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.
