VANCOUVER: A measure passed in 1908 in
Canada prohibited the entrance of migrants who had not sailed
directly to Canada from their country of origin. Called the
continuous journey clause, this regulation did not mention race or
nationality but it had the effect of restricting Asian immigration.
It was repealed in 1947. In 1914, a passenger ship, the Komagata
Maru, arrived in Vancouver with 376 people (mostly Sikhs) from
Calcutta, India via Hong Kong, Shanghai and Yokohama. Only 22 of the
passengers were allowed to disembark because they had been previous
residents of Canada.
The other passengers were refused entry. The
vessel eventually returned to Calcutta where a riot erupted when
British officials tried to transport the passengers to the Punjab
region. Approximately twenty people were killed in the riot. In
February 2005, the Government of Canada announced an investment of
$25 million over three years to acknowledge, commemorate and
educate Canadians about the historical experiences of ethno-cultural
communities impacted by wartime measures and immigration
restrictions. Agreements-in-Principle (AIP) of $2.5 million were
signed with organizations representing Ukrainian-, Italian- and
Chinese- Canadians.
The Government was close to signing a similar AIP
with the Indo- Canadian community. The new Community Historical
Recognition Program will provide funding for community-based
projects inked to wartime measures and/or immigration
restrictions.In a speech on August 6, 2006 to the Gadri Babiyan da
Mela Festival in Bear Creek Park, British Columbia, the Prime
Minister had said, “I also want you to know that the Government of
Canada acknowledges the Komagata Maru incident and we will soon
undertake consultations with the Indo- Canadian community on how
best to recognize this sad moment in our history.” James Abbott,
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, met
with members of the Indo Canadian community in Toronto last Friday
to discuss plans to commemorate the Komagata Maru incident. The
meeting provided an opportunity for individuals to present
suggestions to the Government. Chisholm Pothier, Director of
Communications, Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and
Status of Women (819 997-7788) and Jaime Burke, Communications
Canadian Heritage (416 973-2050) can be sent the suggestions.
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