History of Canadian Immigration Policy (A Timeline)
The Canadian Immigration policy has a tumultuous and long past. Much of Canada's population today can be traced back to its strong association with immigration throughout history. The Canadian Government has referred to Canada as "a land of immigrants" (Citizenship and Immigration Canada; 2011) due to its rich ties with immigration.
1920's: One Million Immigrants arrive on Canada's shores and their immigration process was controlled by the department of Immigration and Colonization. (Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; 2003)
1921: United States places a quota on all Immigrants but those from North America, due to this hundreds of European Immigrants used Canada as a way to immigrate to the United States (Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; 2003)
1922: Britain introduces the Empire Settlement Act which encourages immigration to Canada. New Canadian Legislation released prohibiting entrance to enemy aliens, illiterate people, supporters of revolutionary and anarchist movements, and those belonging to a race or ethnicity deemed "unsuitable" by the government (Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; 2003)
1923: Ottawa introduces a legislation which prohibits the Chinese from entering Canada, Canadian economy falls into a slump and labour shortages place pressure on the government to relax these laws. Laws are relaxed and Chinese Immigration Act is introduced. The Order that restricted Germans and citizens of their wartime allies from immigrating is lifted. Refugees of Jewish Faith from Romanian are admitted to Canada (Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; 2003)
1924: United States continues its quota on all Immigrants but those from North America, and the rush of Europeans to Canada continues (Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; 2003)
1926: sponsoring immigrants is first introduced into the Immigration policy (Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; 2003)
1928: Japanese Immigration (which had never previously been restricted and began in 1896) was limited to 150 immigrants per year. (Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; 2003)
1930's: Focus on British and American Immigration, only 1/3 of total immigrants admitted most of whom were farmers, others were denied access. 30,000 new immigrants were deported during the depression. Canada was criticized for how their policy on refugees (they weren't treated any differently than other immigrants) especially now because so many people were stateless, homeless, and on the hunt for refuge (Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; 2003)
1933-45: During the war Canada gains a terrible track record with admitting Jewish Refugees, only admitting 4,000-5,000 in comparison to Britain's 200,000 and the United States 70,000. 23,000 Canadians of Japanese descent were placed in internment camps. (Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; 2003)
1936: Department of Mines and Resource takes over control of Canadian Immigration Policy. (Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; 2003)
1939: June 7th, the St. Louis Incident (a breaking point on Jewish immigration during the war) (Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; 2003)
1947: Canadian Citizenship Act takes effect (January 1). Displaced people in Europe from the war look to Canada to immigrate, Canada loosens its regulations but there is still clear preference for white immigrants. In May the Chinese Immigration Act is lifted which allowed the families of current Chinese Immigrants to immigrate, and current immigrations to apply for naturalization and also all are given right to vote. (Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; 2003)
1949: Department of Citizenship and Immigration is formed (Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; 2003)
1950: The Canadian Labour Market demands mean that Canada opens immigration laws to include (Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; 2003)
1962: the Government introduces new legislation which rids the immigration policy of discriminatory language based on colour, race and creed. New regulations are also introduced to fight the brain drain of Canadian workers moving to the United States in the 50's and 60's (Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; 2003)
1967: October 1 the Points system is created in order to select immigrants. It rated immigrants on skills of education, skills in English or French, and skills (not race). November 13 an independent immigration appeal board is created to give those ordered to be deported the right to appeal. (Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; 2003)
1968: Quebec creates its own department of immigration with goals to recruit more French and French speaking immigrants (Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; 2003)
1969: Canada signs the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees guaranteeing protection for refugees (Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; 2003)
1971: Canada's official policy of multiculturalism is released (Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; 2003)
Source:
Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. 2003. "Timeline Immigration History from the Pier 21 Era." Halifax, Nova Scotia. Retrieved Saturday March 16, 2013. (http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/Exhibitions/Pier21/eng/chronologie-evenements-immigration-timeline-events-immigration-eng.html)
Citizenship and Immigration Canada. 2011. "Backgrounder-Facts in Canada's Immigration History." Retrieved Saturday March 16, 2013. (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/backgrounders/2011/2011-06-27.asp)
