Labour History of Immigration in Canada: Key Stages and Impacts

This essay provides a comprehensive overview of the labour history of immigration in Canada, tracing the evolution of immigration patterns and policies across different historical periods. It begins by emphasizing the importance of studying the stages of settlement to understand the interactions between ethnic groups. The essay then divides Canadian immigration history into eight stages, starting from pre-European settlement and progressing through key events such as the Conquest of New France, the War of 1812, and the opening of the West. It explores the impact of various immigration policies, including those related to American Loyalists, the British victory in the War of 1812, and the arrival of American Blacks. The essay also examines the restrictive immigration laws of the interwar period, the shift towards a merit-based system, and the evolution of refugee policies. Overall, the essay highlights the changing dynamics of ethnic stratification, economic influences, and government regulations that have shaped the labour history of immigration in Canada.

Labour History of Immigration in Canada

Table of Contents
Answer 1..........................................................................................................................................3
Answer 2..........................................................................................................................................3
Answer 3..........................................................................................................................................3
Answer 4..........................................................................................................................................4
Answer 5..........................................................................................................................................4
Answer 6..........................................................................................................................................5
Answer 7..........................................................................................................................................5
Answer 8..........................................................................................................................................5
Answer 9..........................................................................................................................................6
Answer 10........................................................................................................................................6
Answer 11........................................................................................................................................6
Answer 12........................................................................................................................................6
Answer 13........................................................................................................................................7
Answer 14........................................................................................................................................7
Answer 15........................................................................................................................................7
Answer 16........................................................................................................................................7
Answer 17........................................................................................................................................7
Answer 18........................................................................................................................................7

Answer 1.
It is useful to study the stages of settlement of immigration in Canada in order to obtain a
concrete picture of how migration engages ethnic groups in patterns of contact as well as to
establish a structure of relationship between them. It is essential to examine and characterize the
stages of settlement and immigration in Canada because the distinction between the stages is
based on the assumption that study of migration in each period is quite different in character.
Answer 2.
The purpose behind distinguishing the periods is to characterize them in a manner so as to
exhibit how the structure of inter-ethnic relations in Canada was established and developed
historically. The history of settlement, colonization and immigration in Canada can be divided
into these 8 stages which are;
 Pre-European Settlement
 1600 to the Conquest of New France
 1760 to the War of 1812
 1815 to the “Opening of the West”
 1880 to World War I
 Between the Wars
 End of World War II to 1967
 Since 1968: The “Merit Point System”
Answer 3.
Before Europeans began to settle in Canada, the original settlers were the Indians and Inuit, who
are known as the Native people or the First Nations or Aboriginal people. The ancestors of the

Indians came to Canada around 40,000 B.C. and of Inuit around 8000 B.C. When the Europeans
arrived in Canada, there were around 220,000 Indians and Inuit residing in Canada comprising of
around 80 to 100 different ethnic groups. Out of these groups, several were continuously
migrant, the best known of which were the Indians of the Plains as well as the seasonally migrant
Inuit.
As the groups living in separate geographical regions relied on primary economy such as
hunting, fishing and agriculture, the stratification system between the groups was comparatively
loose. There were richer groups with more prestige and poorer groups with less prestige but it
does not seem to have been any definite system of super-ordination and subordination in between
the groups.
Answer 4.
The settlement of New France was a slow process initially but later on their population increased
rapidly. The French were a peculiar mixture of both settlers and colonizers. The migrants settled
in unpopulated areas and developed their own society. Their contacts with the Indians ultimately
led to imposition of a superstructure on the Indian society. The French established reservations
for the Indians which was for the benefit of both the French as well as the Indians but ultimately
to assimilate them into French culture. The effect was the establishment of a superstructure over
the prehistoric Canadian Indian societies that would remain in existence for centuries and
changed for the First Nations in last few decades.
Answer 5.
The two groups of American Loyalists flee the USA as refugees as an important part of the
process of establishing migrant super-ordination over the French and was primarily economic. It

was a conscious and planned process for Lord John Simcoe and among all his plans for
developing the colony, development of population was of prime necessity.
b. Loyalists were the first large political immigrants to Canada and about 30,000 refugees
migrated to Nova Scotia and around 10,000 to Quebec, out of which, majority occupied the
farmlands west of New France which was known as Upper Canada. The socio-economic
background of the refugees was mixed and included farmers, soldiers, government employees
and clergyman.
Answer 6.
Two main effects of the British victory in the War of 1812 were a new confidence in British
North America and improved prospects for its expansion and growth in the form of new
direction to the trade routes of the British, Montreal-based merchants from west.
Answer 7.
The settlement was supposed to develop population rate but the basic assumption shard by
merchants and government was the commercial and economic development.
b. Means used to attract immigrants included offer of free or cheap land, establishing
immigration agencies and commissioning of immigration agents, and exaggerated advertising,
assisted passages, colonization companies, group settlements, delegation of influential people,
exhibitions and many more.
Answer 8.
The American Blacks immigrated to Canada on the Underground Railroad.

b. Historians think that their numbers declined by the census of 1871 as they thought that many
American Blacks might have returned to the US after the Emancipation Proclamation in the US
in 1863.
Answer 9.
The basic immigration pattern that was established during 1812-1880 was continuous annual
immigration and was migrant super-ordination of the British over the French and Native people.
Answer 10.
This period was sociologically important because the basic structure of ethnic stratification in
Canada external of the French-English and Native relationship was established. It was the unique
period in Canadian immigration history in the form of new ethnicities of immigrants as large
numbers of people from Eastern Europe and from Asia began to arrive. The main reasons were
completion of trans-Canadian railroad for settlement, Canada was shifting to a new export
economy, and it was a period of gradual industrial growth as well.
Answer 11.
In the period between World War I and World War II, most of the immigrants were concentrated
in the cities and were working in rapidly growing industry and many were in search of work. The
wars resulted in economic recession and wage cuts and increased unemployment. The 3
restrictive immigration laws or policies in this period were The Chinese Immigration Act, the
“Head Tax” on Chinese immigrants and the “Gentlemen’s Agreement”.
Answer 12.
The two evidences of racism in immigration policy in the period between 1946 and 1952 were
the Orient that would change the fundamental composition of Canadian population, and

preference was given to British immigrants. Secondly, Canada had to admit around 166,000
refugees who due to international pressures.
Answer 13.
The displaced persons were the large number of post-war refugees who were primarily in
Western Europe.
Answer 14.
In 1962, new immigration regulations abolished almost all restrictions based on ethnicity.
Answer 15.
The new regulations provided that the assessment of independent and sponsored applicants by
the immigration officials in accordance with their possession of set of characteristics assigned
with a range of merit points.
Answer 16.
The purpose of this program was to manage the number of illegal immigrants entering the
country. It allowed all illegal immigrants to register within a period of 60 days and to apply for
permanent residence.
Answer 17.
Canada has been obligated to take in a certain number of refugees as needed since 1969 because
various regions of Canada were losing pollution and were exhibiting work power shortages.
Answer 18.
The Immigration Act of 1976 was introduced to link immigration flow to economic conditions
and demographic needs. In 1980s, employment authorization program was introduced by the

government, program to attract business immigrants and various other programs were
introduced.