In the 1850"s the early immigrants to Canada suffered also of ethnic prejudice and were considered "unfit for full citizenship." Even though residents of BC considered the Chinese unassailable under any circumstances, they tolerated them because the Chinese were a useful form of cheap labor. But in 1885 the Canadian government imposed a "head" tax to decrease the Chinese immigration to Canada, since the construction of the CPR was over. To be admitted into Canada, Chinese immigrants had to pay an $100 fee, but after complaints from BC politicians the fee was raised to $500. On July 1st 1923, the Chinese Immigration Act was passed which excluded anyone that was Chinese from immigrating to Canada. This was known as "Humiliation Day," where Chinese Canadians would boycott Dominion Day celebrations. This legislation was not removed until 1967 when the point system of immigration was introduced.

             Many of the Chinese workers that came to Canada were men who had families back in China. They came to Canada to raise money for their wives and children back home. They could not bring their families with them because of the head tax. Eventually they would go back to China if they had enough money but many did not and they spent the rest of their lives in Chinese bachelor houses in Canada. In 1931 there were 1,240 men to every 100 women in Chinese Canadian communities. .

             Many of the immigrants that arrived in Canada before the 1950"s were "coolies" that only came to Canada because of the CPR, some were even kidnapped and forced on to boats destined to Canada. These coolies worked under appalling conditions and out of the 17, 000 workers, who came to Canada, 700 of them died constructing the railway. .

             During the Construction of the CPR Chinese workers received less than 50% paid to white workers even if they were working side by side. Also before the 1940"s, Chinese workers were barred from many professions such as law pharmacy and accounting.