A Forgotten History… 1885:  Upon completing the Canadian Pacific Railway, many Chinese workers, having established themselves as citizens of Canada, begin the process of bringing their wives and children to Canada. Fearing that the Canadian “Native” population (those of European decent) would be outnumbered and that jobs will be lost to skilled Chinese workers, the Canadian government imposes a tax of $10 on all new Chinese immigrants. By 1923, this tax increases to $500. 1923:  A further step against Chinese immigration is taken by the passing of the Chinese Immigration Act, commonly known today as the Chinese Exclusion Act. This new law only allows Chinese immigrants who are Students, Diplomats, certain Merchants and Clergy to enter the country.  Only after the discovery of unofficial Chinese Internment Camps, that echoed the horrors of Nazi death-camps, was this law finally repealed in 1947. Early 1980s: The Chinese-Canadian National Council (CCNC) begins to lobby the Canadian government to apologize for the tax as well as offer redress (in the form of monetary compensation) to the surviving families. 2001: The courts rule that the Canadian Government cannot be held accountable for past racist policies, citing that the country has not been substantially enriched by the tax. This ruling is held up on two appeals in 2002 and 2003. 2006:  the Conservative Government agrees to offer an apology acknowledging the hardship of Chinese immigrants - keeping in mind the previous court rulings. A redress of $20,000 is offered to the 20 surviving head tax payers and their surviving spouses. Their children and other family members are given nothing. It is estimated that over 81,000 Chinese immigrants paid the tax between 1885 - 1923. lady in the red dress questions the concept of justice in a country with a history that contains severe and horrific instances of racism towards our First Nation/People and immigrant communities.  Over the rehearsal and development periods of lady in the red dress, it was both enlightening and heartbreaking to discover the universality of the quest for redress and justice across Canada’s diverse communities.  This play does not seek to persecute and dwell in the past, but to share with present and future generations of Canadians this often forgotten story. This is not just an Asian story.  This is a Canadian story. Andrew Cheng Production Dramaturg