Who was primarily affected by the head tax in Canada?

The head tax in Canada was specifically designed to restrict the immigration of Chinese individuals during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was imposed in 1885, primarily as a response to the increasing number of Chinese workers who had come to Canada, particularly during the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway. This tax required Chinese immigrants to pay a fee upon entering Canada, which aimed to deter their immigration and reflect the prevailing racial attitudes and discrimination of that era.

The head tax significantly impacted the Chinese community, as many immigrants were forced to pay this financial barrier to enter Canada. Eventually, the tax was raised multiple times, making it even more burdensome. It wasn't until 1947 that the Canadian government formally abolished the head tax and acknowledged the discriminatory nature of this policy, which had a lasting impact on the Chinese Canadian community.

Other groups like Italian, Ukrainian, and Polish immigrants did not face this particular form of systematic discrimination through the head tax. Each of these communities may have faced different challenges, but the head tax was exclusively directed towards Chinese immigrants.