Canadian Immigration History & Multiculturalism

History of Canadian Immigration

• Canada relies on immigration to grow its population
• Historically, immigrants came from Europe, especially Britain, excluding certain nationalities
• Current immigration is marked by visible minorities due to changed laws and policies
• Race or ethnic origin is no longer a basis for exclusion

Multiculturalism

• Diversity increased with more immigrants
• Canada moved past biculturalism
• In 1971, multiculturalism policy was introduced
• A goal of this policy is recognizing many different people make up Canada
• Citizens get help protecting and enhancing their cultures through festivals and language classes
• Respect and equality for all are promoted

Immigration Act of 1978

• Economic boom between 1960-1970 created a need for more immigrants
• The Immigration Act of 1978 sought to:
• Attract skilled workers and educated immigrants
• Reunite families
• Accept refugees
• Allow quicker citizenship

Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (2002)

• Immigrants fall into 4 catergories:
• Economic
• Skilled workers and business people
• Family class
• Relatives of people living in Canada
• Refugees
• Those escaping persecution, torture, cruel wars or natural disasters
• Extraordinary
• Humanitarian reasons and cases that don't fit elsewhere

Immigration Objectives

• Social and economic benefits are pursued
• Bilingual and multicultural character is respected
• The development of official language minority communities is supported
• A prosperous economy is supported
• Families are reunited
• Successful integration and mutual obligations are recognized

The Need for Immigrants

• Demographic factors relate to population characteristics
• Labor force growth is tied to the "labor force" or the number of people who can work
• The birth rate will equal the death rate by 2025-2030
• In 2016, the number of retiring workers was equal to that of new workers
• Immigration ensures a growing population and economy

The Point System

• Only economic immigrants since 1967 must qualify under the point system

• To qualify, 67 points are needed

• Applicants must pay an application fee of approximately $1000

• Proof of good health and no criminal record is needed

• Applicants that are a risk to Canadians or put excessive demand on the healthcare system can be refused

• Every economic immigrant must prove good health

• Refusal may occur if health endangers public safety, puts Canadians at risk or burdens the healthcare system, examples being tuberculosis, mental disorders, or HIV/AIDS

Point System - Disadvantages

• The first applicant is the first to be processed
• First come-first serve basis makes it hard to prioritize applicants
• Potential applicants were not always matched with job openings in Canada
• Application processing averages 12-14 months

Express Entry

• Express Entry started in January 2015
• Skilled foreign workers have access to Express Entry
• New electronic application management system
• Applies to economic immigration programs
• Immigration Canada selects the best qualified candidates
• Candidates with a job offer or provincial/territorial nomination get invited quickly to apply for permanent residence
• A new Job Bank connects employers with skilled foreign national candidates
• Processing times are six months or less
• A comprehensive ranking system (CRS) is used to determine the hgihest scoring
• Invitation to apply is irrespective of when candidates entered the Express Entry pool
• CRS is divided into four components:
• core/human capital Factors (500 points)
• Spouse/common-law partner Factors (40 points)
• Skill transferability Factors (100 points)
• Additional points (job offer) (600 points)
• A maximum of 1200 points are possible
• Process
• Express Entry profile filiing
• Register with Job Bank
• Accept into Express Entry Pool
• Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA)
• Candidates with a job offer or province/territory nomination get additional points for ITA
• Permanent residence applications are done online within 60 days
• Inital application fee is $550 an adult
• $150 is charged for children
• The right of permanent residence fee is $490 per adult
• Medical and security checks are still required for entry

Changes in Policy

• In the past, Canada preferred British immigrants and restricted Asian immigration
• Today, no one is excluded because of their race or country of origin

Komagata Maru

• The Immigration Act's continuous journey clause stated only direct travel from India was allowed
• Passage did not exist, therefore no immigration from India
• In 1914 the "Komagata Maru" was turned back to India
• Some passengers killed protesting for Indian independence from Britain
• A formal apology was issued by Stephen Harper in 2008

Chinese Head Tax

• In 1885, a prohibitive $50 fee was levied to come to Canada
• This fee rose to $500 by 1903
• The Chinese Exclusion Act in 1923 effectively stopped all Chinese immigration
• The right to vote was granted to Chinese Canadians by 1947
• Survivors or widows received $20,000 in 2006
• Justin Trudeau apologized formally in 2016.

