Title: Anti-oriental legislation in early Saskatchewan and the development of small business

Authors: Ken Leyton-Brown

Addresses: Department of History, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan S4S 0A2, Canada

Abstract: In 1912, the government of Saskatchewan introduced legislation designed to prevent ||any Japanese, Chinaman or other Oriental person|| from providing employment or lodging to ||any white woman or girl.|| This legislation was resisted by Japanese and Chinese communities in the province; the Japanese relying on diplomatic pressure, and the Chinese resorting to a legal challenge. The Japanese were successful, but the Chinese were not, and the 1912 Act, and its successors, had the effect of restricting the kind and size of business that Chinese could operate in Saskatchewan, and also restricted the employment opportunities of ||white women and girls||.

Keywords: legislation; immigration; Canada; small business; Saskatchewan; Japanese communities; Chinese communities; employment opportunities; history; anti-Oriental racism; female employment.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBG.2008.017681

International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2008 Vol.2 No.3, pp.275 - 291

Published online: 26 Mar 2008 *

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