IMMIGRATION IN CANADA TODAY

Who Are We?

Canada today...

The majority of Canadians (as many as 97%) are immigrants or descendants of immigrants.

This is why Canada is considered to be a “multicultural” society.

For the most part, Canada also encourages immigrants to retain their traditions and language!

Patterns of Immigration

The number of immigrants changes from year to year

In recent years, more than 200,000 immigrants have arrived each year

When? What Happened? Why?

1840s Arrival of1000’s of Irish settlers

Irish potato crop fails; facing starvation

1905-1914 Massive immigration to Canadian west from Eastern Europe

Canadian gov’t wants to settle prairies, offers free land/incentives to immigrants

1915-1919 Little immigration WWI, worldwide influenza epidemic limits movement

1930-1945 Little immigration World economic depression, WWII

1947-1960 Many Italians come to Canada

Italians flee devastation caused by war

1956 Many Hungarians come to Canada

Hungarian revolt against Russians fails, flee

1980-1997 Arrival of thousands of HongKong Chinese Immigrants

seek political stability before China retakes control of HK in 97

1980-2003 Many people from Afghanistan

Immigrants seek safe haven fromconflict

See a pattern?

The source of immigration changes depending on different factors (usually economic and political conditions)

Canada offers these people a “haven”, a country which offers freedom and opportunity

Why People Become Immigrants

Push factors: war, absence of human rights, poor economic/educational opportunities, religious persecution, terrorism, natural disasters

Pull Factors: to join family, job opportunities, better taxes

Intervening obstacles: distance, cost, can’t meet requirements!

When Someone Becomes An Immigrant

It is not as easy as you think! There are strict rules to who can immigrate to Canada

Three groups of people:1. Economic Immigrants2. Family Immigrants3. Refugees

More on Immigrants

Economic: skilled workers/business immigrants; must be able to contribute to economy–Est. a business, buy a business, invest

Family: this allows families to reunite (spouse, children etc); sponsorship program (i.e. housing & $$)

Refugee: someone who fears cruel / inhumane treatment (or even death) in home country

Interprovincial Migration

Migration that occurs BETWEEN provinces

Changes population dynamics between the difference provinces/territories in Canada