1880-1885
Chinese Workers Build the CP Railroad

In 1880-1885 thousands of Chinese people were brought into Canada as labourers to complete the Canadian Pacific Railroad. Once the track was completed, many Chinese people were forced to look for work elsewhere. They were met with opposition and racism. The government introduced the “Chinese Head Tax” as a way of curbing the rate of immigration by charging money for all people coming into the country from China. Many Chinese people were thrust into concentrated areas and were barred from many of the freedoms given to white Canadians.

1902
First Wave of Italian Immigration

Across the Atlantic they came, the first glimpse of their new home Canada that Italian immigrants saw was Pier 21. Pier 21 in Halifax, Nova Scotia was the gateway into Canada that met Italian immigrants at the end of their long crossing. Having their precious homemade food being confiscated by Customs Officers, they really did not know what awaited them in Canada, all they know is they were looking for a new opportunity. It is in 1901 that a collection of articles published in a Milanese newspaper describing a corrupt system of recruiyting immigrants to Montrealand and the Canadian north. The immigrant labourers who followed these advertisements were often misled through this structure and some even found them selves unemployed. It is in 1902 the General Commissariat for Emigration in Rome sent a commissioner to venture to Canada and how the Italian immigrants were doing in their new home. In which we found problems of exploitation, the Italian government suspended migration until this grave problem was treated.

1914
War Measures Act (WMA)
Gave the governor in council extensive powers to authorize acts deemed “necessary” for the “security, defence, peace, order and welfare of Canada” and over “arrest, detention, exclusion and deportation” (qtd in Kelley 169).

This act was used to target immigrants who were deemed “enemy aliens,” i.e. those who originated from countries against which Canada was at war.

Under the authority of this act, enemy aliens were subjected to compulsory registration, required to carry identity cards, forbidden to publish or possess material in their native language, prohibited from joining certain socialist and anarchist organizations and prevented from leaving the country without exit permits. Moreover, thousands were interned in camps across the country and deported.

The Act is significant because of the magnitude and scope of its impact. Those classified as enemy aliens included approximately 400,00 persons of German origin, 100,000 immigrants from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, 5,000 people from the Turkish Empire, and several hundred Bulgarians.

Map of internment camp and work site locations in Canada where those deemed by the Canadian government as “enemy aliens” were held during and after WW1.

March 16 – 19, 1919:
The first Plenary of the Canadian Jewish Congress

The first Plenary of the Canadian Jewish Congress was held. Event demonstrates the growing Jewish communities in Canada who, despite initial conflicts, were able to unite and take an active role in Canadian affairs. One of the results of this assembly was the development of the Jewish Immigrant Aid Society. Since its creation, the CJC has been instrumental in providing a concerted voice of advocacy for displaced Jewish persons.

1919
Immigration Act

This was an amending act to the 1910 Immigration Act. It was significant because of its highly restrictive nature and racist underpinnings and because it defined immigration policy for the next twenty-five years.

The act was assimilatory in its aims with white, protestant, Anglo-Saxons being the model.

It maintained the “continuous passage” rule which stipulated that in order to be eligible an immigrant must have travelled directly from his/her country of origin to Canada, essentially excluding visible minorities in general and those from the Indian-sub-continent in particular. Only direct passage from England was assured.

Section 38 also allowed the government to prohibit the landing of immigrants belonging to any race deemed unsuitable to the climate or requirements of Canada or by reason of temporary socio-economic conditions existing in Canada at the time of consideration. This section was used to deny entry to Doubkhobers, Hutterites and Mennonites because of their religious customs and pacifism.

Section 41 extended the ground on which immigrants could be deported to include immorality and political offenses. This had significant implications with the rise of communism and socialism in Canada following the 1917 Russian Revolution and the Winnipeg General Strike in 1919.

1923
Chinese Immigration Act

This act effectively barred the entry of all Chinese immigrants to Canada. All Asiatic persons with no legal ties to Canada (family members with citizenship) were prohibited from entering the country. Approximately 22,000 families were split apart as a result of the prohibition. The act was repealed in 1947 due to opposition by the Chinese-Canadian Veterans’ Organizations and international pressures. Though, PM King stated that “massive immigration of Orientals would alter the fundamental composition of the Canadian population” and “give rise to social and economic problems”(1). Despite the revocation of the act, there was still a prominent prejudice of Chinese culture.

