A nation of newcomers
Except for Indigenous peoples, who have lived here for thousands of years, every Canadian family has an immigration story, whether recent or centuries old. Today, about one in four people in Canada was born in another country, one of the highest shares among large Western nations.
Immigration through history
| Period | Who came | Key events |
|---|---|---|
| 1600s–1700s | French settlers | New France |
| 1780s | Loyalists, including Black Loyalists and Haudenosaunee allies | after the American Revolution |
| 1800s | British, Irish and Scottish immigrants; Black refugees via the Underground Railroad | Irish famine migration (1840s) |
| 1880s | Chinese workers | built the CPR; afterwards, Canada imposed a head tax on Chinese immigrants |
| 1896–1914 | Ukrainians, Germans, Poles, Scandinavians and others | Minister Clifford Sifton advertised the Prairies to farmers |
| 1928–1971 | about one million immigrants arrived through Pier 21 in Halifax | postwar migration from Europe |
| 1967 onward | people from Asia, the Caribbean, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East | the points system |
| 1979–80 | about 60,000 Vietnamese, Cambodian and Laotian refugees | private sponsorship began |
| 2015–present | refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine and elsewhere |
Exclusion and discrimination
Canada’s immigration history also includes deep injustices:
- Chinese head tax (1885–1923), rising to $500, a huge sum, followed by the Chinese Immigration Act (1923–1947), which banned almost all Chinese immigration
- Continuous journey regulation (1908), aimed at keeping out South Asians
- Komagata Maru (1914): a ship carrying 376 mostly Sikh passengers was turned away in Vancouver
- "None is too many": Canada accepted very few Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi Germany and turned away the MS St. Louis in 1939
- Black immigrants were often discouraged or rejected in the early 1900s
The federal government has formally apologized for the head tax (2006), the Komagata Maru (2016) and the St. Louis (2018).
The points system
In 1967, Canada introduced a points system. Instead of choosing immigrants by race or country of origin, it awarded points for:
- education
- language ability in English or French
- work experience
- age
- arranged employment and adaptability
This opened Canada to immigrants from around the world. Today, the Express Entry system uses a similar points-based approach.
How people immigrate today
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Economic | skilled workers, provincial nominees, business immigrants (the largest group) |
| Family | sponsorship of spouses, children, parents and grandparents |
| Refugees | government-assisted, privately sponsored or people who claim asylum in Canada |
Newcomers become permanent residents, and can later apply for citizenship after living in Canada for a required period, passing a citizenship test and showing language ability.
Canada was the first country to create a private sponsorship program for refugees, where community groups, faith groups and families support newcomers. Canada received the UN’s Nansen Refugee Award in 1986 for its role in resettling refugees.
Multiculturalism
In 1971, under Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, Canada became the first country to adopt an official policy of multiculturalism. It recognizes that Canadians can keep their cultural heritage while participating fully as citizens. It was later included in section 27 of the Charter (1982) and the Canadian Multiculturalism Act (1988).
Supporters say multiculturalism:
- respects diversity and human rights
- helps newcomers feel welcome and belong
- strengthens Canada’s economy and global connections
Critics argue it can:
- emphasize differences over shared identity
- overlook ongoing racism and inequality
- be used in place of addressing Indigenous rights and French–English relations
Integration and challenges
Integration means newcomers becoming part of society while keeping their identity. Challenges include:
- having foreign credentials and experience recognized
- finding affordable housing
- learning English or French
- discrimination in jobs and housing
Settlement agencies, schools and community groups help newcomers integrate. Immigration levels and housing pressures are an ongoing public debate.
Try it yourself
- Create a timeline of Canadian immigration, including both openness and exclusion.
- Research one injustice, such as the head tax or the Komagata Maru, and explain the government’s apology.
- Explain how the points system works and evaluate its fairness.
- Interview someone who immigrated to Canada about their experience.
Quick recap
- Canada has been shaped by waves of immigration, alongside Indigenous peoples.
- Its history includes both welcome and exclusion, such as the head tax.
- The 1967 points system ended overtly racist selection.
- Canada accepts economic immigrants, family members and refugees.
- Multiculturalism, adopted in 1971, values diversity, but debates continue.