Monthly Archives: January 2006

Did the Chinese Canadian Head Tax/Exclusion issue make a difference?

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Did the Chinese Canadian Head Tax/Exclusion issue make a difference?

Chinese media carried the head tax issue almost daily since Nov. 26th, 2005.  According to year end top ten lists.  It was the number one issue in Chinese Canada, and it was included on top ten issues for Chinese around the world.

As of Canada's election results, Raymond Chan the former Minister of State for Multiculturalism, and who introduced the ACE Agreement-in-Principle, is still trying to do damage control by stating that the Chinese Canadians still voted him in office and that the head tax issue wasn't that big an issue. 

But the numbers don't lie.  The Tory polls swung upwards immediately after Paul Martin made what appeared to be an insincere personal apology for head tax redress.  The Liberals are now out of office.  The NDP led the charge for a proper apology and redress, and their numbers doubled in BC, and increased across the country.  The Conservatives supported an apology and direct compensation for surviving head tax payers, and their numbers increased.  The Bloc supported head tax redress and their numbers increased.

Raymond Chan may have won “first past the post” but Conservative Darrel Reid was only 1, 821 votes behind Chan's 18,107 votes.  NDP Neil Smith garnered 5,944 votes and Green Party Richard Matias snagged 1,916, more than enough that could have combined with Reid's to overtake Chan.  But to be fair, Chan fought a close battle to retain his seat in Parliament.  He had a good campaign that responded quickly to both the Chinese and English language press.  He is the only Chinese Canadina MP in Vancouver's Lower Mainland, and you can bet all of the different groups in the community will be asking him to be accountable for issues important to the Chinese Canadian community – no matter how broad the community really is.

The only Liberals in BC who won by large numbers were Ujjal Dosanjh, David Emerson and Stephen Owen, who together spoke out against Chan's line in the sand, and found the 2nd opinion regarding legal liabilitiy of an apology and forced Chan to change his tune.

If the head tax redress wasn't an issue, then why did Paul Martin issue a personal apology and reverse his party's decision to originally not issue an apology in the House of Commons?

The following is an analysis breakdown by by Victor Wong of the Chinese Canadian National Council, to which I have added some extra comments.

Incumbents
were by and large re-elected last night. in BC, Paul Forseth was the
only incumbent MP (Conservative) who was defeated (by NDP's Dawn Black,
herself a former MP); however many prominent Liberal incumbents in
other regions lost:
Anne McLellan, Pierre Pettigrew, Liza Frulla, Jacques Saada, Tony Ianno, Sarmite Bulte, Reg Althingy and others.

Liberal Ministers with Head tax file (indicated retraction over course of campaign):
Paul Martin (Prime Minister): reduced margin
Liza Frulla (Minister of Women's issues): defeated
Raymond Chan (Minister of Multi-culturalism): reduced margin
Sam Bulte (Parliamentary Secretary): defeated

other Liberal Ministers:
Tony Ianno (did not support redress): defeated
Anne McLellan (online comments did not support redress): defeated
Jacques Saada (told Walter last summer, no individual redress): defeated
Reg Althingy (racial gene pool comment last summer): defeated

other Liberals:
Hedy Fry (does not support redress and made comment about “those people with their little issues”): reduced margin

Liberal Ministers who were more open to apology (ie. all stated a support for 'inclusive process') ( All these (now former) senior Liberal cabinet Ministers won by wide margins ):
Ujjal Dosanjh (former Health Minister)
David Emerson (former Minister of Industry)
Stephen Owen (former Minister of Western Diversification)

More Pictures from Gung Haggis Fat Choy 2006

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More Pictures from Gung Haggis Fat Choy 2006

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Prem Gill of City TV, and Todd Wong, creator of Gung Haggis Fat Choy, co-hosts for the evening – photo by Ray Shum

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The Calling of the Clans:  Peter Black announces Clan Black and his merry band of haggis makers – photo Ray Shum

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The
Land Conservancy display table hosted by Tamsin Baker and Heather
Skydt.  Drawing attention to the possible destruction of Joy
Kogawa's childhood home – one of the few identified houses that were
confiscated by the Canadian government during internment of Canadians
of Japanese ancestry during WW2 – photo Ray Shum


