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Chinese Head Tax.
Under the Chinese Immigration Act the government charged the Chinese people $50(later $100 and $500)to immigrate to Canada.This was the first time in Canada that we excluded a group of people based on their ethnicity.Many Chinese came for mining in 1858 there was another large wave for aiding in the construction of the railroad.The government knew they needed the workers for the railroad but as it began to finish they realized they no longer needed them and wanted to restrict their immigration. -
The Internment of Ukrainian Canadians.
At the start of WW l over 8000 Canadians of German and Ukrainian ancestry were arrested and sent to camps because of the identity of their decent. Canada had suspicions about the people because, Germany and part of the Ukraine were in enemy territory. The government arrested them under the War Measures Act. The government would often take the homes and force the people to work in the camps as labourers. -
The Komagata Maru Incident.
The Komagata Maru was a ship featured in a dramatic challenge to excluding Indian immigrants.The man who originally hired the ship was looking to carry Punjabi immigrants to Canada,he thought the ship was equipped for the purpose.They got to Canada and weren't allowed to leave the ship save a few returning.The people were left on the ship,Canada provided them with provisions when they needed them but otherwise left them.They tried to go back, police got to them and killed passengers. -
Internment of Italian Canadians
During WW ll our government used the War Measures Act again to convict the Italian decent Canadians. The arrests began when Italy declared war on Canada. The people were sent to camps, usually the men were sent but sometimes the family had go along as well. The government often convicted homes alongside people. Around 700 Italian Canadians were affected by the arrests. -
Internment of Japanese Canadians.
Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese during WW ll, this led to suspicion and negative treatment from other Canadians. In February of the next year Canada's government used the War Measure Act to convict the people of Japanese decent and move them away from the west coast. Over 20000 people were forced out and away from their homes and communities. They were taken by train to camps inland and were not allowed to leave unless accompanied by a RCMP member.The government later sold their homes. -
Refugees Being Added As An Immigration Category.
In 1951 Canada signed the U.N. Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. Canada also later volunteered to shelter and take care of refugees due to world crisis in the 1950's and 60's. Finally in 1976 Canada made refugees an official category for immigration, this means that they will accept refugees steadily. -
The Singh Decision.
Singh came to Canada from
India wanting refugee status but was refused under the Immigration Act. The act did not allow him to state his case personally or to appeal the governments choice on his case. The Supreme Court later said that it violated section 7 of the Charter and later people that want refugee status have a right to a hearing which they are to personally attend. They also have access to fair quick hearings and the basic necessities while they wait for their hearings. -
Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
This act is one of Canada's most recent laws affecting immigration since we became a country back in 1867. This act puts into action the categories of immigrants that can come into Canada to become residents and have permanent homes in this country. A few goals are: to respect the multicultural and bilingual character of Canada and roots of our people, to support developments of minority official language groups/communities in Canada.