This document provides an overview of Canada's immigration policies from the late 19th century to 2010. It summarizes key policies and demographic trends during periods like the late 1800s-early 1900s which saw an influx of European immigrants, the early 1900s which brought increased restrictions on Asian immigrants, and World War periods that led to the internment of "enemy aliens" and disenfranchisement. It also outlines major policy changes in the post-war period like the introduction of a points system in 1967 and the multiculturalism policy of 1971.

1. 5/12/2010 1 Overview of the History of Canada’s Immigration PolicyResearched by Janet Dench (CCR) and Ana Rico (FCJ Refugee Centre)

2. 5/12/2010 2 People have been coming to Canada for many years ………….

3. 5/12/2010 3 Canada’s immigration policies (or lack thereof) have always had significant impacts on the people who were allowed to come Early ‘policy’ was very simple…..

4. 5/12/2010 4 1896 - 1905 “I think that a stalwart peasant in a sheepskin coat, born to the soil, with a stout wife and a half dozen children, is good quality” Clifford Sifton, Ministry of Interior

5. 5/12/2010 5 1901 census Population 5,371,315 96% of European origin 13% population were immigrants 55% foreign-born were citizens 4% Chinese were citizens 43% immigrants female 41% pop of British origin 31% French 22,050 Chinese 17, 347 Blacks 16,131 Jews In 1901 the Chinese Head tax doubled from the 1885 level of $50 to $100.

6. 5/12/2010 6 1906 Immigration Act passed to stop ‘undesirable immigrants’

7. 5/12/2010 7 This Act Handicap Becoming an inmate of a prison or hospital Infirmity Committing crimes of ‘moral turpitude’ Deportations increased dramatically!! Expanded the list of ‘prohibited immigrants’ Allowed deportation of immigrants within 2 (then 3 then 5) years of landing for …. Becoming a public charge Insanity Disease

8. 5/12/2010 8 Arrival of Sikhs in BC in 1906-07 resulted in an “anti-Asiatic” parade which ended in a riot State the purpose of the discussion Identify yourself

9. 5/12/2010 9 1908 - 1910 Chinese Immigration Act amended to increase those under the head tax and expand list of prohibited persons Border inspection service created at US-Canada border Continuous journey rule imposed New Act allowed Canada to prohibit immigrants belonging to any race deemed unsuitable and expanded deportation grounds to include immorality and political offences; New Act introduced concept of ‘domicile’ First Caribbean Domestic Scheme

10. 5/12/2010 10 CENSUS 1911: Population 7,206,643 97% population of European origin 22% population immigrants 47% of these naturalized (9% Chinese, 22% Japanese) 39% of immigrants were women Population: 54% British origin 29% French origin 75,681 Jews 27,774 Chinese, 9,021 Japanese 3,342 ‘Hindus”

11. 5/12/2010 11 War Initiatives - Terror suspects???

12. 5/12/2010 12 Special Measures…. War Measures Act .. Increased govt’s power to arrest, detain and deport ‘Enemy aliens’ forced to register themselves and subjected to many restrictions 8,000 – 9,000 ‘enemy aliens’ interned.. …..released in response to labour shortages….. Wartime Elections Act (1917) Disenfranchised all persons from ‘enemy alien’ countries who had been naturalized since 1902

13. 5/12/2010 13 And for women…. (No – not these women)

14. 5/12/2010 14 And for the women…… Women's division created in 1919 within Immigration Dept to ‘care’ for single women immigrants 1919 .. Immigration Act amended to add new grounds for denying entry and deportation – alcoholism, illiteracy. Classes of immigrants could be denied entry because of unsuitability, peculiar habits, modes of life or holding property British-born subject to deportation on political grounds (Winnipeg general strike)

15. 5/12/2010 15 1921 Census Population 8,787,949 97.5% European origin 22% immigrants 44% immigrants female 58% of foreign-born naturalized citizens 55% pop British origins 33% French origins 126,196 Hebrews 39,347 Chinese 23,342 Japanese 18, 291 ‘Negroes’

16. 5/12/2010 16 Chinese Immigrants Under Attack Several restrictive laws come into effect

17. 5/12/2010 17 1920’s…Attacks on Chinese Immigrants…. Opium and Narcotic Drug Act led to deportations: 35% of all the deportations in ’23-’24 in Pacific Division 1923 Order issued excluding ‘any immigrant of any Asiatic race’ – except agriculturalists, farm labourers, female domestic servants and wife and children of persons legally in Canada Chinese Immigration Act – more prohibitions.. Humiliation Day Doors opened to British citizens, Americans and citizens of ‘preferred countries’. Limitations placed on immigrants from Austria, Hungary, Poland, etc….

18. 5/12/2010 18 Overt Targeting Of Identified Populations Characterized this period. … 1930… Order further prohibited the landing of ‘any immigrant of any Asiatic race’ except wives and minor children of Cdn citizens Order requiring Chinese and Japanese to renounce their former citizenship before becoming citizens; impact on Japanese. Deportations on grounds of becoming public charge increased – from 1930 to ’34 the deportations on this ground increased 6x.