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Prizes for the evening – hosted by Ricepaper magazine – photo Ray Shum


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Prem Gill, Todd Wong and Brave Waves: Preet on dohl drum and Joe McDonald
on bagpipes – photo Ray Shum
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Sunny Matharu on tabla drums for the singing of O Canada – photo Ray Shum


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MP Libby Davies, the member of Paliament for Chinatown, welcomes the audience
to Gung Haggis Fat Choy – photo by Ray Shum


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The Address to the Haggis:  We always introduce members of the audience
and invite them up to read a verse in auld gaelic – l-r, Preet on dohl drums,
Joe McDonald on bagpipes, co-host Prem Gill, Peter Black , Faye Leung,
Jim Harris, Peter, Mary-Woo Sims, Chief Rhonda Larrabee, Ian Wadell,
Kelly Ip and Todd Wong – photo Ray Shum

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Joe McDonald slicing up the haggis with his ready knife – photo Ray Shum

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Prem Gill checks out Peter's sporran – while Jim Harris Green Party leader,
and Mary-Woo Sims, NDP candidate look on – photo Ray Shum


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Special Sticky rice with taro – one of the best dishes of the evening. 
Is Taro the vegetarian equivalent of haggis? – photo Ray Shum

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The
Shirleys singing “We are Women of the World” a song written for the
International Women's conference in Beijing – photo Ray Shum


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Singing Auld Lang Syne – The Save Kogawa House committe table:
City Councillor Suzanne Anton with husband, committee organizer
Ann-Marie Metten with husband Andy – photo Ray Shum
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Guests
Grant Menzies and Les Hayter, with pipe Joe McDonald, wearing their
chinese outfits, next year they promise to wear kilts – photo Ray Shum
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Todd playing accordion for his former grade 7 teacher,
whom he hadn't seen in 25 years – photo Ray Shum.

Will Harper keep his pledge for Head Tax Redress? Chinese Canadian groups are asking him!

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image
Will Harper keep his pledge for Head Tax Redress?  Chinese Canadian groups are asking him!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 
VANCOUVER/TORONTO/MONTREAL, January 24, 2006:
Chinese Canadian groups across Canada are asking Prime Minister Elect
Stephen Harper to immediately make good on his pledge to apologize for
62 years of legislated racism under the Head Tax and Exclusion Acts by
making a public statement on behalf of the government of Canada on or
before Chinese Lunar New Year on January 29, 2006. This is to be
followed by a Parliamentary Resolution once the House of Commons is
recalled.
 
“The
country turns to a new chapter in our political life just before the
Chinese New Year. It would be a most auspicious time for the Government
of Canada to start the process of reconciliation with Chinese Canadians
and start the New Year in the spirit of unity and mutual respect.” said
Joseph Wong, founder of the Chinese Canadian National Council.
 
In
response to the demands made by the Ontario Coalition of Chinese Head
Tax Payers and Families (Ontario Coalition), along with the B.C.
Coalition of Head Tax Payers, Spouses and Descendents (B.C. Coalition),
Chinese Canadian Redress Alliance and
the Chinese Canadian National Council (CCNC), the Conservative Party,
the NDP and the Bloc Quebecois committed in writing to support the
Parliamentary Resolution to apologize, direct redress for the 250
surviving head tax payers and spouses, rescinding of the $2.5 million
deal under the ACE program and open, transparent and inclusive
consultations and negotiations with head tax families and the broader
Chinese Canadian community as to the nature and extent of redress.
 
“We
are calling on the new Harper Government to honour its election pledge
and the opposition parties to join in ensuring that immediate action is
taken before it is too late for the surviving head tax payers and
spouses.” said Avvy Go, member of Canadians for Redress and counsel for
the Ontario Coalition. “All the excuses about legal liability given by
the Liberal government have been put to rest, first by the courts, and
now by the voters.”
 
