The Canadian Immigration Record
Things That Matter, By Dennis Rizzo
In the big picture, those of us who are not indigenous are immigrants. We are here as a result of in-migration over the centuries. As with present-day immigration, the majority of newcomers arrived as a result of a) wars and pestilence, b) being pensioned off with land, c) seeking better life and work, d) moving to be with family, e) escaping persecution, or f) all of the above.
Once here, subsequent generations redefined and removed the existing population and claimed the place – they named it British North America until 1867. It seems traditional hubris of our Western mentality (of course, Quebec routinely challenges this, and Alberta is now playing its own game of chicken).
I was volunteering with a local political campaign once when a middle-aged woman stormed into the office. She strode past the receptionist and spoke directly to one of the volunteers working in the back.
“What are you going to do about these immigrants?” she stated. She looked over her shoulder at the receptionist, who was East Asian.
The volunteer smiled, stood, and walked to the lady. He said simply, “Is that a Scottish accent I detect, Ma’am? I suppose Canada is not your country of birth?”
“We made this country! We never stole jobs,” she stated. She shook her head, glared at the receptionist, and stormed out. We, who were White, chuckled. Our receptionist just sighed.
The story stuck with me. Not because of the blatant ignorance and rudeness of this woman. Rather, because it represents the age-old experience of new arrivals at any place and time. It occurs in most countries.
The established population is quick to view them not as an asset, but as a threat; a scapegoat on which to toss all the personal and community grievances that should more appropriately be tossed at politicians and business leaders.
It’s an age-old conundrum. A great scene on this was done by Daniel Day-Lewis in Gangs of New York (warning – language, racism). Every new arrival looks for support systems within their own cultural/ethnic community, builds on the knowledge they possess, and works to bring their children a better existence. We who already live in very stable democracies are woefully ignorant of the stress and strain faced by people moving here to set up a new life. We are simply too distanced from the realities of their situation – or that of our own ancestors.
Perhaps some definitions from Stats Canada will help the dialogue:
Landed immigrant (or permanent resident): A person who has been granted by immigration authorities the right to live permanently in Canada, but who has not yet become a Canadian citizen through naturalization.
Foreign-born population (also referred to as immigrant population): In censuses, persons who are or have been landed immigrants or permanent residents in Canada. The foreign-born population includes Canadian citizens through naturalization; however, it does not include non-permanent residents or Canadian citizens by birth who were born abroad.
Non-permanent resident: A person in Canada who has a work or study permit, or who is a refugee claimant.
Place of birth: The name of the geographic location in which a person was born.
If you pay any attention to the news from here and elsewhere, immigrants are under fire. From the reports and blogs you might think the new arrivals are unique to our time and are here burdening our systems, taking our jobs, and generally causing all of the problems we face as a society (Blaming the new kids for the problems we already have?).
Is the situation worse than in our grandparent’s day? Let’s look at the litany of newcomers.
Immigration Over Time
Immigration in 1789-1850 consisted mainly of movement from Britain and post-revolution United States. Many residents of the southern colonies emigrated to Canada after the ouster of Royal rule in the USA. These became the United Empire Loyalists. The indigenous population was summarily shuttled off to make way. I suppose you could argue Natives experienced a dysfunctional Border Services Agency.
Intriguing History Canada talks about the over 400,000 British people who settled in Canada between 1815 and 1850. Many were Napoleonic War veterans, displaced farmers, and disgruntled industrial workers enticed with the offer of cheap or free land. This upset those already settled here (displaced Americans, former fur traders, and entrenched French population).
Canadian Museum of Immigration notes: From 1867 to 1914, the Canadian West became home to millions of immigrant settlers seeking a new life. Their resettlement in the region was underpinned by the displacement of Indigenous peoples. The resulting immigration boom created key industries like agriculture, mining, and oil, which are still important to Canada’s international role.
The Dominion Lands Act of 1872 (like the distribution of Crown Lands in previous decades) created free and fertile homesteads of 160 acre parcels for settlers from land previously inhabited by Indigenous peoples. Once again, the real estate market was being overrun by immigrants.
Between 1896 and 1916 official policy gave in to economic necessity and prioritized the immigration of groups like Ukrainians, Hungarians, and Mennonites over more desirable British immigrants. Survival and freedom were the motivations of oppressed and persecuted populations like Black American, Doukhobor, Jewish, Mennonite, and Mormon immigrants; though these increased in number under PM Wilfred Laurier, the emphasis remained on white, European sources.
Immigration After WW 2
According to Ebsco research, “as late as 1966, 87 percent of those who came to Canada were of European origin. By 1970, half of the newcomers came from new parts of the world, including Hong Kong, the Caribbean, India, the Philippines, and Southeast Asia. In 1968, eight of the top ten countries that supplied immigrants to Canada were European. By 1984, only two European countries, Britain and Poland, had remained in the top ten, and only Britain had reached the top five in fifth.”
Present-day immigrants arrive in Canada for much the same reasons noted above for previous generations. Refugees and migrants from different parts of the world come to Canada for safety, work, education, a new life for their children. Stats Can notes, “the arrival of 60,000 boat people from Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos in the late 1970s; 85,000 immigrants from the Caribbean and Bermuda (for example, Jamaica, Haiti, and Trinidad and Tobago) in the 1980s; 225,000 immigrants from Hong Kong over the 10 years leading up to its return to China by the United Kingdom in 1997; and 800,000 immigrants from the People’s Republic of China, India and the Philippines in the 2000s.”
So. the issue of indigenous origin aside, are immigrants ruining what we refer to as our country. Or – have immigrants contributed to the growth of the economic and cultural vitality of Canada?
You decide.
(Images Supplied)
Dennis Rizzo writes on big issues affecting ordinary Orillians. He is an ex-pat Yank from New Jersey. Orillia, Ontario. Canada is his adopted home, but he has brought along a degree of puckishness and hubris. Dennis spent more than 30 years working in the field of disabilities, with some side trips to marketing and management. He presented and keynoted for many conferences and served on a President’s advisory committee. Dennis is the author of several journal articles and booklets in the field of disabilities and work and five non-fiction books, including “A Brief History of Orillia – Ontario’s Sunshine City.” He recently republished a novel set in 1776 and a mystery set in 1860. He also enjoys sitting in on music sessions around town when he can.