Chinese to get redress?
Apology, compensation could be in throne speech

March 25, 2006 
By IAN ROBERTSON, TORONTO SUN

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's vow to officially apologize for a "head 
tax" and restrictions on former Chinese immigrants took a giant step forward 
here yesterday. 

Applause and smiles were exchanged after Heritage Minister Beverley Oda 
and parliamentary secretary Jason Kenney met privately with delegates from
across Canada at George Brown House. 

Oda said she and Kenney will report "positive progress" to Harper in
negotiating the apology's wording and undisclosed financial compensation to
survivors. 

"We will fulfill the commitments our government made," she said. 

"The Liberals talked for 13 years and did nothing," Kenney said. "We are 
working to redress this issue." Delegates are seeking a July 1 apology for 
the head tax, which raked in $23 million from 1885 to 1923, to coincide with 
the start date of the Exclusion Act, which barred Chinese newcomers from 1923 
until 1947. 

THRONE SPEECH 

Susan Eng, co-chairman of the Ontario Coalition of Head Tax Payers and
Families, said compensation for 200 survivors in their 90s and even 
100s should come soon. Nine of the seniors have died since the fall. 

"We're extremely encouraged," she said. "We hope we have an announcement 
in the throne speech (April 3)." 

Tories, the NDP and Bloc Quebecois have supported the apology and, Eng 
said "we hope the Liberals will join." 

Oda and Kenney promised to continue consulting the Chinese community 
aboutdetails and redress amounts. No figures were quoted yesterday, but Dr.
Joseph Wong said anything paid to the elders must be "significant and
meaningful ... a dignified amount." 

http://torontosun.com/News/Canada/2006/03/25/pf-1505111.html