All
federal political parties were pushed to take a stand on this important
issue with more than 1 million Chinese Canadians – who account for 3.5%
of the total population and for as much as 40% of constituents in
several key ridings, particularly in British Columbia and Ontario. According to Statistics Canada, 40% of Chinese Canadians live in the Toronto area, while 33% live in the Vancouver area.
 
“It
was clear that head tax redress quickly became an election issue which
politicians ignored at their peril.” said Susan Eng, co-chair of the
Ontario Coalition. “Head tax redress galvanized Chinese Canadian
voters, and even before Election Day, they saw evidence of their
political clout with the pledges from the three major opposition
parties. Even Paul Martin eventually pledged to at least apologize. Now
it’s up to the Harper Government to show that election pledges are
meant to be kept.”
 
Canada's
“National Dream” was realized when the Last Spike was driven to
complete the transcontinental railway in 1885. Instead of gratitude for
the Chinese railway workers – thousands of whom gave their lives to the
building of this country – the government imposed a head tax on all new
Chinese immigrants, collecting more than $23 million by 1923. That
year, the government passed the Chinese Exclusion Act to stop all
Chinese immigration to Canada. The racist legislation was not repealed until 1947.
 
– 30 –
For more information, please contact:
 
Ontario Coalition of Head Tax Payers and Families
[Toronto]
Susan Eng, co-chair, (416) 960-0312
Avvy Go, legal counsel, (647) 271-9357
           
B.C. Coalition of Chinese
Head Tax Payers, Their Spouses and Descendants
[Vancouver]
Bill Chu, spokesperson (604) 261-6526
 
Chinese Canadians Redress Alliance [Montreal]
William Dere [514] 488-0804
Walter Tom [514] 341-3929 
 
Chinese Canadian National Council
Founder Dr. Joseph Wong [416] 591-6837
               Colleen Hua, President [647] 299-1775

Vote today….

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Vote Today…

It’s important to vote in today’s federal election.

Last night at Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner, Faye Leung wanted to say a few words to acknowledge my family elders.   Many were born in Victoria and Vancouver BC,, and were not able to vote in the country of their birth until 1947 when Canadians of Chinese ancestry were given franchise rights.  This was due to the successful repeal of the racist Chinese Exclusion Act that had begun with the Chinese Head Tax, and was part of 62 years of legislated racism.

My grand-uncle Daniel Lee is a WW2 veteran, who decided to fight for Canada, even though he couldn’t vote. He and his friends also fought for franchise rights for Canadians of Chinese descent.  Every year he writes to the federal government asking for an apology… but they
never reply.

Head tax redress became the most important issue in the Chinese Canadian issue when the Liberal government tried to pass through and announce the ACE program for acknowledgement, commemoration and education in an effort to redress all past wrongs for immigration or internment.  Unfortunately the preconditions were No Apology, and
No Compensation, unlike the historic 1988 redress for Japanese Canadians, interned during WW2.

The Chinese Canadian population, spoke out in protest from Halifax to Victoria, against the program demanding their version of ACE – Apology, Compensation and Equality.

Against a rising tide of redress protest, the Liberal party floundered and Prime Minister Martin gave a “personal apology” – but redress leaders said this wasn’t good enough.  All the opposition parties, thd NDP, Conservatives and Bloc Quebecois, plus the Green Party, agree
on an official apology and individual compensation for surviving head tax payers and spouses.  But the Liberals are the lone hold out.

In the last election I voted Liberal, but I cannot do that his year because of their unconscienceable stance on head tax redress.

Democracy works.  Please vote.

2006 – Best Gung Haggis Fat Choy ever! with Prem Gill, Joy Kogawa, Rick Scott & Harry Wong

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2006 – Best Gung Haggis Fat Choy ever!  with Prem Gill, Joy Kogawa, Rick Scott & Harry Wong


This was indeed the best ever Gung Haggis Fat Choy: Toddish McWong's
Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner.  Every year has a different
quality, different performers, different guests, different co-hosts and
different suprises…  We celebrate the diversity of a “gung
haggis” world – full of intercultural fusion, no longer confined to
self-contained boxes of multiculturalism.