(1) Canadian Council for Refugees: History. “A Hundred Years of Immigration to Canada 1900-1999” . The Canadian Council for Refugees. http://www.ccrweb.ca/history.html (accessed January 28, 2010)

1925
Mussolini's Immigration Restrictions

Italian immigration to Canada started to slow down significantly. This occurred for two reasons. After World War I the Canadian government became more restrictive with immigration. With many Canadians out of work during the Great Depression in the 1930’s there was close to no immigration. Not only did the slowdown of Italian Immigration come from Canada it was also recognized by the home country. The fascist leader of Italy of the time Benito Mussolini, discouraged emigration to North America. Therefore Italian immigration to Canada from about 1925 to 1946 consisted of only a few hundred people.

1935
Italian Internment

Italian immigrants in Canada faced hostility because of the issues occurring in Italy at the time. Many Italians who were sympathetic towards Mussolini, a fascist leader, and italy’s alliance with Germany during World War II, resulted in Italian Canadians to be labelled as ‘enemy aliens’ and were victims of discrimination. People lost their jobs, Italian shops were vandalized, “and some cities refused to allow people with Italian surnames to become municipal employees or to receive welfare; civil liberties were suspended under the War Measures Act.” As a result hundreds of Italian Canadians were interned at Camp Petawawa in northern Ontario, Some, not all had been active fascists, it did not matter all were marginalized it is these people and their families who were denied relief and bore the brunt of the hostilities.” What is interesting is this led to many Italians anglicizing their names and denying there Italian roots. The picture is an oil painting of camp Petawawa, courtesy of the Windsor Star.

June 7, 1939
Rejection of the St. Louis

907 desperate German-Jew refugees aboard the St. Louis are denied sanctuary in Canada. Mackenzie King refused the St. Louis due to his belief that this was not a Canadian problem. The Canadian Jewish Congress with several prominent members of the Jewish communities plead with King, even offering to pay for the refugees themselves so as to absolve the government from any financial duties. Despite this, the liner was sent back to Europe and most of the Jews (who weren’t taken in by Britain) died. This event alludes to the anti-Semitic climate of Canada and demonstrates just how closed the Canadian doors were to Jewish refugees.

October, l946
Canadian Views of Immigration

A Gallup Poll was conducted to assess Canadians’ view of immigration. The results of the poll highlighted the anti-Jewish sentiment of Canadians. Canadians were asked if there were any specific nationalities they would prefer to keep out in the event Canada relaxed her immigration policies. The results showed that Canadians ranked the Japanese first on the list in light of their role in the war. Second to the Japanese, however, were not the Germans, but Jews. The results of this poll is significant as it alludes to the notion that perhaps the government’s lack of aid during the interwar years may have been a manifestation of the will of “the people.” The results bring to light the need to critically examine the role of average Canadians in shaping immigration policies (and consequently, refusing Jewish immigrants/refugees.)

June, 1947
Displaced Persons Movement

Order in Council was passed to start the Displaced Persons Movement (1947 – 1952) during which approximately 25,000 Jews were admitted into Canada. The council was initiated under King’s administration, independent of international pressures. This movement provides additional insight for Canadians to critically think about the motivations of Canadian immigration policies: political capitalizations versus humanitarian efforts.

1958
Italian Chain Migration

Italy surpassed britian as the main immigrant group in Canada in 1958.There were two significant waves of Italian waves to Canada; they occured between 1900 and World War I in which 120 000 italians emigrated. Because of a shortage of labour after the Second World War from 1950 to 1970, most interestingly is that post war 70 percent of Canadian immigrants were Italian. This phenomenon is believed to have occured primarily due to family ‘chain migration’.

October 1, 1967
Immigration Act

This act provided Chinese immigrants with the same immigration rights as other groups coming to Canada. Chinese immigrants are allowed into Canada based on a new points system. The number of Chinese immigrants increases as many people come from locations other than China.

1967
The Immigration Appeal Board Act



Gave anyone ordered for deportation the right to appeal to the Immigration Appeal Board (IAB), on grounds of law or compassion.

It is significant for three reasons. First, it is representative of a growing concern during the latter half of the 20th century over the rights of individual immigrants to basic due-process protections in the determination of their status. Second, for the first time it offered a “check” or “counter” to the extensive discretionary power vested to immigration officials by immigration policies to this date. Third, it opened the door for similar protections in other areas of immigration policy, especially with determination of refugee claims.

Political Cartoon drawing upon Canada’s historical past of discriminatory immigration selection criteria for immigrants and refugees.



