The first thing that came to my mind was, what did we have to give in return. China is not known for being generous unless they are getting something out of it. So what did we Canadians have to give up? We will probably not know until its a done deal!
If it is just simply what it says it is then Yes, it will be very good for us.

Well, if they are coming to Barkerville. I think they would be offended in the manner they are being portrayed as.

I wonder if Canadians are proud of the way they treated the Chinese. The Canadian government had no problems charging a head tax for the men to come work in Canada. Hmmmmm, I hope they don't mind the fact that Canadians has a long history of being a racist nation.

First thing that came to my mind was,they will be able to bypass vancouver and come straight here with the new airport and runway,747s full of tourists.Ok it might take awhile but......

Responding to He Spoke.......

Yes the Liberals imposed the head tax many years ago...

And isn't it great that the Conservatives
REMOOVED the head tax shortly after being elected in '06.

And isn't it great that the Conservatives designated the Chinese Free Mason lodge a Heritage Site and will now provide funding to keep the history of the important Chinese role in the Barkerville area during the Cariboo gold rush.

As far as your comment about Canada's "long history of being a racist nation"....I think to be fair, you should be talking now about how Canada has become a favoured destination for people from all over the world to come to start a new life and live in peace, freedom, and security. If you research Canada spot among other nations, I am sure you will find Canada either first or second as a country that welcomes immigrants and allows an overwhelming freedom of culture and religion.

I find it more exciting to be positive about this great country rather than drag out historical errors that we have long since overcome.

This is a great country...let's celebrate it.

maybe the word, " proud " is not the correct word. The word I should have used is " aware ".

An interesting fact, a east indian man was injured at a sawmill in Giscome and he was initially denied access to the hospital in Prince George, because of his race.

I agree with most of your statements, we can proudly say we are Canadians, and doors are opened for us around the world. Our efforts in Afghanistan will be remembered for decades to come. our peace troops smoothing out problems around the world makes it easier for all Canadians to travel. But we must not forget our errors, and must always be kept humble of our errors we have made by segregating our population.

you would be amazed at how many people under the age of 30 that is oblivious to our historical pasts. That is a product of our education system, where they choose not to teach our children what we did, to get where we are now. if we do not educate our kids of the wrongs we have done, we will repeat it.

He Spoke. It doesnt serve you well to look at discrimination, or racism in isolation. Here is a few excerpts from Victorian times in regards to child labour, using children from poor families.

(1) Children were often forced to work almost as soon as they could walk. This was not something new to the Victorian period as children had always been expected to work for hundreds of years. Many were used as cheap labour.

(2) Chimney sweeping was a job children could do better than adults. Small boys (starting at the age of 5 or 6 years) would be sent scrambling up inside the chimney to scrape and brush soot away, they came down covered in soot, and with bleeding elbows and knees. Childred often got stuck or froze with terror in cramped darkness- in these cases the Master Chimney Sweeper, would simply light the fire underneath to encourage them to get on the their work. The work was dangerous and painful. Some boys got stuck and died of suffocation. In 1832 the use of boys for sweeping himneys was forbidden by law.

(3) **I start work promptly at 5;00 in the morning and work all day till 9;00 at night. Thats 16 hours; We are not allowed to talk, sit or look out the window whilst we work. The only day off from work I get is on Sundays, when we have to go to church.** Girl aged 9 textile worker.

(4) In match factories children were employed to dip matches into a dangerous chemical called phosphorous. The phosphorous could cause their teeth to rot and some died from the effect of breathing it into their lungs.

(5) 1833 the Factory Act was made law. It was now illegal for children under 9 to be employed in textile factories.

These are only a small portion of the horror stories concerning discrimination in Britian and other Countries around the world. If you think that the Chinese were the only ones who were subjected to terrible working conditions etc; you should think again.

I am somewhat tired of hearing the old racism and discrimination BS directed at Canadians who, for the most part did their best under the available circumstances.

Find another ox to gore.

Tourism from China is fantastic news! Another great step for BC.

well put palopu. I think we ought to expand our little tirade though, to include the fact that as far as racism goes, canada is and has likely always been one of the least racist societies. One needs to compare our behaviour to that of other CONTEMPORARY societies. By the way, just how desperate do you need to be to slag canada to suggest that the chinese would be offended by our racist history.
Aside from a very long history of racism in china we still have their occupation of tibet and (in many peoples view) oppression of the tibet peoples. I forget, how do you spell uigher? Anyway, if you MUST feel guilty do so on a personal level. I doubt there are many countries in the history of the world who have never put the boots to one minority or another.