Max Wyman, one of Canada's leading cultural advocates and critics, as
well as head of Canada's UNESCO program, was very excited about last
night's dinner event.  He first told me, then shared with the
audience, that it was wonderful to see Canada's amazing cultural
diversity expressed through the arts.  All the hard work setting
the ground work helps to make it possible for us to show case our Asian
Canadian and cultural fusion artists. 

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Todd
Wong and Max Wyman converse about the importance and expression of
cultural diversity. Max loved the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner concept
and the performance lineup.  In the front left is the Hon. David
Lam trophy for the dragon boat team that best exemplifies the
multicultural spirit of the Alcan Dragon Boat Festival.  The
winner in 2005 was the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team – photo
Ray Shum.



How else would we be able to see Moyra Rodger or Out To See Productions
direct and produce a television performance special such as Gung Haggis
Fat Choy for CBC for prime time audiences?



How else would we be able to see Jeff Chiba Stearns' unique animated
film “What Are You Anyways?” shown both on CBC primetime and for CBC
Zed.


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LaLa
sings her self-written “Fortune Cookie” song, accompanied by Sean Gunn
who had just performed his own self-penned song about octogenarian
motorcycle riding “Gim Wong” – photo Ray Shum



How else could we see developing artists like LaLa work with Sean Gunn,
and have Joe McDonald and Brave Waves have their work supported in the
many festivals, and events around town, such as explorASIAN –
Vancouver's Asian Heritage Month festival?


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Rick
Scott and Harry Wong re-created songs from their 5 Elements cd,
bringing a special intercultural energy to the evening.  Harry
flew in from Hong Kong that morning… the duo next performs a special
concert in Toronto on January 28th for the Royal Conservatory of Music
– photo Ray Shum



Rick & Harry represent a very unique collaboration between a
Canadian artist and a Chinese artist.  It had developed out of
Harry listening to Rick's cd's and writing songs for them, and the
project expanded.  5 Elements is a wonderful album about
friendship and understanding each other's cultures, and they brought
this to Gung Haggis Fat Choy last night.

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The
Shirleys brought their own special performing magic to the show,
working in the word “haggis” into a call and response song with the
audience – photo Ray Shum



The Shirleys, are six (or seven) sassy soulful women whose ancestral
ethnicities represent many different cultures that they all share with
each other and with their audiences.  They brought such energy to
the show with their African songs, and a cross-cultural beauty to their
arrangement of the classic Chinese song Mo Li Hua (Jasmine Flower).



And how did the evening start off?



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Joe McDonald leads the piping ceremony – photo Ray Shum



With the traditional piping in ceremony….   the performers
usually follow Joe McDonald & Brave Waves – but this time it was
Vancouver Mayory Sam Sullivan being piped in.  What a surprise!



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Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan is piped
in, he follows Dohl drummer Preet, and is followed by Lynn Zanatta, and
ACWW president Don Montgomery. – photo Ray Shum
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Todd Wong and Mayor Sam Sullivan – just two boys who grew up on in Vancouver's East End – photo Ray Shum



Mayor Sam Sullivan gave a warm welcome to the audience, where he
recognized that 6 city councillors were also attending the dinner,
naming Suzanne Anton, Heather Deal, George Chow, Raymond Louie, BC Lee
and Elizabeth Ball.  “We have quorum!” he exclaimed.  Then he
read a poem in Cantonese from the Tang Dynasty.



Lots of surprises during the evening, and our City TV co-host Prem Gill
handled them very well, whenever spontaneous creativities leaped in to
the program. 



Clan NDP showed up and we had Chinese descendant Mary-Woo Sims and
Scottish born Ian Waddell each dressed appropriately reciting verses of
Address to the Haggis.  Bev Meslo, Bill Siksay, Peter Julian,
Svend Robinson and David Askew – all sitting with my good friend Meena
Wong, and NDP organizer, who was born in Beijing.



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Co-host Prem Gill of City TV, asks
NDP candidate Ian Wadell about his kilt – which once caught Queen Elizabeth's eye, while Qayqayt Band Chief
Rhonda Larrabee and Kelly Ip look on – photo Ray Shum



MP for Chinatown Libby Davies gave a welcome to the audience,
recognizing the importance of saving Kogawa House, and all the good
work of Asian Canadian Writer's Workshop and Ricepaper Magazine, and
the multicultural fun of the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team.