Canada's Policy Towards Refugees

• A refugee is a person escaping from any danger or form of persecution
• Refuge was first offered to people fleeing specific global crises beginning in 1951
• Canada now has an ongoing international commitment to protect refugees
• Refuge is offered to people facing all persecution types (1976)
• Refugees can re-settle in Canada in two ways:
• The federal government collaborates with the UN to bring refugees from camps
• Refugees can be privately sponsored
• All refugees need the necessities of life as well as government assistance, language/job training

Objectives of Immigration and Refugee Protection Act

• Save lives
• Offer protection
• Fulfill Canada's commitment to protecting refugees
• Fair consideration to people claiming persecution is granted
• Refuge is offered to persecuted persons/ those facing torture or cruel and unusual punishment due to race, religion, or political affiliation

Singh Decision

• Satnam Singh (1985) sought refugee status but was reject under Immigration Act, 1976
• He was not not allowed to state his case
• Supreme Court decision: this violates Section 7 of the Charter (security of the person)
• People claiming refugee status now have the right to a hearing as long as they are on Canadian soil
• Those claimants need the necessities of life while they wait for their hearing
• The Immigration and Refugee Board was created to hold hearings

Current Issue: Asylum Seekers from the USA

• Crossing the border outside of legal points costs $14000
• Cost per year to the Federal Government is $400 million
• People who enter Canada at an official border from the United States cannot make a refugee claim This is becasue of an agreement between the two countries
• Thousands of migrants are crossing the border unofficially

Immigration and Collective Rights

• assembly is an organization created to protect First Nations rights and treaties
• Immigration is opposed as Canada allows immigrants to fill roles for skilled workers
• The government should focus more on education, training, and job opportunities for Aboriginals
• Aboriginal peoples hold colletive rights
• Treaties and agreements are supposed to work together wwith government to share in prosperity
• Some first nations still face challenges poverty
• These challenges block individuals from participation in Canada's economy

Immigrant Languages

• Mother Tongue is the native language of a person
• Most immigrants are moving into urban centers
• Immigrants bring their culture, tradition and languages with them
• By the early 2000s, 80% of the population was urban-based which is a huge shift from the 37% in the early 1900s

Provincial Influence

• Provincial Nomination Program helps provinces nominate a percentage of immigrants they would like to receive based on skills
• This can speed up the process
• Skills are matched with provinces that have labor needs
• Some provinces can set up immigration offices in other countries
• “Come to Alberta”
• Law can't force immigrants to a particular location

Alberta's Needs

• 17% of Canada's immigration goes to Alberta
• Yearly immigrants are concentrated in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver at 68%
• Alberta has labour shortages in every reporterd Industry
• Construction and Transportation reporting over 90% in worker shortages and Manufacturing, Resource Development, and Retail reporting over 80% in worker shortages

Canada-Quebec Accord

• Federal funding ($200 million) is allocated for settlement assistance in Quebec

• Quebec can mandate that immigrants send children to Francophone schools

• Though 75% of French-speaking immigrants settle in Quebec, that's only 5% of all immigrants

• Non-francophones settle in Quebec more than Francophone immigrants

• Sets a percentage of immigrants that Quebec will receive each year, based onits population

• Canada's population = 35 million

• Quebec's population = 8 million

• 8/35=0.228 or 23%

• Under the agreement, Quebec should receive 23% of immigrants into Canada

• Quebec presently receives 18% of all immigrants

Permanent Resident to Citizen

• Immigrants become permanent residents of Canada and enjoy the same rights as other Canadians (except voting and mobility rights)
• A permanent resident card is required
• Applicants must have lived in Canada for 3 out of the 5 years previously to submitting their application
• Those aged 18-64 must take a citizenship test. This is only in English or French The test is 30 minutes long with 20 multiple choice or true/false questions
• You must get at least 15 out of 20 questions right to pass the test

Explore the history of Canadian immigration, the shift towards multiculturalism, and the Immigration Act of 1978. Discover how Canada's immigration policies have evolved to prioritize skilled workers, family reunification, and refugee acceptance, shaping the nation's diverse identity.