Won Alexander Cumyow, the first Chinese person born in Canada, casts his ballot, 1947. Courtesy of University of British Columbia Libraries, Won Alexander Cumyow fonds, BC 1848/9
Cross–country voting rights (1947)
From 1920 to 1947, Chinese Canadians’ right to vote federally depended on their province of residence. Every province developed its own voting criteria, and those of British Columbia and Saskatchewan specifically excluded Chinese Canadians from the franchise. The enactment of the Provincial Elections Act Amendment Act in 1947 in British Columbia meant that Chinese Canadians across the country were awarded full provincial voting rights. That same year, a change in federal law made voting rights part of Canadian citizenship.
Listen to Anita Wong discuss the importance of voting to Chinese Canadians. click for summary
