HISTORICAL TIMELINE: CHANGES TO CANADAS

IMMIGRATION POLICIES
1869-2002
 Canadian Immigration

1869: Canadas first immigration act reflects an open door

policy to encourage settlement of the Western provinces, and
the growth of Canadas economy. There are few restrictions .
Canadas first immigration policy contained few restrictions on
immigration. The Immigration Act of 1869 primarily focused
on ensuring the safety of immigrants during their passage to
Canada and protecting them from exploitation upon their
arrival. Prime Minister John A. Macdonald hoped an open
immigration policy would encourage the settlement of the
West.

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 1885: Chinese Immigration Act establishes a head tax
of $50 on Chinese immigrants to deter immigration from
China.

The Royal Commission on Chinese Immigration was appointed to prove the necessity of regulating
Chinese immigration to Canada. Large number of Chinese laborers came to Canada in the 1880s
to work on the western section of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Many politicians, trade unionists
and white residents of British Columbia protested that the Chinese were immoral, prone to
disease and incapable of assimilation. The commission recommended imposing a $50 duty on
each Chinese person seeking entry into Canada.

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Taxing the Chinese:
The Chinese Immigration Act was amended on several occasions, with
important changes in 1900, which doubled the head tax to $100 and
required that Chinese leaving Canada must return within a year of
departing or face paying the head tax again on their return.
In 1903, the Act was amended again to increase the head tax to $500.
The fee was deemed necessary at the time to stem the flow of Chinese
immigrants to Canada.
This undue burden on Chinese in Canada meant that many men, who
had come here to work even before the head tax was imposed, would
never be able to bring their families to Canada. Family separation and
dislocation became a reality for many Chinese in Canada at the time.
The financial burden of the head tax, now at $500 (said to have been
enough to purchase two houses in Montreal at the time), impoverished
many Chinese
 1906: A new Immigration Act enacts widespread restrictions
on undesirable immigrants.

The Immigration Act of 1906 introduced a more restrictive immigration

policy. It expanded the categories of prohibited immigrants, formalized a
deportation process and assigned the government enhanced powers to
make arbitrary judgements on admission. While the act did not specifically
restrict immigrants based on their culture, ethnicity or nationality, the
government could prohibit any class of immigrants when it was
considered necessary or expedient.
Reasons you could be denied:
Entry was denied to elderly, the insane, individuals with impairments of
sight, speech and sound, those with contagious diseases, as well as the
destitute, impoverished and anyone likely to become a public charge.

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1908: A Gentlemens Agreement, Hayashi-Lemieux Agreement
In 1908, Canadian Minister of Labour Rodolphe Lemieux negotiated an
agreement with Japanese Foreign Minister Tadasu Hayashi to restrict
Japanese immigration to Canada. Restrictions on Japanese immigration
were deemed necessary following a recent influx of Japanese laborers in
British Columbia and a surge of anti-Asian sentiment in the province.
Under the terms of the gentlemens agreement, the Japanese
government voluntarily limited the number of Japanese immigrants
annually arriving in Canada to 400.
Restrictions on Japanese immigration were deemed necessary following
over 8,000 Japanese immigrants arriving in Canada in the first ten
months of 1907, a drastic increase from previous years. Due to reports
that the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway planned to work on the western
section of the railway. This further fueled anti-Asian sentiment.

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1908: The Continuous Journey Regulation bans immigrants who do not come to
Canada directly from their country of origin.

The continuous journey regulation required prospective immigrants to travel to Canada by

continuous journey from the country of which they were natives or citizens on a through ticket
purchased in that country. Since there was no direct steamship service between India and Canada
at this time, the regulation effectively blocked Indian immigration. It also led to a decline in
Japanese immigration to Canada by closing off the primary immigration route through Hawaii.

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 1914: The Naturalization Act creates stricter requirements for
becoming a citizen, including good moral character. The
secretary of state holds absolute power to grant, deny or revoke
citizenship.

The Naturalization Act of 1914 introduced more strict

requirements for naturalization in Canada. To be approved for a
certificate of naturalization, immigrants were required to live in
Canada for five years, possess adequate knowledge of French or
English and exhibit good moral character. The secretary of state
held absolute discretionary powers to grant and withhold
certificates of naturalization with no recourse for appeal.

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 1919: Further immigration restrictions are put in place after the
First World War . Fears of communism and enemy aliens breed
suspicion and discriminatory attitudes against many.

The government introduced the Immigration Act in 1919 with more restrictive regulations in
response to the postwar economic downturn, labor unrest and growing foreign distrust.
Immigrants from enemy alien countries were denied entry. This revision enabled the governor-in-
council to increase its deportation efforts, specifically targeting those accused of engaging in anti-
government activity and those that had become public charges

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1923: With the Chinese Immigration Act of 1923, immigration of Chinese to
Canada is restricted almost entirely until it is repealed in 1947.

