Canada's Immigration Policy
The slow rood to Multiculturolism
Pre WWII:
o
o
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Canadian immigration policy was designed to fuIfiIl specific needs (i.e. settling
the west)
Also, designed to maintain Canada's White British character and culture
Clearly racist laws were enacted to prevent non-white immigration (i.e. 1923
Chinese Immigration Act prevented Chinese women and children to ioin their
family working in Canada)
After WWII
o
o
c
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
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o
Canada accepted thousands of "displaced peoples" from Europe
1948: Mackenzie King repealed the Chinese Immigration act and extended this
right to East Indian families
1952 Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent's government passed the Immigration
Act which further opened up Canada
In the 1950's, demand for workers after the War (Canada's booming economy)
was so high that the borders opened wide for the first time
1960: Prime Minister John Diefenbaker's government passed the Canadian Bill
of Rights which outlawed discrimination based on Race, Gender or Religion
1962: Immigration Act passed to reflect Bill of Rights and a point system is
introduced (immigrants chosen on occupational need)
1967: Under Lester Pearson Immigration Act changed: this allowed many Biack
West Indians to come to Canada (in fact Canada's Black population doubled in
the 1960's)
1970's: Under Pierre Trudeau, Canada took a leading role in accepting refuges
from War-Torn nations (i.e. Hungarians, Czechoslovakians, and Vietnamese).
This policy continues to this day.
1978: Pierre Trudeau's government passes a new Immigration Act which is based
on the followins criteria:
--Promote Canada's economic, cultural and demographic goals
- Encourage family reunions
- Non-Discriminatory
- Accepting of refugees and be humanitarian
Since the 1980's Canada's immigration standard have changed several times but
the fundamentals Trudeau established remain in place
1n the 80's and 90's most Canadian Immigration has been "non-white"
However, not everyone has completely accepted Canada's immigration poiicy.
For example, the former members of the reform party proposed legislation that
would favour European Immigrants. Also, the Meech Lake accord would have
given more power to the provinces to control immigration. This was done to
satis$ Quebec's wish to maintain their "Distinct Society"