Immigration in Canada 1)Important Definitions

Definitions emigration: the movement out of one’s country of origin to settle in another immigration: the movement of people into a country or a region where a new home is established push factors: reasons why people emigrate from a certain region or country; these may include political, economic, health, or security factors pull factors: reasons why people immigrate to a certain region or country; these may include political, economic, health, or security factors. (Examples of some of Canada’s pull factors include democratic government, the many employment opportunities, publicly funded health care, and the safety and security of a nation that all Canadians take pride in.)

Immigration to Canada It is Canada’s goal that immigrants benefit from emigrating from their country of origin to Canada. Over the years, immigration has changed in Canada. Immigration in Canada included waves of immigrants have come from France, the United Kingdom, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and, more recently, from Eastern Asia and Southeast Asia.

Why Come? Immigrants came to Canada in the late 1800s and early 1900s because of a widespread, federally- funded advertising campaign offering free land for homesteading. This campaign and others like it appealed to those seeking land on which they could settle and which they could farm. Immigrants saw the land as a way to create new and bright opportunities for themselves and their families in the new world.

Why does Canada need immigration? New reasons Demographic changes- the number of deaths in Canada in will equal the number of births Also slowing down the Labour force growth (# of people who can work) Estimated that in the number of people retiring will equal the number of people starting work

Today, there are new and different reasons for immigration. These might include a better quality of life, shelter for refugees, or a need for employment.

Immigration Policy The Canadian government has established the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, which outlines the criteria that are used to determine who may be accepted as an immigrant to Canada. The government has also established policies for evaluating potential immigrants and for controlling the number of immigrants who are accepted into Canada each year.

Three Categories of Immigrates Refugees Family Class Economic Immigrants

The Point System Dates back from 1967 At this time you need 67 points to be accepted it has been the same since 2003 ONLY FOR ECONOMIC IMMIGRANTS Economic immigrants make up the largest number of immigrants in Canada

Adding up the Points What do you think about the point system used for skilled workers? Why do you think some of the questions exist? How can they relate to Canada’s Immigration Act? Why might Canadians have different views and perspectives on these criteria?

Health Qualifying for health applies only to economic immigrants They need to be healthy for the following reasons 1)Contagious diseases can put Canadians at risk 2)If they have a condition that could hurt the public (mental) 3)Use too much of Canada’s health care system

Refugees A person who seeks refuge in another country because of danger or persecution in their home country Canada signed the U.N Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees in Canada changed their law to make it their policy to accept refugees steadily instead of crisis by crisis.

Objectives of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act 2002 (pg. 177) 1)Which of those points do you think is the most important part of our Refugee Protection Act? 2)Should Canada be willing to accept refugees? 3)What issues might arise from accepting refugees into Canada?

How Canada’s Immigration Policy Has Changed The type of workers/ labors who are needed No one is excluded from Canada because of their race. -The point system evaluates people based on their skills and not their ethnicity -In the past Canada favored immigrants from British ancestry

Discriminating Based on Race (Pg. 173) People from India were only allowed to come to Canada if they could get a direct trip. At that time their were no direct boats that came to Canada. Chinese immigrants were forced to pay a head tax. This was a fixed fee that only people from China had to pay.

Stand and Share Read through page 178 and answer the following question: How did qualifying as a refugee to Canada affect Mary’s quality of life?

Case Study on page 179 1)What similarities and differences do you see in these immigration acts? 2)How do you account for those difference happening? 3)Based on the information on this page and in the chapter so far, why do you believe issues related to security affect immigration policies?

Pop Quiz 1.What is one reason people immigrate to Canada? 2.Using the poster below what was the main reason Canada needed immigrants to come to Canada? 3. What are the three Categories of Immigrants in Canada?

Singh Decision pg.181 Not allowing an Immigrant to have a court trail violates section 7 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms The Supreme court argues that the Charter is applicable to everyone who is on Canadian soil This resulted in People claiming refugee status in Canada have the right to a hearing, which they attend in person Canada tries to establish quick fair hearings Canada provides people with the necessities of life while they wait for a hearing

Immigration and Aboriginals Due to Aboriginal’s history in Canada they still struggle to get involved in Canada’s economy. Aboriginals can work in Canada but they need more assistance or cooperation with the government to get more people in the work force.

Assembly of First Nations, Resolution no.49 (2005) -Canada is a wealthy country but ignores the needs of First Nations -Canada fails to address the AFN leadership on immigration polices and legislation -The AFN want Canada to freeze all immigration until the Canadian government addresses the following problems -improve housing conditions, education, health and employment in First Nation communities. - REMEMBER THE AFN does not represent all First Nations

Provinces and Immigration Most immigrants settle in Toronto(39%), Montreal (15%) and Vancouver (14%) Provinces control some aspects of immigration so that immigration fits there needs

Provincial Nomination Program Provinces can nominate a % of immigrants Alberta (other provinces too) can specify that they need immigrants with specific skills Allows provinces to set up their own immigration offices in foreign countries Gov’t in Canada can’t force immigrants to settle in particular places or work particular jobs. But this program increase the likelihood that provinces will get the immigrants they need

Franco-Alberta Communities 2006 Canada created a policy that established a five-year plan to help Francophone communities in minority settings attract French-speaking immigrants Help French immigrants get settled Get them connected to a Francophone community Get children into Francophone schools Sometimes these French speaking immigrants only become a statistic since it is still easier to assimilate to English

Canada-Quebec Accord Quebec can nominate the % of immigrants to Canada that corresponds to its population Accord allows Quebec to force immigrant children to attend French speaking schools Allows them to seek immigrants whose first language is French 75% of French speaking immigrants in Canada settle in Quebec Overall more non-francophone immigrants settle in Quebec over francophone.