1920's: One Million Immigrants arrive on Canada's shores and their immigration process was controlled by the department of Immigration and Colonization. (Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; 2003)
1921: United States places a quota on all Immigrants but those from North America, due to this hundreds of European Immigrants used Canada as a way to immigrate to the United States (Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; 2003)
1922: Britain introduces the Empire Settlement Act which encourages immigration to Canada. New Canadian Legislation released prohibiting entrance to enemy aliens, illiterate people, supporters of revolutionary and anarchist movements, and those belonging to a race or ethnicity deemed "unsuitable" by the government (Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; 2003)
1923: Ottawa introduces a legislation which prohibits the Chinese from entering Canada, Canadian economy falls into a slump and labour shortages place pressure on the government to relax these laws. Laws are relaxed and Chinese Immigration Act is introduced. The Order that restricted Germans and citizens of their wartime allies from immigrating is lifted. Refugees of Jewish Faith from Romanian are admitted to Canada (Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; 2003)
1924: United States continues its quota on all Immigrants but those from North America, and the rush of Europeans to Canada continues (Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; 2003)
1926: sponsoring immigrants is first introduced into the Immigration policy (Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; 2003)
1928: Japanese Immigration (which had never previously been restricted and began in 1896) was limited to 150 immigrants per year. (Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; 2003)
1930's: Focus on British and American Immigration, only 1/3 of total immigrants admitted most of whom were farmers, others were denied access. 30,000 new immigrants were deported during the depression. Canada was criticized for how their policy on refugees (they weren't treated any differently than other immigrants) especially now because so many people were stateless, homeless, and on the hunt for refuge (Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; 2003)
1933-45: During the war Canada gains a terrible track record with admitting Jewish Refugees, only admitting 4,000-5,000 in comparison to Britain's 200,000 and the United States 70,000. 23,000 Canadians of Japanese descent were placed in internment camps. (Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; 2003)
1936: Department of Mines and Resource takes over control of Canadian Immigration Policy. (Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; 2003)
1939: June 7th, the St. Louis Incident (a breaking point on Jewish immigration during the war) (Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; 2003)
1947: Canadian Citizenship Act takes effect (January 1). Displaced people in Europe from the war look to Canada to immigrate, Canada loosens its regulations but there is still clear preference for white immigrants. In May the Chinese Immigration Act is lifted which allowed the families of current Chinese Immigrants to immigrate, and current immigrations to apply for naturalization and also all are given right to vote. (Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; 2003)
1949: Department of Citizenship and Immigration is formed (Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; 2003)
1950: The Canadian Labour Market demands mean that Canada opens immigration laws to include (Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; 2003)
- “Any immigrant who satisfies the Minister that he is a suitable immigrant, having regard to the climatic, social, educational, industrial, labour or other conditions or requirements of Canada; and that he is not undesirable owing to the probable inability to become readily adapted and integrated into the life of a Canadian community and to assume the duties of Canadian citizenship within a reasonable time after his entry.” (Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; 2003)
1962: the Government introduces new legislation which rids the immigration policy of discriminatory language based on colour, race and creed. New regulations are also introduced to fight the brain drain of Canadian workers moving to the United States in the 50's and 60's (Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; 2003)
1967: October 1 the Points system is created in order to select immigrants. It rated immigrants on skills of education, skills in English or French, and skills (not race). November 13 an independent immigration appeal board is created to give those ordered to be deported the right to appeal. (Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; 2003)
1968: Quebec creates its own department of immigration with goals to recruit more French and French speaking immigrants (Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; 2003)
1969: Canada signs the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees guaranteeing protection for refugees (Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; 2003)
1971: Canada's official policy of multiculturalism is released (Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21; 2003)
Source:
Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. 2003. "Timeline Immigration History from the Pier 21 Era." Halifax, Nova Scotia. Retrieved Saturday March 16, 2013. (http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/Exhibitions/Pier21/eng/chronologie-evenements-immigration-timeline-events-immigration-eng.html)
Citizenship and Immigration Canada. 2011. "Backgrounder-Facts in Canada's Immigration History." Retrieved Saturday March 16, 2013. (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/backgrounders/2011/2011-06-27.asp)