Callow praises government for redress of head tax

Bob Callow, Conservative candidate in Oak Ridges - Markham in the last two federal elections, has applauded Prime Minister Stephen Harper's fulfillment of the campaign promise to apologize for the head tax imposed to Chinese immigrants entering Canada between 1885 and 1923, and Newfoundland until 1949.

Callow also applauded the prime minister's symbolic offer of individual payments of $20,000 to living Chinese Head Tax payers and living spouses of deceased payers, as well as a decision to establish a $24million community historical recognition program to provide grant and contribution funding for community projects linked to wartime measures and immigration restrictions and a $10-million national historical recognition program to fund federal initiatives, developed in partnership with other stakeholders.

"Conservatives across Canada committed to work with our Chinese-Canadian community last election to recognize a terrible wrong and to establish a consensus for reconciliation and redress of the previously imposed head tax," Callow said.

Five months into our mandate I am proud to announce that this important promise has been kept. This is great news for all Chinese Canadians in Oak Ridges - Markham."