Know About Canada and Immigration

by Valerie Knowles Painting A Picture of Canada

Canada has a long history of immigration, beginning with the arrival of Indigenous peoples over 10,000 years ago. The first wave of European settlers arrived in the 16th and 17th centuries, primarily from France and England, followed by waves of immigrants from various parts of Europe, including Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Germany.

 

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Canada saw a significant increase in immigration from non-European countries, including China, Japan, and India. However, these groups faced discrimination and racism, including the Chinese Head Tax and the Komagata Maru incident, which prevented South Asian immigrants from entering Canada.

 

In the years following World War II, Canada's immigration policy shifted towards a more inclusive approach by introducing the point system in 1967. This system prioritized applicants based on education, language proficiency, and work experience rather than country of origin.

 

How Did It Change?

 

Clifford Sifton was a prominent Canadian politician who served as Minister of the Interior from 1896 to 1905 under Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier. He is widely recognized as the architect of Canada's current immigration policy, which focused on attracting settlers to western regions.

 

Sifton believed that immigration was essential to developing Canada's economy and settling the country's vast western territories. To this end, he launched an aggressive advertising campaign to promote immigration to Canada, particularly the prairie provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.

 

Sifton's policies were also designed to attract immigrants from non-traditional source countries, such as Ukraine, Russia, and Scandinavia. He believed these groups would be better suited to farming the harsh prairie lands than traditional British and American settlers.

Sifton offered land grants and other incentives to immigrants who agreed to farm in the western regions to encourage settlement. He also established a network of immigration offices in Europe and North America to assist prospective immigrants with their travel arrangements and settlement in Canada.

 

Sifton's policies were hugely successful, and between 1896 and 1914, over 1.5 million immigrants came to Canada. This influx of people helped to transform Canada into a prosperous and diverse country with a thriving agricultural sector and a strong economy. Sifton's vision for Canada's immigration policy continues to influence the country's approach to immigration today.

 

Conclusion

 

Tracing the Canadian Immigration History, we can say that Canada has welcomed immigrants from around the world, with a particular focus on attracting highly skilled workers and refugees. Canada's current immigration policy aims to balance economic growth and social cohesion while upholding human rights and promoting multiculturalism. India has significantly impacted Canadian immigration over the years, both in terms of the number of immigrants from India and their contributions to Canadian society. In recent years, India has become one of the most significant sources countries for Canadian immigration. In 2020, India was Canada's second-largest source of immigrants, behind only the Philippines. Overall, Indian immigration has contributed to Canada's cultural and economic diversity and has played an essential role in shaping the country's immigration policy.

 

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Created on Mar 3rd 2023 06:06. Viewed 206 times.

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