The new immigration regulations introduced in 1962 eliminated overt racial discrimination from Canadian immigration policy. Skill became the main criteria for determining admissibility rather than race or national origin. The classes of sponsored immigrants were expanded so that all Canadian citizens and permanent residents could sponsor relatives for immigration. However, an element of discrimination remained as only Canadian immigrants from preferred nations in Europe, the Americas and select countries in the Middle East were permitted to sponsor children over the age of 21, married children and other members of their extended family.

Between 1885 and 1923 Chinese workers and their families had to pay one of several head taxes to immigrate to Canada. The tax did not apply to any other immigrants.

The Chinese Canadian community dates back continuously to the arrival of several thousand Chinese prospectors during the 1858 Fraser River Gold Rush.

The Chinese Immigration Act, 1923, also known as the “Chinese Exclusion Act”, was a Canadian Act of Parliament passed by the government of Liberal Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King, banning most forms of Chinese immigration to Canada. This required all people of Chinese ‘race’ living in Canada, including the Canadian-born, to register with the federal government in order to stay in the country.