News Release
IP TO ATTEND NATIONAL EVENTS IN SUPPORT OF CHINESE CANADIANS,
HIGHLIGHT IMPORTANCE OF ANTI-RACISM IN ALBERTA
EDMONTON – Alberta NDP Edmonton-South West MLA Nathan Ip will be attending the National Remembrance of the 100th Anniversary of the Enactment of the Chinese Exclusion Act today in Ottawa.
The important event, hosted by Hon. Senator Yuen Pau Woo, the Hon. Senator Victor Oh and Action! Chinese Canadians Together (ACCT) Foundation.
“It is important that we honour this anniversary and remember the hardships faced by Chinese immigrants to Canada, while still acknowledging the racism and anti-Asian hate that still exists today,” Ip said.
The Chinese Immigration Act of 1923, also known as the Chinese Exclusion Act, restricted virtually all Chinese immigration to Canada by narrowly defining the acceptable categories of Chinese immigrants. Chinese individuals already in Canada were required to register and carry photo identification as evidence of their compliance with the regulations of the act; even Canadian born and naturalized Chinese were made to register.
“Chinese Canadians faced many restrictions, school segregation, and discrimination, with racism existing at both the provincial and federal level,” Ip continued.
“Members of the Asian community still encounter racism and discrimination today, and it is vital that we commit to anti-racism both in our lives and in our policies as political parties.
“This is why I am so proud of the work that the Alberta NDP have done on anti-racism, including putting forward legislation on the collection of race-based data that was unfortunately not supported by the UCP government.”
The Alberta NDP have put forward the following commitments, believing that Alberta must:
Pass legislation focused on anti-racism and race-based data collection, and establish an anti-racism office to help identify and address racial inequalities in the province;
Work towards a public service that is as diverse as the province it serves;
Set future generations up for success by developing a modern and inclusive curriculum
Strengthen the Human Rights Commission;
Pledge more capital for racialized entrepreneurs and enhance the federal government’s current commitments;
Ip will also be a featured panelist at the ACCT Leadership Conference on Saturday, speaking on how embracing his cultural heritage has impacted his leadership style and how it has helped him to connect with others.
“We must all work towards making Alberta a place where everyone can be successful, and we are firm in our commitments to racialized Albertans to advance economic participation, public safety, education and more,” Ip said.
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Pinoy Edmonton News 