Clan Green Party also showed up with national party leader Jim Harris
being invited to come up and read the 2nd verse of Address to a
Haggis.  He read it so well with a good brogue that free-range
Haggis rancher Peter Black gave him a big hug that he will be taking it
back to Toronto with him.  Green candidates Jim Stephenson and
Christine Ellis also attended, along with my good friend Cladia
Cornwall, a Green Party organizer – who was born in Shanghai to Jewish
parents escaping Nazi Germany.


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“The
groaning trencher there ye fill, Your hurdies like a distant hill, Your
pin wad help to mend a mill In time o' need, While thro' your pores the
dews distil Like amber bead.” Haggis
Rancher Peter Black watches over National Green Party leader Jim Harris
as he reads the 2nd verse of Robert Burns immortal poem “To a
Haggis.”  Faye Leung, “the hat lady” awaits her turn for the 3rd
Vers – photo Ray Shum



Travelling dinner guests included Betty Chan Klepp who drove all the
way from Vernon.  Betty Chan as a youngster was Highland Dancing
champion, and her father Ernest Chan was the first Chinese Canadian to
recieve the Order of Canada.  Lensey Namioka, children's author of
the book Half and Half, a Scottish-Chinese-American family in Seattle,
travelled up from Seattle with her husband.  Victor Wong,
executive director of Chinese Canadian National Council, was in town
from Toronto, and really really loved the dinner event.  On
Thursday, following a news conference, I dressed him in my kilt for a
fun picture.  He was absolutely amazed at how many times I used
the term “head tax” last night… but this is my family, and this is
our world.

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Faye
Leung, the famous “hat lady” with Todd wearing a Maple Leaf tartan…
Red is a good luck colour in Chinese culture, and looks good in kilts
too! – photo Ray Shum


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Literary
highlight of the evening was poet/author Joy Kogawa.  Partial
funds from the dinner go to help Save Kogawa House committee, working
with The Land Conservancy in an effort to help save Joy Kogawa's
childhood home from demolition. At age 6, she and her family were
forcibly removed from the home and interned during the WW2 – photo Ray
Shum



Joy Kogawa was our poet for the evening.  The room was almost dead
silent as she read a new work about overcoming challenges and
developing friendship.  And then she mentioned a character named
“Toddish McWong.” I went into stun phase.  After hugging Joy for
her reading, Prem Gill says “Joy Kogawa has written a poem about you…
how incredible is that!”

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Our
Head Table: seated – Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan, Joy Kogawa, Qayqayt
Band Chief Rhonda Larrabee. standing – MP Libby Davies, ACWW president
Don Montgomery, Lynn Zanatta, The Land Conservancey executive director
Bill Turner, Gung Haggis Fat Choy creator Todd Wong, and Libby Davie's
guest – photo Ray Shum
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Our Artsy Head Table: (seated) Issac and Lensey Namioka, Susan Mertens,
Joy Kogawa, Max Wyman, Jenni Kato, (standing) Todd and Moyra Rodger,
Don Montgomery and Jeff Chiba Stearns – photo Ray Shum


Our head table guests included four Order of Canada recipients: Joy
Kogawa, Mayor Sam Sullivan, Max Wyman and brand new member Bill Turner
who attends his investiture on February 17th.  Also at our tabes
were Lensey Namioka, Seattle author of “Half and Half”, Jeff Chiba
Stearns, film animator/creator of “What Are You Anyways?”, MP Libby
Davies, and Moyra Rodger – director/producer of the CBC television
performance special Gung Haggis Fat Choy.  And Qayqayt band Chief
Rhonda Larrabee,
my 1st cousin- once removed, whom I pointed out to the audience that on
one side of her
family she's fighting for land claims, and the other side for head tax
redress. 



Gung Haggis Fat Choy really is about the people who attend the dinner,
as much as it is about the people we have on stage performing.  So
many times I was stopped while I walked around the room greeting
people, to be asked to take a picture with them, or to be told that
they are Chinese, and their partner is Scottish or the other way
around.  So many people said that they had always wanted to attend
the dinner, and are so glad they could finally make it.