19. 5/12/2010 19 A time of terror…. Communist party made illegal – grounds for deportation (’31) Deportation of unemployed ’31 political deportations legalized ’32 Red Raid In ’34 94% of applications for naturalization refused Political deportations

20. 5/12/2010 20 Faith communities join with others To advocate for Jewish refugees (’38) Opposed by many anti-Semitic groups Cdn National Cttee on Refugees and Victims of Persecution formed Cttee focused on individual cases, as unsuccessful in affecting policy

21. 5/12/2010 21 Reluctant moves on refugee issues….. ’38 Canada reluctantly participated in Evian Conference on refugees with ‘NO’ mandate. Canada’s immigration department was anti-Semitic (“None is too many”) Canada takes some German refugees, but insists on higher payment from Britain In response to ’38 refugee crisis, Canada insisted it would accept only those who met categories for admissible immigrants 2,500 “potentially dangerous enemy aliens” brought to Canada from Britain) and interned (in fact many were Jews)

22. 5/12/2010 22 Census ‘41 Population 11,506,6755 98% pop of European origin 18% immigrants 45% of these female 71% of immigrants naturalized 50% population of British origin 30% French origin 170,241 Jews 34,627 Chinese 22,174 Africans

23. 5/12/2010 23 The End of WW II – Some Change Gov’t resistance to pressure for a more open immigration policy began to give way in the mid ’40;s with: Sponsorships Identity documents Citizenship Act Emergency measures for refugees (economic considerations)

24. 5/12/2010 24 However… the ’52 Immigration Act still … Gave the Minister and officials significant powers over selection, admission and deportation. Allowed refusal on grounds of nationality, ethnic group, area of origin, peculiar customs, unsuitability re: climate, rate of assimilation, sexual orientation, etc.

25. 5/12/2010 25 Gov’t allowed 4 groups to select and process immigrants in ’53 Oops! Conflict arose because the groups (churches) selected the people most in need!! ’54 Bar Assn criticized the arbitrary exercise of power by immigration officials and called for a quasi-judiciary Immigration Appeals Board

26. 5/12/2010 26 ’61 Census followed restriction of admission of family members (temporary) & ’60 Bill of Rights …. Population 18,238,247 96.8% population European 15% immigrants 63% of these were citizens 44% population of British origin 30% French origin

27. 5/12/2010 27 ’60’s Brought Significant Changes ….. ’62 – removal of much racial discrimination with new immigration regulations; Assisted loan program extended to Caribbean ’66 White paper promoting a balance btwn economic interest and family relationship ’67 – Points system 1969 Canada finally signs Refugee Convention & Protocol

28. 5/12/2010 28 Opening the doors…. ’71 Multiculturalism policy announced Many immigrants and refugees from new source countries ’74 – Creation of ISAP program ’78 New Immigration Act which identified 4 categories Refugee sponsorship program

29. 5/12/2010 29 1981 Census Population 24,083,500 86% had single European origin 16% immigrants 47% of these female 69% immigrants were citizens 40% population British origin 27% French Greater variety in countries of origin of immigrants

30. 5/12/2010 30 The ’86 Administrative Review … MADE MANY PEOPLE HAPPY THE1986 ‘ADMIN REVIEW’

31. Bill C-55 completely revised the refugee determination system creating IRB Proposed two stage process with exception for refugees passing a safe third country which received opposition from refugee advocates Eventually came into effect in 1989 5/12/2010 31

32. 5/12/2010 32 ’91 Census….. (domestic worker program, special measures for Salvadorans, CSIS, Singh, ’86 administrative review to clear up backlog, creation of IRB for oral hearings) Population 26,994,045 66% single European origin 16% population were immigrants 81% of these were citizens 51% immigrants female

33. 1990s Overview 1990: East European Self-Exiled Class eliminated with fall of iron curtain 1993:Bill C-86 proposed restrictive revisions to the refugee determination system 1995: Right of Landing Fee modern version of the head tax Bill C-44 restricted right to appeal for permanent residents 1999: in July 123 Chinese arrived off the West Coast- the first of 4 such boats that summer 5/12/2010 33

34. Canada Post 9/11 IRPA: Enacted in June 2002. Safe Third Country Agreement: Enacted December 2004 made most claims at the U.S Canada Border ineligible by declaring the U.S a safe country. New Citizenship Bill: First introduced in 2002 and just recently passed through parliament reduce the Canadian citizenship. Anti-Terrorism Act. Bill C-50 (to reduce the overseas backlog) 5/12/2010 34

36. Applications restricted to 38 occupations in 2009

37. Temporary Foreign Workers increased by over 70% between 2004 and 2009

38. Most of growth in TFW program is result of Low Skill Pilot Project – not eligible for permanent residence

39. TFWs not eligible for services

40. Services delayed for those who qualify for Canadian Experience Class

41. TFWs with “closed” work permits being exploited

42. Policy shift occurring without debate