History of Canadian Immigration

Canadian Immigration refers to the movement of inhabitants from other countries of world to become residents of Canada. Hundreds and thousands of people migrate to Canada each year. Immigration has played an essential role in shaping the principles and standards of the Canada. The history of Canadian immigration is worth a serious study.

The Second World War:

The beginning of the Second World War brings in an era of severe immigration check. The bulk of the immigrants from 1938 to 1945 were the British or the Americans. People who try to go into Canada at that time were refugees and a little number of were wives and children of Canadian citizens. Jews faced tighter boundaries while they tried to enter Canada in the 1920s.

During the battle of Britain in the 1940s, Luftwaffe - the German air force - started bombing British cities, including London. This bombing clash was one of the major causes of British immigration to Canada.

Chinese moving to Canada:

Chinese pioneers migrated to Canada about the1850s. Following the Fraser Valley Gold Rush, they were fraught to the country. These Chinese settlers help to complete the Canadian Pacific Railway, accept extremely low wages. Upon attainment of the work, the workers were no longer necessary. In an attempt to restrict immigration, the Canadian Federal Government approved the Chinese Immigration Act in 1885, by commanding a head tax of $50. Subsequently, in 1903, the head tax was greater than before to $500. In 1923, a Chinese omission Act was passed by the parliament. The Act lends a hand to stop Chinese immigration to Canada. The Chinese keeping out Act remained effectual up to 1947. After 1947, somber changes in immigration law took place. The Immigration Act of 1976 is a famous one. As declared by this act, immigrants were classified into four categories - independent immigrants, family, assisted relatives and refugees. Later in 2002, this was rescheduled by the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

Presently, Canada has a much unbiased immigration policy. As stated by the 2001 census, the country has 34 ethnic groups. Out of the entire population, 13.4% belonged to evident minorities, counting Chinese, Black, Filipino and South Asian. In the midst of 2001 and 2006, Canada experienced a remarkable lift in the population rate. The inhabitants grew by around 2.4 million, typically because of incoming residents.