The Chinese Immigration Act of 1923 virtually restricted all Chinese immigration to Canada by
narrowly defining the acceptable categories of Chinese immigrants. While the entrance duty
requirement was repealed, admissible Chinese immigrants were limited to diplomats and
government representatives, merchants, children born in Canada who had left for educational
purposes, and students while attending university or college. Between 1923 and 1946, it is
estimated that only 15 Chinese immigrants gained entry into Canada.

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1931: Order-in- Council PC 1931-695

With the passage of order-in-council PC 695 in 1931, the government

implemented the tightest immigration admissions policy in Canadian
history. Further restrictions were deemed necessary after the onset of
the Great Depression in order to combat soaring unemployment and
further economic decline.
The legislation limited admissible immigrants to: American and British
subjects with sufficient means to maintain themselves until securing
employment; agriculturalists with sufficient means to farm in Canada;
and the wives and minor children of Canadian residents. Immigrants of
all other classes and occupations were explicitly prohibited from landing
in Canada.

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1947: Canadian citizenship is created. Under the Act, people who were
previously classed as British subjects become Canadians.

The Canadian Citizenship Act of 1947 created the category Canadian citizenship and allowed
residents of Canada to obtain citizenship regardless of their country of origin. Prior to 1947,
individuals born in Canada and naturalized immigrants were classified as British subjects rather
than Canadian citizens. The new act established the criteria for obtaining citizenship and outlined
the circumstances under which citizenship could be lost or revoked.

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1962: Turning over a new leaf

The new immigration regulations introduced in 1962 eliminated racial discrimination from
Canadian immigration policy. Skill became the main criteria for determining admissibility rather
than race or national origin. The classes of sponsored immigrants were expanded so that all
Canadian citizens and permanent residents could sponsor relatives for immigration. However, an
element of discrimination vaguely remained as only Canadian immigrants from preferred nations
in Europe, the Americas and select countries in the Middle East were permitted to sponsor
children over the age of 21, married children and other members of their extended family.

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 1971: The Government of Canada introduces an official
multiculturalism policy for Canada, recognizing the plurality of
ethno - cultural groups that coexist and contribute to culture in
Canada.

In a statement to the House of Commons on 8 October 1971, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau
announced multiculturalism as an official government policy. Multiculturalism was intended to
preserve the cultural freedom of individuals and provide recognition of the cultural contributions
of diverse ethnic groups to Canadian society. The government committed to support
multiculturalism by assisting cultural groups in their development, assisting individuals in
overcoming discriminatory barriers, encouraging intercultural exchange and assisting immigrants
in learning French or English.

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 1976: A new Immigration Act reflects progressive
attitudes toward immigration

The Immigration Act of 1976 represented a significant shift in Canadian immigration legislation. It
was the first immigration act to clearly outline the objectives of Canadian immigration policy,
define refugees as a distinct class of immigrants and mandate the federal government to consult
with other levels of government in immigration planning and management. The act was positively
regarded as a progressive piece of legislation and it received broad social and political support.

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1988: The Canadian Multiculturalism Act:

The Canadian Multiculturalism Act of 1988 provided the legislative framework to the existing
policy of multiculturalism and expanded its focus. Revisions to the policy were deemed necessary
to better reflect Canadas increasingly diverse racial and ethnic composition. The act sought to
protect the cultural heritage of all Canadians, reduce discrimination and encourage the
implementation of multicultural programs and initiatives within institutions and organizations.
Canada would also recognize and respect its society including diversity in languages, customs,
religions, and so on. This allowed Canada to become the first country to pass a national
multiculturalism law.

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 2002: The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act comes into
effect, emphasizing the importance of immigration to improving
Canadian society and economy.

In 2002, the federal government introduced the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act,
replacing the previous 1976 Immigration Act. This new legislation retained much of the previous
legislations framework, including the basic family, refugee, and economic classes of immigrants.
The Act, however, did tighten eligibility requirements for refugees, skilled immigrants, and
business immigrants. Importantly, it extended family entitlements to same-sex and common-law
relationships, allowing individuals united under such relationships to bring their partners to
Canada.

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Works Cited:

https://www.pier21.ca/research/immigration-history/canadian-immigration-acts-and-legislation
https://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/11-630-x/11-630-x2016006-eng.htm
https://www.cicnews.com/2002/06/immigration-refugee-protection-act-2002-
06307.html#gs.CjnRnco
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/immigration-policy/
https://www.canada.ca/en/services/immigration-citizenship.html
http://www.canadaimmigrationvisa.com/visatype.html

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Amy Christensen
 Provinces and territories in Canada have primary responsibility for organizing and
delivering health services and supervising providers. Many have established regional
health authorities that plan and deliver publicly funded services locally. Generally, those
authorities are responsible for the funding and delivery of hospital, community, and
long-term care, as well as mental and public health services.

The federal government programs, which must conform to the Canada Health Act (1985),
which in turn sets standards for medically necessary hospital, diagnostic, and
physician services. The act states that to be eligible to receive full federal cash donations
for health care, each health care insurance plan needs to be: publicly manage, complete
in coverage, universal, portable, and accessible.

