take up their jobs. When people shared their concerns with the government, the policy of the Chinese Head Tax was created. This Chinese Head Tax was very unfair to immigrants, as it was about 2 years’ salary, but policymakers wanted to keep their jobs and make Canadians happy, even if it was morally wrong.

The Head Tax affected Chinese immigrants only, which disadvantaged and marginalized them. No other immigrants had to pay a Head Tax then, and there were many anti-Asiatic demonstrations. The lesson here is that policymakers must consider both an outcome for the good of all Canadians, as well as unintended consequences for a certain group or society as a result of a certain action.

It can be argued that the Chinese Head Tax is just like an ‘investment visa’ where immigrants have to invest CAD $800,000 over 5 years. However, this argument is flawed, because the present-day visa provides an investment return, and a signed agreement of terms. The Chinese Head Tax in the late-1800s provided no agreement that helped the Chinese immigrants. No ‘investment visa’ anywhere in the world puts the immigrant in as much of a disadvantage as the Chinese Head Tax, and the following bullying for decades.

Encouragingly, Canada has attempted to close a chapter on a darker side of its history. The government has apologized for this mistake in history, and made payments to surviving victims. This is a reminder that policymakers and the public should make use of historically significant lessons like the Chinese Head Tax, when considering present-day views of immigration.