Which 1923 law led some Chinese Canadians to call July 1 Humiliation Day?

The Chinese Immigration Act of 1923 led some Chinese Canadians to call July 1 “Humiliation Day.”

The law came into force on July 1, 1923—the same date that Canadians marked Confederation with Dominion Day celebrations. It effectively prohibited most Chinese immigration to Canada, allowing entry only in limited categories such as diplomats, students, merchants and people admitted under special ministerial permission.

The act followed the earlier Chinese Immigration Act of 1885, which had imposed a discriminatory head tax on immigrants from China. The 1923 legislation went much further by creating near-total exclusion. Because its enforcement coincided with Dominion Day, many Chinese Canadians viewed the holiday as a painful reminder of state discrimination and boycotted celebrations.

The law is also commonly called the Chinese Exclusion Act, but “Chinese Immigration Act” is its formal title. Parliament repealed it on May 14, 1947. Canada later apologized for the head tax and exclusion policies, but the law’s social and family consequences lasted far beyond its repeal.