The federal government also regulates the safety and efficacy of medical devices,
pharmaceuticals, and natural health products; funds health research; administers a range
of services for certain populations, including First Nations, Inuit, members of the
Canadian Armed Forces, some veterans, resettled refugees , and inmates in federal
penitentiaries; and administers several public health functions.
 Publicly Financed Healthcare-
Total and publicly funded health uses were forecast to account for an estimated 11.1 percent and 8.0 percent of
GDP, respectively, in 2016; by that measure, 69.8 percent of total health spending comes from public sources.
The provinces and territories administer their own universal health insurance programs, covering all provincial
and territorial residents in accordance with their own residency requirements.
The main funding sources are general spending, which was forecast to constitute 93 percent of public health
spending in 2016. The federal government contributes cash funding to the provinces and territories on a per
capita basis through the Canada Health Transfer, which will total an estimated CAD 36 billion (USD28.8 billion)
in 20162017, accounting for an estimated 24 percent of total health expenditures.
 Private Health Insurance-
Private insurance, held by about two-thirds of Canadians, covered services excluded from public
reimbursement, such as vision and dental care, prescription drugs, rehabilitation services, home care, and
private rooms in hospitals.

In 2014, approximately 94 percent of premiums for private health plans were paid through employers, unions,
or other organizations under a group contract or uninsured contract (by which a plan sponsor provides benefits
to a group outside of an insurance contract).

In 2014, private insurance accounted for approximately 12 percent of total health spending. The majority of
insurers are for-profit.
 To qualify for federal financial contributions under the Canada Health Transfer, insurance plans must provide
first-dollar coverage of medically necessary physician, diagnostic, and hospital services (including inpatient
prescription drugs) for all eligible residents.
There is no nationally defined statutory benefit package; most public coverage decisions are made by
provincial and territorial governments in conjunction with the medical profession.
Provincial and territorial governments insurance plans provide varying levels of additional benefits, such as
outpatient prescription drugs, non-physician mental health care, vision care, dental care, home care, and
hospice care. They also provide public health and prevention services (including immunizations) as part of
their public programs.
 https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/canada-health-care-system.html
http://www.canadian-healthcare.org/
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/446689/canadas-single-payer-health-care-system-cautionary-tale
https://www.slideshare.net/and02910/us-vs-can
http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/1760:canada-may-have-the-cure-for-uss-medicare-ailment
Education in Canada
 History
The education system in Canada can be separated into four stages:

First stage was Church controlled education, that lasted from the early1700s to mid 1800s.

Second stage in the late 1800s was the introduction of more centralized authority, universal free
education, and taxation for schooling at the local level.

Third stage in the early 1900s, Provincial departments of education started to form, better
curriculum for students and better trained teachers, this was also the start of Provincial
government financial support for schools.

Fourth Stage, since WWII minsters of education have been appointed in each Provincial
Government so that there is more government involvement in all aspects of education.
 Structure of Education
Provincial and territorial governments set up and run their own school systems. For the most
part they are similar from Province to Province, but their are some differences.

Canada does not have a Federal Department or National System of Education.

Each Province has to set up their own curriculum for students to learn

All Provinces have private and public schools. Some public schools are still owned by the
catholic church, but anybody can attend.

There are schools available in French or English in every Province, but in Quebec students are
required to attend school in French through high school unless one of their parents attended an
English school.
 Structure Cont.
Kids are required to attend school until the age of 16 in every
Province, besides New Brunswick and Ontario the age is 18.

Elementary and Secondary education are grades 1-12, in Quebec it is

grades 1-11.

Public schools in a local area are managed by school boards called

districts or divisions. The population within that district are who vote
for the members of the board.

The federal governments responsibilities in education are very limited

to the Royal Military College of Canada and funding the education of
indigenous people.

Public Education is free for Elementary and Secondary education

There are about 15,500 Schools in Canada

10,100 Elementary, 3,400 Secondary, 2,000 mixed schools

About 6 million students enrolled in these schools

 Higher Education
Just like lower education the Province or Territory is responsible for Colleges and Universities.

Quebec is different in the way a student must attend college before university. It is a 2 year pre-
university program or a 3 year professional program. After they can go on and attend University
to get their Bachelors degree.

All other Provinces College refers to community colleges or schools that you can get a
certificate of achievement or an Associates degree.

Schools are funded by Province or Territory unless they are private. Students must pay tuition or
have a scholarship to attend.
 Stats
90% of adults have Graduated High School or have a GED

British Columbia led Canada with the highest percentage of high

school graduates at 93%, Nunavut has the lowest at only 51%

Total national spending by Canadian School Boards is about 44.5

Billion USD, this has increased 67% since 2000.

Canada led the world with the highest percentage of adult population
with a bachelors degree or higher at 54%

Average annual tuition for a full-time undergraduate student is about

$3,700 USD.

Average annual tuition for a full-time graduate MBA student is

$40,300 USD.

99% literacy rate in Canada.