1967
The incorporation of the points system into the Immigration Regulations



The points system introduced merit as a guiding criterion for independent or non-sponsored immigrant admission and thus eliminated racial discrimination from official policy. It encouraged individuals who brought technical skills and education that contributed directly to the economy, accepting skilled immigrants from nations that had not contributed significantly to previous immigration totals; for instance, immigration posts were opened in third world areas resulting in a regional shift of immigrant origin from Europe to Asia.

Canada’s immigration officers were now required to assess each applicant as objectively as possible to determine whether or not they met the outlined criteria. However, many Canadians worried whether immigrants would be assessed and assigned points fairly, without discrimination as to race, country of origin, etc..

This event was significant because it was emblematic of a period generally considered to be more tolerant, especially after 1971, when multiculturalism became official federal policy. It marked a significant change from immigration policy and sentiment prior during the first half of the 20th century which was predominantly arbitrary, xenophobic and reactionary and set the trend for integrating immigration policy more closely with labour-market conditions. Additionally, Canada uses a points based system to this day and thus it has had a lasting impact.

1976
Immigration Act

The Act was significant because, in many ways, it was a departure from its predecessors. First, the objectives of Canada’s immigration policy were now explicitly outlined. These included promoting family reunification, upholding Canada’s peace-keeping and humanitarian tradition by welcoming refugees, and developing and strengthening the economy. Second, section 95 of the Constitution Act which states that immigration is a concurrent jurisdiction is, for the first time, recognized in practice; the Federal minister was now required to consult the provinces over matters of immigration recruitment, selection and education. This had a significant impact in Quebec; for instance, in 1977 the province fought for and was granted a concurrent points system for independent immigrants under the Cullen-Couture Agreement, in 1979 it introduced its own immigration legislation, and in 1991 Quebec gained sole responsibility for the selection of independent immigrants into its province under the Quebec Accord. Third, the “prohibited” categories (‘idiots, imbeciles and morons,’ ‘physically defective persons,’ ‘homosexuals,’ etc) were replaced with broader “inadmissible” categories (those likely to endanger public health or place an excessive burden on social services) allowing more flexibility. Fourth, the Act formalized the formerly ad hoc refugee selection process.

The Act is also significant because it essentially formed the laws we follow today (albeit in modified form) and thus it has had a lasting impact.

The section of the official 1976 Immigration Act policy document outlining, for the first time, the objectives of Canadian immigration policy.

1984
Creation of the CCNC

The Chinese community is outraged by a CTV program suggesting that universities unfairly admit Chinese students over Canadians. The program received further criticism for its depiction of “Chinese” students, whether or not they were Canadian-born or with student visas. The outraged sparked the creation of the Chinese Canadian National Council (CCNC). Council also launches a campaign to get redress from the Canadian government for the past payments of the Head Tax by Chinese immigrants.

1991
Lots and lots of Italians



The 1991 census stated that over 750,000 Canadians recorded Italian ethnicity as their single background of origin and almost 400,000 listed Italian as part of their ethnic origin. “About 95% of Italian Canadians live in towns and cities, 65% in Ontario, 23% in Quebec and 7% in British Columbia.” In cities where Italians have settled in sufficient numbers, ethnic neighbourhoods have been created these districts are called "Little Italys," where you can find shops, restaurants, and cafes that are rich with Italian culture.

June 22, 2006
Redress for Head Tax




After much lobbying from the CCNC, the Harper government apologized in the House of Commons for the Head tax imposed at the turn of the century. It was not an admission of liability, rather, it was offered as a “foundation for healing in the Chinese-Canadian community” The government also agreed to pay a sum of $20,000 in redress to 785 claimants for the past policies that officially alienated the Chinese Canadian population.

May 7, 2009

Canada Pays its Dues

Ms. Toni Silberman (Chair), Dr. Franklin Bialystok and Mr. David Demian appointed to newly created Jewish-Canadian Advisory Committee formed for the Community Historical Recognition Program (CHRP). Citizenship, Immigration and Multicultural Minister Jason Kenny lauded the three individuals for their great leadership on important issues pertaining to the Jewish community. The committee will provide advice to the CHRP on how best to utilize the $2.5 million available for Jewish-Canadian projects (monuments, commemorative plaques, educational materials and exhibits.) The CHRP was created in 2006 to provide grants and contributions to community-based commemorative and educational projects pertaining to historical immigration restrictions and wartime measures in Canada.