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.
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.
