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Canada's Refugee Policy
Since World War II, Canada has had a shift in its refugee policy. A refugee is different than an immigrant, they are forced to flee. There are two programs in place for refugees which include The Refugee and Humanitarian Resettlement Program and the In-Canada Asylum Program (“How Canada’s Refugee System Works”). The UN Refugee Agency along with private sponsors identify refugees for resettlement. The Asylum program protects people who face persecution in their homeland ("Refugees and Asylum"). -
Census of 1951
This Census was particularly important because it took place 2 years after Newfoundland became a province, thus making it the first Census to include all 10 provinces and 2 territories. It recorded information such as age, sex and marital status. The 1951 census also provided information for small areas such as counties, municipalities, and towns. The total population increased by 21.8% between 1941 to 1951 because of the amount of the amount of people that immigrated here (Statistics Canada). -
Hungarian Refugees
In 1956 and 1957, over 37 000 refugees from Hungary came to Canada. At the time in Hungary, their political uprising had failed against the Soviets, who had taken over. Over 200 000 were fleeing Austria in late 1956 (Abella and Molnar). Due to international pressure, the Canadian government implemented a program offering Hungarian free transport instead of houses (Driesziger). -
New Waves of Immigration
Since the end of the WWII, those displaced and refugees from the countries affected by war have become a part of Canada's immigration flow. In the postwar work shortage, Canada admitted thousands of displaced people, those made homeless by war or those who found themselves outside of their home land that they did not want to go back to. (Troper) Among these people were Holocaust survivors. During the 1960's-1970's, Canada also brought in Hungarians, Slovaks, Ugandans and Chileans (Troper). -
The Immigration Act of 1978
The Immigration Act of 1978 changed the way Canada treated refugees and immigrants. It described Canada's goals for immigration: to strengthen the economy, culture, society and population (Cruxton and Wilson 381). People were divided into 3 classes - refugee, immigrant, and independent class (Hughes 124). The Act had 3 main objectives: to reunite families, to accept the displaced and persecuted, and to attract people who promote the domestic and international needs of Canada (Dirks). -
Vietnamese Boat People Immigration System
In 1979 the Canadian government decided that the number of Vietnamese refugees should depend on the amount of public support. In July 1979 the government introduced a system where they would sponsor one refugee for every privately sponsored refugee (Joy). Churches, corporations or a group of five people could sponsor a refugee. This system resulted in 110 000 refugees coming to Canada by 1985 ("Boat People"). -
Vietnamese Boat People (Refugees)
The Vietnamese Boat People were the second group of Vietnamese refugees to come to Canada within the decade. They came in order to escape the South Vietnamese Communist regime. They were referred to as "boat people" because they traveled on crowded boats in order to get to Canada (Joy). An estimated 1/3 of the people on the boats perished before arriving in Canada. Canada accepted 137 000 Vietnamese refugees (Abella and Molnar). -
Multiculturalism Act
The Multiculturalism Act was brought into Canada to create a better society and country. It was previously known as "biculturalism", referring to only the French and English side of Canada. Prime Minister Brian Mulroney brought in the Act to showcase the government's commitment to promote equality among all origins of people to continue evolution of Canadian society by establishing legislation to protect ethnic, linguistic and religious diversity within Canada (Burnet and Driedger). -
Syrian Refugees
Canada has become a sanctuary for the Syrian refugees. Canada has accepted more than 40 000 Syrian refugees since November 2015 - 2x more than the United States. Saskatchewan has accepted the most Syrian refugees who are government assisted at 89% (Friesen). Although, Ontario has received the greatest amount of Syrian refugees including those who are privately sponsored and non-government funded. As of 2017, 12 785 Syrian refugees live in Ontario (Friesen).
