coffinweb 2009

Canadian History 621 Quick Notes

Canada’s Immigration Policies

from Canada’s History:  Voices and Visions (Chapter 25)
 

Canada has been called a  country of immigrants.  With the exception of

Aboriginal peoples, most Canadians are immigrants or descendants of immigrants.

 

Immigration policies have changed to reflect:

- Changing attitudes

- Expanding global perspectives

 

Immigration Policy: The Points System

Points are awarded to prospective immigrants by category:

- Age

- Education

- Fluency in English/French

- Work Experience

- Job Skills (qualifications and demand for particular skills)

 

By 1971, the majority of immigrants were non-Europeans:

- Asia

- Caribbean

 

By1978, the Immigration Act was revised to define three classes of immigrant:

Refugee Class

Those seeking sanctuary from persecution and/or dangerous situations in their home countries.

Family Class

Those with family members already living in Canada.

Economic Class

Those who apply on their own and who possess the necessary qualifications to work and invest in Canada.

- Skilled Worker Class (Skills/work experience needed in Canada)

- Business Class (Management experience and money to invest)

 

Permanent Residents

Once accepted, all immigrants are given PERMANENT RESIDENT (landed immigrant) status (with exceptions):

- They cannot vote yet. 

- They have access to health care and education. 

- Receive Social Insurance Number. 

- Can draw Employment Insurance. 

- Must live in Canada 3 years before applying for citizenship.

 

Immigration and Refugee Protection Act

Designed to attract more skilled workers to Canada:

- More points to those with a TRADE CERTIFICATE/SECOND DEGREE.

- More points for fluency in French/English.

- Reduction of points for EXPERIENCE (attracts younger workers).

- Extending maximum age (to encourage older workers)

- Lowering the passing level (allows more people to qualify)

 

Permanent Resident Card

Must have at all times and show when asked at all times.

 

Immigration policies (1867-1967)

 

Colonial Immigration Policies

New France (1600s)

- In the early days, most inhabitants were soldiers.  Soon, King Louis XIV recruited girls from Normandy to help settle the colony.  Jean Talon was New France’s INTENDANT (the recruiter). 

- No non-Catholics – the Reformation raged in Europe.

Britain (1760s)

- United Empire Loyalists came after the American Revolution.

- Industrial Revolution forced people to leave Britain to seek new lives in Canada.

Irish (1800s)

- Potato famine

- English rule in Ireland

- Many children were adopted by Quebec families and permitted to keep their names (O’Neill/Johnson).

 

Pre-World War One

Due to European contact, Aboriginal populations were in decline.  By 1867, the majority of Canadians were of European heritage:  British, French, Irish, some of African descent.  However, the face of Canada was predominantly white.

 

Dominion Land Act (1872)

- Free land to settlers (which would double if the settlers stayed and farmed for 3 years).

- CPR would help settle the West.

- Clifford Sifton ‘sold’ the West to Europeans and US settlers.

- Advertising campaigns with pamphlets and posters.

- Yanks could sell their land and move to free land in Canada.

- Immigration agents got paid commission to recruit immigrants.

- Many came from Russia, Poland, Ukraine, Hungary, Germany, some escaping political persecution/oppression. 

- They were not always treated nicely by their neighbors in Canada either.

 

The War Years

Ended Western immigration.

Only immigrants we received came from the USA.

 

Between the Wars

Immigration picked up, but the government changed the policy:

- Certain areas weren’t welcome.

- British were first preference.

- Americans were second.

- France, Belgium, Dutch, and German (believe it or not) were also very welcome.

- Low priority to Ukraine, Russia, and Poland.  Asians, Africans, and Caribbean immigrants were barred.

- In the ’20s, immigration levels were high.

- In the Dirty ’30s, immigration ground to a halt.

- During World War Two, immigration was slow.

 

Postwar Years to 1967

- Canada’s population grew from 12 to 20 million.  Baby Boom helped.  Immigration brought 3 million new Canadians.

- Many displaced Europeans came to rebuild lives.

- Axis Powers’ countries immigration was restricted.

- Lots of war brides arrived.

- The Demand for Labour brought a lot too.

 

1950s:

- Economy was booming.

- Immigration quotas were expanded to meet labour demand.

- Restrictions on Germans and Italians were lifted.

- Many immigrants settled in Toronto and Montreal and created cultural communities.

- Immigration now centered on urban population growth – providing labour for growing industrial economies.

- Easing Restrictions (When immigration of Europeans declined, we lifted some restrictions on Asians, and increased immigration from China).  We also lifted the restrictions on those from the Caribbean.