Iqaluit (July 24/06) - Gary Gee's father never knew his own father until he was a teenager.

Grant Fung Gee grew up in southern China in the 1930s and '40s. His father, George, toiled half a world away in a Canadian factory, legally unable to bring his family into the country, a place where he could make a decent living.

Chinese labourers were needed in Canada in the late 1800s to help construct the Canadian Pacific Railway. Many lost their lives doing dangerous jobs such as working with explosives. Upon the completion of the railway, the government began to restrict Chinese immigration by imposing a head tax. It was initially $50, then increased to $100 and finally to $500, the equivalent of two-years wages. Close to 82,000 Chinese immigrants paid the head tax, amounting to approximately $23 million. In 1923, the government amended the Chinese Immigration Act to bar future Chinese settlers. The amendment wasn't rescinded until 1947.

Discriminatory Canadian legislation prevented the reunification of the Gee family as well as many others.

"It was kind of like they had stopped time for those years for my family and the (Chinese) community," said Gary, who lives in Iqaluit.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued an apology on behalf of the government of Canada on June 22. He also extended $20,000 payments to living Chinese immigrants who were forced to pay a head tax upon admittance into Canada. Like tens of thousands of head-tax payers, George Gee didn't live to receive any compensation. His wife, Gaye, has also passed on, so she cannot apply for the money on his behalf.

Their son Grant is still alive in Calgary, but the government has made descendants ineligible for payment.

Gary believes it's an unfair decision. The policy set by the government of the day had a tremendous impact on the entire family, he argued.

"They stranded people here," he said. "It's like a scar that never healed."

A federal official said the government limited its payments because some members of the Chinese-Canadian community wanted compensation but others only sought an apology.

"We figured at the end of the day that was the fairest approach," said Nancy Heppner, director of communications for Canadian Heritage Minister Bev Oda.

Heppner added that descendants of head-tax payers are encouraged to participate in national and community historical recognition programs, for which the government has set aside $10 million and $24 million respectively.

Gary said he recognizes the importance of these programs as he wants to see Canadian history books accurately portray the circumstances. He's also grateful for Harper's apology and acknowledgement that a wrong was committed.

Yet he feels strongly that reparations are due to immediate descendants of head-tax payers.

"I'm not sure if my father has ever celebrated Canada Day, but I'm sure if the head tax issue is finally settled he probably would feel that he finally belongs in Canada," Gary stated.

He is attempting to form a Northern chapter of the Chinese Canadian National Council. There are likely dozens of other families across the territories who are affected by the issue - he said he knows of close to 10 in Iqaluit alone.