Immigration Migration is the movement of people from one place to another Migration can occur as result of push and pull factors

Immigration Push factors are factors that force a person to move. They can include famine, war, disease, lack of jobs, over population and drought

Immigration Pull factors are factors that encourage a person to come to a new place. They can include freedom, family, technology, better jobs, better education.

Immigration Canada accepts 4 types of immigrants Economic Immigrants – skilled workers and business immigrants Family Immigrants – spouses, children, parents, grandparents and sometimes siblings Refugees – people who fear cruel treatment or death in their home country Other- Basically individual refuges

Historical Immigration Patterns Canadian Immigration Patterns

Historical Immigration Patterns Immigration to Canada has had periods of boom and bust. These were caused by events that occurred both in Canada and in other countries. When? What Happened? Why? 1840s Arrival of thousands of Irish settlers Irish potato crop fails; facing starvation, many Irish move to Canada and other countries 1905-1914 Massive immigration from Eastern Europe to the Canadian West Canadian Government wanted to settle the Prairies; offered free land and other incentives to immigrants

Historical Immigration Patterns When? What Happened? Why? 1915-1919 Little immigration World War I and worldwide influenza epidemic 1930 – 1945 Worldwide economic depression and World War II 1947-1960 Many Italians come to Canada World War II devastated Italy; Italians searched for economic opportunities in Canada

Historical Immigration Patterns When? What Happened? Why? 1956 Many Hungarians come to Canada Hungarian revolt against the Russians failed; refugees fled to Canada to avoid punishment 1980 – 1997 Arrival of thousands of Hong Kong Chinese Residents of Hong Kong sought political stability before China took control of Hong Kong in 1997 1980 - 2003 Many people from Afghanistan come to Canada Immigrants seek a safe haven from conflicts that engulfed their country

Historical Immigration Patterns The percentage, by location, of the population that is made up of immigrants. YT NT

Immigration Province to Province While Canada address immigrants at a federal level, many individual provinces have unique needs for immigration. Which has allowed individual provinces to dictate which kind of immigrant they will receive.

Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program Alberta can “nominate” immigrants with particular skill sets. This allows Alberta to fill specific job needs such as: Construction Health care (mainly doctors) Transportation (mainly long haul truck drivers) and Agriculture tend to be some of the most consistent areas of need. More are listed on page 190 *Note they are outdated a tad.

Canada-Quebec Accord Immigrants who settle in Quebec must go to French-Language schools Seek out immigrants with French as first language – middle east, Africa They still let in other immigrants, but are able to give French speaking ones priority status

Remember!! Refugees and Immigrants come to Canada under vastly different “regulations” Refugee Immigrant Need to come to Canada Lives would be in danger if they were not accepted to a new place Very likely they have little to no education Become a subject of the government (provided with basic necessities for living) Still often add to Canada in a positive way, but this takes time and is not expected of them upon entry to Canada More Canadians see them as a burden Generally more of a “want” to come to Canada Come here to advance skills they may already have, like education Held to a high level of standards to be accepted Long process to get in to country Must be able to support for themselves Add to Canada in a positive way Generally left to go it “on their own”

Singh Decision 1985 Known as the Singh decision, this Supreme Court decision declared that refugee claimants are entitled to basic standards of rights protection. 1988 Immigration and Refugee Board to created to hear refugee claims. April 4, date of Singh decision, is annually commemorated by Canadian refugee supporters as “Refugee Rights Day”.

Singh Decision in “Layman's terms” This means anyone who can get to Canadian soil, can have their case heard. Increasing the chances of them getting into Canada under Refugee status and not having to apply as an immigrant. Some Canadians oppose this: Feel it is too easy to gain sorrow from the committee in person Feel it is not Canada’s burden to take these people in It neglects the fact that refugee acceptance, albeit sad, is more about political advancement and not about helping people… If this is the case, then we loose this when it is done on a small scale that goes unnoticed globally. *Consider the positives to this act