A10 history of canada immigration policy
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Transcript of A10 history of canada immigration policy
7/21/2010 1
Overview of the History of Canada‟s Immigration Policy
Researched by Janet Dench (CCR) and Ana Rico (FCJ Refugee Centre)
7/21/2010 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…..
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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
7/21/2010 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.
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This Act
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
Handicap
Becoming an
inmate of a
prison or
hospital
Infirmity
Committing
crimes of
„moral
turpitude‟
Deportations
increased
dramatically!!
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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
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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
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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”
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War Initiatives - Terror suspects???
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Special Measures….
War Measures Act ..
Increased govt‟spower 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 labourshortages…..
Wartime
Elections Act
(1917)
Disenfranchised
all persons from
„enemy alien‟
countries who
had been
naturalized since
1902
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And for women…. (No – not these women)
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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)
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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‟
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Chinese Immigrants Under Attack
Several
restrictive
laws come
into effect
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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….
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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.
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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
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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
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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)
7/21/2010 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
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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)
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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.
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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
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‟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
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‟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
7/21/2010 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
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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
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THE 1986 „ADMIN REVIEW‟
The ‟86 Administrative Review …
MADE MANY PEOPLE HAPPY
Bill C-55completely 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
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7/21/2010 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
1990s Overview1990: 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
summer7/21/2010 33
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)
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7/21/2010 35
Which policies and challenges are affecting today‟s refugees and immigrants?
IRPA
lack of a Refugee Appeal Division
Reuniting families and sponsorship Quebec changes for sponsorship
Imposition of visas for Mexicans and Czech Republic
Safe Third Country Agreement
Cancel moratorium country list
Immigration programs based on employment:
Provincial nominee programs
Temporary workers
Refugee Reform
Economic Immigration Policy Shifts
Skilled Worker program reduced from 50% of all immigrants in 2005 to less than 40% in 2009
Applications restricted to 38 occupations in 2009
Temporary Foreign Workers increased by over 70% between 2004 and 2009
Most of growth in TFW program is result of Low Skill Pilot Project – not eligible for permanent residence
TFWs not eligible for services
Services delayed for those who qualify for Canadian Experience Class
TFWs with “closed” work permits being exploited
Policy shift occurring without debate