The Canadian Immigration System:Some History, Facts & Stats

All information adapted from ‘the public policy framework- fostering immigration’, York University, 2012

Brainstorm

Why does Canada need immigrants?

We need them possibly because…

1. Supplement populations low natural increase rate2. Replace Canadians who leave & work abroad3. Increase the supply of skilled workers4. Enrich our culture5. Aid our economy- let in rich immigrants6. Help those in need

Do you agree with these reasons?

Lets examine a little history, some facts & some stats…

A Little History on Canadian Immigration Policy:

“When I speak of quality, I have in mind something that is quite different from what is in the mind of the average writer or speaker upon the question of immigration. I think of a stalwart peasant in a sheep-skin coat, born on the soil, whose forefathers have been farmers for generations, with a stout wife and half-a-dozen children, is good quality.”

Sir Clifford Sifton, 1922

The beginning: 1867 –1913Main goals

1. Securing farmers from Western Europe

2. Settle Western Canada with farmers

The highest levels ever: 330,000 in 1911 and 400,000 in 1913.

3. Keep out the Chinese

Head tax on Chinese immigrants $100 then $500 then outlawed in 1923

"The Last, Best West"

Chinese Head Tax Certificate

A slow evolution in policy

Post WW1- Government openly publishes that it has preference for Western European immigrants

1930’s- depression= no immigration

Post WWII- displaced persons & family reunification

1952: New Immigration Act refusal of admission based on:

“the grounds of nationality, ethnic group, geographical area of origin, peculiar customs, habits and modes of life, unsuitability with regard

to the climate, probable inability to become readily assimilated.”

-Public Policy Framework, York University, 2012

Postwar Immigration Policy

"The policy of the government is to foster the growth of the population of Canada by the encouragement of immigration. The government will seek by legislation, regulation and vigorous administration, to ensure the careful selection and permanent settlement of such numbers of immigrants as can be advantageously absorbed in our national economy. It is a matter of domestic policy [...] The people of Canada do not wish as a result of mass immigration to make a fundamental alteration in the character of our population. Large scale immigration from the Orient would change the fundamental composition of the Canadian population"

– William Lyon MacKenzie King.

Lose the Racism- 1960’s

1962: Canada abandoned its all White racist immigration policy

-Admission to be based on individual personal characteristics; not

nationality

1967: Point system created to facilitate and encourage the flow of skilled migrants

Immigration in Canada Today:Components of Immigration Intake

Family Reunification Members of the Family Class

Humanitarian Convention Refugees; Members of Designated Classes; Persons eligible under special humanitarian measures

Economic Business Immigrants: EntrepreneursSelf-employed persons InvestorsRetirees

Canadian Immigration in 2005:By Admissible Category

Economic 56.1%

Family 28.5%

Refugee 12.8%

Other 2.6%

Total Number ofImmigrants

262,157 (100%)

Selection Grid for Economic Immigrants (Point System)

Factor One: Education Maximum 25

Factor Two: Official Languages Maximum 24

1st Official Language Maximum 16

2nd Official Language Maximum 8

Factor Three: Experience Maximum 21

Factor Four: Age Maximum 10

Factor Five: Arranged Employment in Canada

Maximum 10

Factor Six: Adaptability Maximum 10

Total Maximum 100

Passing Mark 67

Selection Factor: Adaptability

Factor Six: Adaptability Maximum 10points

Spouse’s or common-law partner’s education 3 - 5

Minimum one year full-time authorized work in Canada

5

Minimum two years full-time authorized post-secondary study in Canada

5

Have received points under the Arranged Employment in Canada factor

5

Family relationship in Canada 5

Annual Distribution of Permanent Residents By Source Area1997-2006 (%)

In the 1950s, 84.6% of immigrants were European by birth

By the mid 1980s immigrants born in Europe slipped to 28.6%

Now its about 15%

Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada2007, 27.

Source Area 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Africa and the Middle East

18.9 20.0 18.8 19.0 20.6 21.8 21.2 22.0 19.7 21.8

Asia and Pacific

53.4 47.1 49.8 52.7 52.3 50.8 49.9 47.2 51.4 48.4

South and Central America

7.6 7.6 7.6 6.9 7.5 8.0 8.9 9.2 9.1 9.5

Total for the Above

79.9 74.7 76.2 78.6 80.4 80.6 80.0 78.4 80.2 79.7

United States 2.1 2.5 2.7 2.4 2.1 2.1 2.6 3.2 3.5 4.4

Europe and UK

18.0 22.7 21.1 19.1 17.4 17.2 17.3 18.4 16.4 15.8

TOTAL 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Canadian Immigration Source Countries 2005 Number of Immigrants

China 42,291

India 33,146

Philippines 17,525

Pakistan 13,576

United States 9,262

Columbia 6,031

United Kingdom 5,865

South Korea 5,819

Iran 5,502

France 5,430

Romania 4,964

Sri Lanka 4,690

Russia 3,607

Taiwan 3.092

Hong Kong 1,784

Yugoslavia (Former) 272

Top 10 Source Counties 144,447

Other 117,789

Total 262,236

Where do Permanent Residents settle in Canada?

Province/Territory 2005 %

Nova Scotia 1,929 0.7%

Other Atlantic Provinces* 1,918 0.7%

Quebec 43,308 16.5%

Ontario 140,533 53.6%

Manitoba 8,097 3.1%

Saskatchewan 2,106 0.8%

Alberta 19,399 7.4%

British Columbia 44,767 17.1%

Territories** 160 0.06%

Provinces/Territories not stated

19 >0.001%

Total 262,236

* Newfoundland andLabrador, NewBrunswick, PrinceEdward Island** Yukon, NorthwestTerritories, Nunavut

Salary GapDisparity in median incomes among recent immigrants

Recent Immigrants from 2001 to 2006

University educated, $26,301

Non-university educated, $19,280

Immigrants from 2000 and before:

University educated, $37,647

Non-University educated, $29,301

Canadian-born:

University educated, $57,695

Non-university educated, $39,586.

Brainstorm…

Is immigration good for Canada? Why/why not?

Canadian Multicultural Policy

• Introduced 1971, law in 1988

• Immigrants encouraged to keep cultural heritage

• Allocated federal funds to ethnic groups to help them preserve their culture

Brainstorm…

Is our multiculturalism policy good for Canada? Why/why not?