Canadian Immigration Laws – Timeline



Canadian Immigration Laws – Timeline

Immigration Act, 1869

• “Open door” policy

• Few restrictions on people who wished to emigrate

• “No British community should legislate against any class of people” – Prime Minister Alexander Mackenzie

Chinese Immigration Act, 1885

• Every Chinese person immigrating to Canada had to pay the government $50 (head tax)

1903

• Chinese head tax reaches $500

Immigration Act, 1906

• Barred a broad spectrum of immigrants from Canada

• Increased the government’s power to deport certain classes of individuals

1907

• Federal Gov’t, in response to growing concerns of residents of BC, negotiates an agreement with Japan

o Under the terms of the agreement, only 400 Japanese are allowed to emigrate per year

Amendment to the Immigration Act, 1908

• “Continuous-Journey Regulation”

o All immigrants are required to travel to Canada by continuous passage (no stopping) from their country of origin or citizenship

• Effectively bans all Indian immigration (because no ships traveled straight through to Canada from India)

Immigration Act, 1910

• Gives the Cabinet the authority to “exclude immigrants belonging to any race unsuited to the climate or requirements of Canada”

Chinese Immigration Act, 1923

• Virtually stops Chinese immigration altogether

• “Humiliation Day”

• Repealed in 1947

1962

• New regulations removes most restrictions on immigration of Asian, African and other origins

1967

• Introduction of the “Points System”

• Designed to eliminate prejudice in the selection of independent immigrants

• Immigrants are chosen by a point system based on education and employment prospects

Immigration Act, 1978

• Basis of Canada’s present-day immigration policy

• Recognizes 4 categories of individuals:

o Family Class

o Humanitarian Class

o Independent Class

o Assisted Relatives

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download