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The Chinese Head Tax
When the Canadian Pacific Railway began construction in 1981, Chinese people were brought from China to build the railway. Right after the railway was completed, the Canadian Federal Government began to restrict the immigration of Chinese to Canada. In 1885, a Head tax of $50 was imposed on every Chinese person that entered the country. In 1900, the Head Tax was increased to $100 and in 1903, $500. This is an example which shows how Canada was unjust at the time. -
The Chinese Head Tax (details)
- Over 15,000 Chinese were brought to Canada between 1881 and 1884.
- In total, $23 million was collected from the Chinese through the Head Tax.
- In total, the Canadian Pacific Railway employed around 6,500 Chinese immigrants.
- On July 1, 1923, the Chinese Exclusion Act was put in effect and caused less than 50 Chinese people to be allowed to come and live in Canada.
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MS St. Louis
The MS St. Louis was a German ship that carried German Jewish refugees in order to find homes for them to escape the persecution of the Jews in Nazi Germany. Canada was one of the places that refused to take in the Jews to help them escape their persecution. Many people estimate that a quarter of the passengers died when the ship returned to Europe and believed that Canada greatly contributed to this. This is another example of how unjust Canada used to be. -
MS St. Louis (details)
The MS St. Louis carred: 937 passengers
- 7 of the 937 passengers were not Jewish The captain of the ship was: Gustav Schröder Other places denied entry were: Cuba and the United States -
Tommy Douglas & Health Care in Canada
Tommy Douglas was the 7th Premier of Saskatchewan and his government introduced the first government paid health care system in North America. This led to the introduction of the Hospital Insurance and Diagnostic Services Act by the liberal government in 1957. The main elements of this act were: public administration, comprehensiveness, universality, portability, and accessibility. These elements formed the basis of the subsequent Medical Care Act in 1966 and the Canada Health Act in 1984. -
Tommy Douglas & Health Care in Canada (continued)
I think that this is a very important social justice issue. I believe this because under this health care system, all Canadians have equal and free access to a lot of medical services and medication regardless of their status or job. Many Canadians consider Tommy Douglas the greatest Canadian of all time. -
The Abolishment of Capital Punishment
Capital punishment began in Canada in 1749 and it was eliminated on July 14, 1976. The last execution in Canada was at Toronto's Don Jail on December 11, 1962. I believe that the abolishment of capital punishment in Canada is a matter of social justice. One reason for this is because in the past when capital punishment was in effect, many innocent people were wrongfully convicted and executed. -
The Abolishment of Capital Punishment (continued)
Some people who were wrongfully convicted include, but is not limited to, David Milgaard, Donald Marshall Jr., Thomas Sophonow, Clayton Johnson, and Guy Paul Morin. If the law of capitol punishment was still in effect, they would have been executed, This is why I believe that the abolishment of capital punishment in Canada represents social justice and it shows how Canada has come a long way. -
The Charter of Rights and Freedoms
On April 17, 1982, a bill of rights known as the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms was signed into law by Queen Elizabeth the 2nd and is the most important law of Canada. It promises all Canadians the right to liberty, equality under the law, and freedom of religion, expression, association, and peaceful assembly. This charter showed that Canada became more of aware of the rights and freedoms of people and is a sign of social justice throughout Canada.