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The wonderful crowd of almost
500.  Head table with Mayor Sam Sullivan in front, to his right in
kilt is Bill Turner, executive director of The Land Conservancy and Joy
Kogawa – photo Ray Shum




It's a lot of work, and we are so indebted to the many volunteers of
Ricepaper magazine, Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team, and Save
Kogawa House/The Land Conservancy.  Afterall, they do have to work
for their fundraising…   But by bringing organizations
together, and sharing our diverse talents, we can create an event that
is bigger than ourselves as individuals.  Gung Haggis Fat Choy is
about our community.  It reflects our community and the people in
it.  And I am feeling very grateful to be part of such a wonderful
community.

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Our
local haggis rancher, Peter Black & Sons, with family… Peter led
the Selkirk Address and read the first verse of “To a Haggis.”  He
had so much fun that afterwards, he invested me with the Order of the
Haggis! – photo Ray Shum

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Everybody
sings Auld Lang Syne – Our special guests: (seated) Todd and Moyra
Rodger (director/producer of the Gung Haggis Fat Choy tv special, Deb
Martin (my girlfriend and front of house manager), Don Montgomery (ACWW
president and E.D. of explorASIAN), Joy Kogawa and Mayor Sam Sullivan.
– photo Ray Shum

Getting Ready for Gung Haggis Fat Choy 2006 – the morning of…

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Getting Ready for Gung Haggis Fat Choy 2006 – the morning of…

This is going to be the most exciting Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner yet.
We have people travelling from Seattle, Vernon, Victoria, and Kelowna, specifically to attend.  We have people who are in town from Toronto, Edmonton, and Scotland and specifically want to be at our dinner.

For the first time – we are going to integrate video with the dinner's events…
From the CBC Gung Haggis Fat Choy tv performance special, and the Jeff Chiba Stearns animated film What Are You Anyways?

The program is jam-packed… 

I am so excited the performers Rick Scott and Harry Wong are here….
Their East meets West children's cd 5 Elements is incredible.
Wait until you hear The Shirleys sing acapella.  And LaLa has a song about fortune cookies…
Joe McDonald and Brave Waves are going to put some multicultural takes on traditional singalong songs.   And then… Sean Gunn has a surprise for Gim Wong – the octogenarian WW2 vet motorcycle rider who rode from Victoria to Ottawa this summer.

We have TWO mayors who are ready to read some poetry.

It's the eve of a major federal election… What could be more of a photo op, than pictures with a haggis?  The Chinese head tax has been the sleeper issue of the election.  We have invited some candidates from the local parties to come read some Burns poetry.  What would Robbie Burns have to say about Head Tax and politicians?  Hmmm… be thankit hums…

And somewhere amongst all the excitement is the simple fact that we are raising funds for Kogawa House, Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop/Ricepaper magazine and the Gung Haggis dragon boat team.

GUNG HAGGIS FAT CHOY 2006 – Seating plan for Jan 22, 2006 at Floata Restaurant “subject to change”

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GUNG HAGGIS FAT CHOY 2006
Seating plan for Jan 16, 2006 at Floata Restaurant “subject to change”

This seating plan has changed!!!

We are now using only the left (north) side of the restaurant.  The tables have been re-aligned and recognized according to purchase order.

Here is the revised seating plan for the GUNG HAGGIS FAT CHOY dinner at the
Floata Restaurant, January 22, 2006.  Premium tables are in PINK –
they are closer and two bottles of wine are served at the table. 
REGULAR tables are uncoloured.  YELLOW tables are for Head Tables,
Performer tables, sponsoring and beneficiary organizations such as Save
Kogawa House committee, Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop and Gung
Haggis dragon boat team.  

Seating for Premium and Regular tables still available.  Premium
seating is $70 each, $700 per table.  Regular seating is $60 each
or $600 per table.  All tickets subject to $2.50 handling charge, as we had to have them printed and collated through our ticket centre.  Children 13 and under are 50% off.  The Firehall Arts Centre
is no longer taking reserve tickets at 604-689-0926.  Tickets
available at the door upon availablity.  Reserve your asap tickets
because we always sell out.

