Immigration in Canada

• What is an Immigrant?

– Immigrants are people who move to a new country with the intention (goal) of settling there

Historical Trends of Populations

Historical Trends of Populations

• Canadian Immigration Patterns

Historical Trends of Populations

• 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?

1840sArrival 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 Trends of Populations

When? What Happened? Why?

1915-1919

Little immigrationWorld War I and worldwide

influenza epidemic

1930 – 1945

Little immigrationWorldwide 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 Trends of Populations

When? What Happened? Why?

1956Many 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

Types/ Classes of Immigrants

• Economic Immigrants:– Someone who comes to Canada to work at a specific

job

• Family Immigrants– Category in which family members and close relatives

can be brought to Canada• Must be sponsored

• Refugees– Someone who fears cruel or inhumane treatment in

his or her home country

• What factors cause people to leave the country in which they live and move to another country?

• Push factors: Factors that cause people to emigrate from their country

• Ex. War, religious persecution, natural disasters

Push Factors

• What factors attract people to move to another country, such as Canada?

Pull Factors

• Pull factors: Factors that draw immigrants to a country

• Ex. Job opportunities, freedom of religion, lower taxes

Are these push or pull factors???

A HURRICANE HAS RECENTLY HIT YOUR HOME COUNTRY AND YOUR CITY HAS BEEN DEVASTATED

THE JOB YOU HAD HAS BEEN ELIMINATED AND NOW YOU HAVE NO WORK

YOU ARE A DOWNHILL SKIIERAND THE DESTINATION COUNTRY HAS SOME OF THE BEST SKIING IN THE WORLD

THE DESTINATION COUNTRY HAS ONE OF THE BEST EDUCATION SYSTEMS IN THE WORLD

YOUR HOME COUNTRY HAS A MINIMAL PUBLICLY FUNDED MEDICAL SYSTEM

ALL YOUR FAMILY HAS MOVED TO YOUR DESTINATION COUNTRY ALREADY

THERE IS AN ECONOMIC DEPRESSION IN YOUR HOME COUNTRY AND THERE ARE NO JOBS

YOUR HOME COUNTRY IS DOMINATED BY A DIFFERENT RELIGION THAN THE ONE YOU PRACTICE

THE GOVERNMENT IN THE DESTINATION COUNTRY HAS LOWERED TAXES BY 15%

THERE IS A WAR GOING ON IN YOUR HOME COUNTRY

YOU HAVE LOST YOUR JOB IN YOUR HOME COUNTRY…BUT HAVE BEEN OFFERED A NEW ONE IN YOUR DESTINATION COUNTRY