What’s behind the racial tensions in Canada ?

Posted on November 15, 2020 by Tung Chan 陳志動

An Austrian friend recently wrote to ask me.

“What’s behind the racial tensions in Canada? Politics, religion, beliefs, haves, have nots, gainers Vs losers, social power? Surface racial tension usually conceals an underlying struggle for (more) power/influence by one group.

“Are your newspaper and TV reports correct? What is the underlying issue?”

Here is how I answered him.

Thanks for asking. Similar to Australia, Canada has an anti-Asian history. Chinese is the only racial group singled out for immigration exclusion. From 1923 to 1947, Chinese nationals were not allowed by the Chinee Exclusion Act to immigrate to Canada. Canada’s immigration policy was not changed to the current point system until 1967. While the country started to implement a multicultural policy and enshrined it in its constitution in 1982, the undercurrent of overt and subconscious racism lingers on until the present day. 

Third and fourth-generation Chinese-Canadians are still not considered Canadians by a large portion of non-Asian Canadians. Our director of security services had famously said: “It does not matter if they are born here, they would be back to China, wined and dined by the communist party and before you know it, they will be making decisions based on China’s interest rather than ours.” (I may have gotten it slightly wrong, but this is very close to the actual quote.)  A well respected long-serving Canadian diplomat once said in a private conversation: “A Chinese will always be a Chinese,” meaning he will never trust the loyalty of Chinese-Canadians to this country.  


Recently, a member of parliament openly questioned the loyalty of our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Teresa Tam. It was made during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic concerning the supply of PPE and the PRC’s role in the spread of the disease. While the PM and many others opening condemn this individual, his party’s current leader reportedly blocked a motion to throw this fellow out of caucus. The current pandemic’s economic impact on people has pushed that undercurrent to the service, and that is why you see so many violent acts towards Asian-Canadians. 

On a personal level, I have encountered but a couple of overt racist acts. Like you, I have friends from all racial backgrounds and have occupied positions with formal (bank) and informal (non-profit organizations) authority over non-Asians without feeling disrespected due to my racial background. But I firmly believe that my career would have advanced further if I were not of Asian background. An equally convincing argument could be made that my political career had benefited from my racial background because I was recruited to run for the Council of Vancouver precisely because of my Chineseness. 

Younger Asians-Canadians are now facing an entire genre of racism.  They call them micro-aggressions. Questions like “Where are you from?” and comments like “Gee, you speak perfect English.” once thought of innocent and complimentary, are now being viewed as expressions of stereotypical ignorance.

On the positive side, interracial marriage is now on the rise.  When I arrived here in 1974, interracial marriages were made up mostly of Anglo-Canadian boys marrying exotic Asian dolls. We see, of late, Asian men marrying non-Asian women. People no longer frown upon mixed-race couples. I am hopeful for the future.

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About Tung Chan 陳志動

Tung Chan has a long history of community involvement. He is currently a Board member of the Chinese Canadian Museum and a member of the Canadian Red Cross' B.C. and Yukon Provincial Advisory Committee. Tung, a retired Honorary Captain of the Royal Canadian Navy, is a former Chair of the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. From 2006 to 2010, Tung was the Chief Executive Officer of S.U.C.C.E.S.S. In the past, Tung has also served in, amongst many others, the following organizations: E-Comm Emergency Communications (Board Chair), Richmond Public Library (Board Chair), Fairchild TV (Program Advisory Committee Chair), International Financial Centre Society of BC (now known as Advantage BC; Vice-Chair), BC Premier’s Chinese Community Advisory Committee (Member), Province of BC Equal Opportunity Community Advisory Board (Member), the Vancouver Foundation (Board and Honourary Governor Council member), Kwantlen Polytechnic University (Board member), Asia Pacific Foundation (Board member), The Laurier Institution (Board Member), the Immigrant Employment Council of British Columbia (Board member), the Metropolis BC (Board member), Rick Hansen Institute, and the United Way of the Lower Mainland (Board and campaign cabinet member), Canadian Foundation for Economic Education (Board member), BC Community Care and Community Living Appeal Board (Member). In 2002 and 2012, Tung was awarded the Queen’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medal to recognize his contribution to the community. In 2013, Tung received an honorary doctor of laws degree from University Canada West. In July 2014, Tung was invested into the Order of British Columbia by the Honourable Judith Guichon, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, to recognize his community leadership.
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