R v Quong-Wing

R v Quong-Wing

R v Quong-Wing, [1914] 49 SCR 440
The defendant was charged with illegally employing white female servants as a person of Chinese descent, a law which the defendant argues is ultra vires the provincial legislature. The precise nature of the defendant appellant's argument is unclear; however, the basic premise that the court deals with seems to be that the federal government's naturalization powers prevent provincial legislation restricting the rights of naturalized Chinese in Canada. In a 4-1 decision, the Supreme Court of Canada decided that the legislation was not ultra vires, with three concurring judgements containing variations on the conclusion that the legislation did not, in pith and substance, fall under the head of naturalization.

Metadata

Title

R v Quong-Wing

Credits

Researcher: Monique F. Ulysses
Researcher: Lauren Chalaturnyk
Metadata author: Connell Parish
Metadata author: Gordon Lyall
Publication Information: See Terms of Use for publication and licensing information.
Source: Supreme Court of Canada. Supreme Court Reports. 1914.

Terminology

Readers of these historical materials will encounter derogatory references to Japanese Canadians and euphemisms used to obscure the intent and impacts of the internment and dispossession. While these are important realities of the history, the Landscapes of Injustice Research Collective urges users to carefully consider their own terminological choices in writing and speaking about this topic today as we confront past injustice. See our statement on terminology, and related sources here.