1. CH. 5 Focus Questions How well do Canada’s immigration laws and policies respond to immigration issues?
What criteria does Canada use when accepting immigrants and refugees?
How do the individual and collective rights of Canadians influence immigration laws and policies?
How do provinces influence immigration laws and policies?

2. Key terms we will use…
Immigration – the process of people establishing homes, and often citizenship, in a country that is not their native land
Immigration law says who is allowed in Canada
Immigration policy sets the procedures for accepting immigrants based on the laws
Demographic – certain characteristics within a population
Labor force growth – increasing the number of people who can work

3. Immigration past vs present P.162-163
Why might someone want to move to Canada?
What criteria should someone meet in order to move to Canada?
Who should control who gets in?
What factors affected immigration in the past? Present?
What opportunities and Challenges does immigration create for Canada?

4. CH. 5 Lesson 1 What are we looking for?
Criteria Canada uses and still uses when accepting immigrants and refugees.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Canada’s point system.
Issues related to immigration legislation.

5. What is the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act?
Most recent immigration legislation; established in 2002
Classifies potential immigrants into categories and establishes criteria for who can come to Canada and make a permanent home here
Every year about 170,000 people become new citizens of Canada.

6. Categories of Immigration
Economic Immigrants
Skilled workers
Business people
Refugees
Those escaping war or other social conditions
Family Class
Family of those already living in Canada
Other
Humanitarian or compassionate reasons

7. Objectives of the IRPA
Keep Canada bilingual and multicultural
Pursue social, cultural and economic benefits for all Canadians
Develop minority official language communities
Support economic development across Canada
Reunite families that have been separated
Successful integration of immigrants into society
1. What are the underlying values reflected in the objectives of the act?
2. What do they mean for citizenship and identity in Canada?

8. Immigration Application Process
To be eligible to become a Canadian citizen, you must meet the requirements in all of the following areas:
Age  Over 18 to file for citizenship; under 18 – parents must apply on your behalf
Permanent resident status
Time lived in Canada  minimum 3 years
Language abilities  must know English or French
Criminal history
Knowledge of Canada  must pass citizenship test

9. How does immigration aim to meet the needs of Canada’s workforce. P
Read the article on p. 168 and answer the following:
What issues affecting immigration are illustrated in the plan?
In what ways does immigration attempt to meet the needs of Canadians?

10. Economic Immigrants – The Points System p. 169-172
If not a refugee or a family-class immigrant, you must qualify to enter Canada as an immigrant under Canada’s point system. These people are called economic immigrants (Canada’s largest group of immigrants)
Established in 1967
Must have 67 points to immigrate
Evaluated under the following categories:
Education (Ph.D  25 points)
French/English language abilities (Completely bilingual  24 points)
Work Experience (4 years in a skilled occupation  21 points)
Age (21 – 49 years old  10 points)
Arranged employment (job offer approved by Human Resources Development Canada  10 points)
Adaptability (proof of support network  10 points)
Proof of funds (single with $  10 points)

11. Would you qualify? Take the Citizenship test. Did you pass?
Do you think the citizenship test is fair? Is it necessary? Explain.
Let’s Check! If you would qualify under the Points System

12. Think about it… Why do you think immigration criteria exists?
Why might Canadians have different views and perspectives on these Criteria?
What issues arise from immigration based on Economic Factors?

13. What factors influence immigration policies in Canada?
Health, Economic, Political, Security, Changing World Conditions
As an economic immigrant, a person must prove they are in good health:
Free of diseases that could put the health of other Canadians at risk (i.e. tuberculosis)
No conditions that could endanger the public (i.e. mental illness)
No conditions that could put an “excessive demand” on Canada’s health services (i.e. HIV/AIDS)
** The above conditions only apply to economic immigrants (refugees or family class do not apply)

14. What factors influence immigration policies in Canada?
Economic – Canada wants immigrants with skills and knowledge that will benefit our labour force and economy. Population growth also boosts economy.
Political – Political or religious persecution creates displaced peoples known as refugees. These people have the right to a safe home – Canada provides it
Security – the security of the nation must be respected at all costs and Canada cannot accept immigrants that pose a threat.
Changing world issues – with every natural disaster and attack on human populations by other nations, ethnic groups, and terrorists, policies must adjust to what is going on in the world.

15. Immigration Policy in Canada – Past vs Present
Past  Canada’s immigration policies favoured immigrants from the UK and limited immigrants of certain ethnicities.
Chinese head tax
Prohibited immigrants from India traveling on ships with indirect routes (no direct routes were available)
Present  Race and country of origin are not part of the criteria for evaluating immigrants. The point system evaluates people based on education and skills.
Furthermore, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms prevents such discriminatory immigration policies because any immigrant that has made it to Canadian soil is protected by the Charter.

16. Think about it…
Why do you think Canada’s immigration policies have changed over time?
How do you think they might change in the future?

17. What is Canada’s policy towards refugees?
Before we begin…
Refugee – a person who seeks refuge in another country because of conflict, war, danger or persecution in their home country
Persecution - to pursue with harassing or oppressive treatment, especially because of religion, race, or beliefs.
Should Canada have different standards for Refugees wanting to immigrate? Why or why not?

18. What is Canada’s policy towards refugees?
U.N. Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (1951)
Defines refugee as
"A person who owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country; or who, not having a nationality and being outside the country of his former habitual residence as a result of such events, is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it..“
Excludes people from refugee status (i.e. war criminals)
1950s and 60s – Canada accepts refugees on a crisis by crisis basis
1976 – Canada makes “refugee” an official immigration category, therefore, accepting refugees on a steady basis

19. Objectives of the IRPA - Refugees
Save lives and offer protection to those in need
Grant fair consideration to those who claim to be persecuted
Offer refuge to those who face and form of persecution, torture, or cruel and unusual treatment
Affirm Canada’s commitment to human rights and humanitarianism
What issues might arise from accepting refugees into Canada?

20. Claiming Refugee Status
Refugee status claims are screened by Immigration officials and then forwarded on to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada who makes the final decision.
A person may make a claim for refugee status at any port of entry into Canada or, once within Canada, at any Citizenship and Immigration Canada office.
EXCEPTION – cannot claim refugee status when entering Canada from the USA except in special circumstances due to the Canada-US Safe Third Country Agreement

21. Resettling Refugees
Since most refugees are fleeing bad situations, they often need help to establish themselves in Canada
Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program
Private groups, such as churches, commit to providing financial settlement assistance to refugees for one year or until they can support themselves financially, whichever comes first.
This assistance includes accommodation, clothing and food.
Joint Assistance Sponsorship
Provided to refugees with special needs (trauma because of violence or torture, medical disabilities, effects of systemic discrimination and gender persecution )
Combined government and private assistance for a maximum of 3 years Refugee Resettlement

22. Think about it…
How might the challenges of Refugees be Similar or different from the challenges of other immigrants to Canada?
Changes to Refugee claims
Read “A refugee’s Experience” on p. 178 of your textbook and then complete questions #1-2.

23. CH. 5 Lesson 1 Review What classes of immigrants does Canada accept?
What legislation outlines laws and process for immigration in Canada?
What criteria must an immigrant meet to be accepted?
What criteria is used to select economic immigrants?
What factors affect immigration policy in Canada?
What is Canada’s policy on refugees?
How does immigration benefit Canada?