Canadian Immigration Timeline

  • 4.700 Indians Come to Canada

    4.700 Indians Come to Canada
    4.700 Indians came to Canada, mainly Sikhs from Punjab, arrived in Vancover. I choose this as one of my Top 10 Canadian Immigration Events because these were one of the first Indians that arrived in Canada since the 1900s. Note** Dates Not Accurate in Most of the Events.
  • Immigration Act of 1910

    Immigration Act of 1910
    This Act gave enormous discretionary power to regulate immigration through Orders in Council.The Act also extended the grounds on which immigrants could be deported to include immorality and political offenses. The Act introduced the concept of "domicile" which was acquired after three years of residence in Canada (later five years). I choose this event as one of my Top 10 Canadian Immigration Events because this act was the first immigration act in the 1900s.
  • War Measures Act

    War Measures Act
    The War Measures Act was passed, giving the government wide powers to arrest, detain and deport. "Enemy aliens" were forced to register themselves and subjected to many restrictions. In the course of the war, 8,000-9,000 "enemy aliens" were interned. Many were subsequently released in response to labour shortages. I choose this as one of my Top 10 Canadian Immigration Events because this was the act that allowed the government to take innocent people and put them in jail or as labourerers.
  • Industrial Workers of the War

    Industrial Workers of the War
    The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW, known as the "Wobblies") and 13 other socialist or anarchist groups were declared illegal. I choose this as one of my Top 10 Canadian Immigration Events because the government made groups that hepled them in war illegal.
  • Canadian National Committee on Refugees and Victims of Persecution

    Canadian National Committee on Refugees and Victims of Persecution
    At a meeting of the League of Nations Society of Canada the Canadian National Committee on Refugees and Victims of Persecution was formed. Since the government blamed its unwillingness to admit refugees on lack of public support, the committee focused on public education, setting up branches, organizing public meetings. I choose this as one of my Top 10 Canadian Immigration Events because this reminds us of how we were so questionable about letting refugees in to Canada.
  • Hurgarians Flee Canada

    Hurgarians Flee Canada
    The crushing of the Hungarian uprising led to over 200,000 Hungarians fleeing to Austria. In response to public pressure, the Canadian government carried out a special program with free passage. Thousands of Hungarians arrived in the early months of 1957. More than 37,000 Hungarians were admitted in less than a year. I choose this as one of my Top 10 Canadian Immigration Events because this is the event that led to free passage way.
  • Czechs Enter Canada

    Czechs Enter Canada
    Warsaw Pact troops entered Czechoslovakia. Because of this 10,975 Czechs entered Canada between August 20, 1968 and March 1, 1969. According to the departmental annual report, "Many Canadian organizations, universities and provincial and municipal agencies helped in the settlement of the refugees. Without this surge of public and private cooperation, the task would have been immeasurably more difficult".
  • Ugandan Asians Expelled from Their Own Country

    Ugandan Asians Expelled from Their Own Country
    The Ugandan president announced his intention of expelling Ugandan Asians by November 8, 1972. Canada responded swiftly to an appeal from the UK to take some of these Ugandans , but initially insisted that the applicants meet the usual immigration criteria. By the end of 1973, more than 7,000 Ugandan Asians had arrived. I choose this as one of my Top 10 Canadian Immigration Events because this event shows that Canada is a country that is willing to help others.
  • New Immigration Act

    New Immigration Act
    A new Immigration Act came into effect. It identified objectives for the immigration program and forced the government to plan for the future, in discussion with the provinces. Immigrants were divided into four categories: independents, family, assisted relatives and humanitarian. I choose this as on of my Top 10 Canadian Immigration Event because this is the act that forced the government to work way harder than they usually do so, more people came in and were freely able to make a living.
  • Chinese Refugees

    Chinese Refugees
    A boat with 123 Chinese passengers arrived off the West Coast over the summer. The public response was extremly hostile. Alot of the Chinese were kept in long-term detention and some were irregularly prevented from making refugee claims. I choose this as one of my Top 10 Canadian because this event shows that Canada was once very racist.