Tickets to Gung Haggis Fat Choy – if you are buying on the weekend

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Tickets to Gung Haggis Fat Choy
if you are buying on the weekend

For people wishing to come to Gung Haggis Fat Choy… there are still tickets available at the door.

The Firehall Arts Centre has now finished their part in handling advance sales. We thank them for graciously handling advance sales for us.
There will be tickets at the door.  But there are only about 30 seats left.

$60 for Regular seating – further from the stage.
All adult price seats include subscription to Ricepaper magazine (value $20)
Prices are $70 for Premium seating – closer seating + 2 bottles of wine on the table
Childrens price is 50% off.
All tickets subject to $2.50 handling charge.

Please call me in advance to reserve these seats – but they must be claimed by 5:30pm
After that we will release them to the people waiting in line for tickets.

My number is 604-240-7090
but please acknowledge we are very busy with preparations for the dinner.

Parking
– please see links on the left hand column of the website.  Free
parking in Chinatown Parkade – at Keefer and Columbia (Quebec) St.
Drive up to the 4th level – and walk directly to the Floata
Restaurant's parkade entrance.

NOTE:  We have changed the seating for the restaurant
We
have moved the staging to the corner stage of the restaurant and are
limiting audience size to 450 maximum.  This provides for better
viewing for everybody

A new site map with table numbers will be posted asap  – it will also be available at event reception on Sunday.

Famous and influential Canadians call on an All-Party resolution for Redress for Chinese Head Tax and Exclusion Act

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Famous and influential Canadians call on an All-Party resolution for Redress for Chinese Head Tax and Exclusion Act

An Open Letter to:

 
The
Honourable Paul Martin, Prime Minister of Canada,
Mr. Stephen Harper, Leader of the Opposition Party,
Mr. Jack Layton, Leader of the NDP, and
Mr. Gilles Duceppe, Leader of the Bloc Quebecois
 
As
Canadians who believe in justice and human rights, we are calling on
you to start the process of redress and reconciliation for 62 years of
legislated racism under the Chinese Head Tax and Exclusion Acts.
 
Head
tax redress is clearly an election issue and may well influence the
results in some key swing ridings. The issue has galvanized the Chinese
Canadian community and youth across the country. Thanks to this
grassroots pressure, all three opposition parties have called for a
formal apology in the House of Commons and the Prime Minister has made
at least a personal apology.
 
This
is an issue of justice that concerns all Canadians. How we deal with it
will speak to the values we hold dear and the true meaning of belonging
and citizenship.
 
On
January 23, 2006, one of you will become the new Prime Minister of
Canada. It will be a great opportunity for the new Government to start
afresh with a proper process of reconciliation with the Chinese
Canadian community, beginning with a formal apology in Parliament, and
direct compensation to the few surviving head tax payers and widows. 
 
Then,
new Government must rescind the agreement in principle signed with a
group that head tax families reject as representing them, stop payment
on the $2.5 million ACE program funds identified therein, and reopen
good-faith negotiations with the representatives of head tax families
as to the nature and extent of redress.

The three opposition parties have committed in writing to this process of reconciliation. We expect them to honour their pledge.

 
We
ask for your assurance that under your leadership, the Government of
Canada will immediately undertake to begin the process of healing, by
recalling the House of Commons on Chinese New Year to pass an all party
Parliamentary resolution to apologize for this historical injustice.
 
Chinese New Year is January 29th – a good time for the resolution
and an auspicious time for a new beginning.


Endorsed by: 

June Callwood
Wayson Choy
Shirley Douglas
Senator Lillian Dyck
Michelle Lansberg
His Worship David Miller, Mayor of Toronto
James Pon (Chairman of the Foundation to Commemorate the Chinese Railroad Workers)
Judy Rebick, Gindin Chair in Social Justice and Democracy, Ryerson University
Senator Nancy Ruth, and
Dr. Joseph Wong, Founding President of the Chinese Canadian National Council