IMMIGRATION POLICIES & PROGRAMS
Recruiting, Restricting and Rejecting
Part Two
Strategies and policies to attract and exclude immigrants to Canada during the
First World War and interwar years, 1914 – 1939
Research by Elle Andra-Warner
First World War and interwar years, 1914 – 1939
Research by Elle Andra-Warner
- 1914-1918 - The First World War
- 1919-1930 - The Interwar Years: Preferred and Non-Preferred Countries
- 1919-1930 - Colonization & Empire Settlement Schemes
- 1925 - Red Lake Gold Strik
- 1925-1930 - The Railway Agreement
- 1930-1939 - The Depression Years
- 1937-1939 - Refugees Not Welcome in Canada at this Time
1914-1918 - The First World War
The First World War began on July 28, 1914 and ended November 11, 1918. The conflict involved all the great powers of the world at the time, with two opposing alliances. On the Allies side there were many countries, including the British Empire (Canada was part of the empire), France, Russian Empire, United States, Italy, Japan, Greece, Portugal, Belgium and others. On the other side were the Central Powers of the German Empire, Austro-Hungarian Empire, Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria.
It was one of the largest wars in world history, with more than 9 million killed. The Central Powers were defeated, and two ceased to exist (Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires) while the Soviet Union emerged from the Russian Empire. The map of Europe changed, with many new European countries formed.
During the war, there was a great growth in Canadian nationalism. However, the downside to the proud-to-be Canadian pride was the growth of fervent anti-foreign sentiment. The immigrants from countries that had been part of Germany or the Austro-Hungarian Empire—that had formerly been encouraged to homestead in the Canadian West—were now called "enemy aliens", like the Germans, Hungarians, Czechs, Romanians, Polish and Ukrainians.
After the war, the Canadian war veterans came back, looking for jobs. To give jobs to the returning veterans, some companies dismissed their "enemy aliens" employees, like one mining company did in Sudbury—they fired 2,200 of their 3,200 employees to give the jobs to the veterans.
The First World War also slowed down immigration to Canada. In 1915, immigration plunged to 36,665, with the majority coming from the United States. It recovered slightly the next two years, but at the end of the war in 1918, only 41,845 had immigrated to Canada. However, the following year, in 1919, immigration more than doubled, at 107,698.
The First World War began on July 28, 1914 and ended November 11, 1918. The conflict involved all the great powers of the world at the time, with two opposing alliances. On the Allies side there were many countries, including the British Empire (Canada was part of the empire), France, Russian Empire, United States, Italy, Japan, Greece, Portugal, Belgium and others. On the other side were the Central Powers of the German Empire, Austro-Hungarian Empire, Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria.
It was one of the largest wars in world history, with more than 9 million killed. The Central Powers were defeated, and two ceased to exist (Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires) while the Soviet Union emerged from the Russian Empire. The map of Europe changed, with many new European countries formed.
During the war, there was a great growth in Canadian nationalism. However, the downside to the proud-to-be Canadian pride was the growth of fervent anti-foreign sentiment. The immigrants from countries that had been part of Germany or the Austro-Hungarian Empire—that had formerly been encouraged to homestead in the Canadian West—were now called "enemy aliens", like the Germans, Hungarians, Czechs, Romanians, Polish and Ukrainians.
After the war, the Canadian war veterans came back, looking for jobs. To give jobs to the returning veterans, some companies dismissed their "enemy aliens" employees, like one mining company did in Sudbury—they fired 2,200 of their 3,200 employees to give the jobs to the veterans.
The First World War also slowed down immigration to Canada. In 1915, immigration plunged to 36,665, with the majority coming from the United States. It recovered slightly the next two years, but at the end of the war in 1918, only 41,845 had immigrated to Canada. However, the following year, in 1919, immigration more than doubled, at 107,698.
1919-1930 - The Interwar Years: Preferred and Non-Preferred Countries
Before the First World War, Canadian immigration policy was largely based on what immigrants could bring to the economy and how much demand there was for their skills. The British, American and northern European immigrants had always been favoured as the ideal immigrants; however, less "suitable" people were accepted if they had desirable skills. Since 1870 to 1913, the immigration policy had focused on recruiting farmers, farm workers and female domestics.
After the First World War, however, the prospective immigrant's country of origin or citizenship, culture and ideologies became important when looking for the "ideal" candidate, though professing to be one of the three occupations—agriculturalists, farm workers and domestic servants—helped gain admittance to Canada.
Between 1919 to 1922, entry of a specific class of immigrants was barred into Canada. Since 1919, an immigration policy had been evolving with certain countries being "preferred", others "non-preferred". In 1923, Order-in-Council 183 was issued, defining the list of countries for selection of immigrants: British subjects, Americans and those from "preferred" countries of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium and France.
"Non-preferred" countries were listed as Austria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia. Only agriculturalists, farm labourers, domestics and sponsored family members were eligible to immigrate from "non-preferred" countries.
Also in 1923, the Chinese Head Tax was finally abolished. However, it was replaced with another exclusionary Chinese Immigration Act that was not repealed until 24 years later in 1947. The Act prohibited all Chinese immigrants except diplomats, students, children of Canadians and an investor class. So effective was the blockade against Chinese immigration that between 1930 and 1935, only three Chinese persons immigrated to Canada.
Before the First World War, Canadian immigration policy was largely based on what immigrants could bring to the economy and how much demand there was for their skills. The British, American and northern European immigrants had always been favoured as the ideal immigrants; however, less "suitable" people were accepted if they had desirable skills. Since 1870 to 1913, the immigration policy had focused on recruiting farmers, farm workers and female domestics.
After the First World War, however, the prospective immigrant's country of origin or citizenship, culture and ideologies became important when looking for the "ideal" candidate, though professing to be one of the three occupations—agriculturalists, farm workers and domestic servants—helped gain admittance to Canada.
Between 1919 to 1922, entry of a specific class of immigrants was barred into Canada. Since 1919, an immigration policy had been evolving with certain countries being "preferred", others "non-preferred". In 1923, Order-in-Council 183 was issued, defining the list of countries for selection of immigrants: British subjects, Americans and those from "preferred" countries of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium and France.
"Non-preferred" countries were listed as Austria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia. Only agriculturalists, farm labourers, domestics and sponsored family members were eligible to immigrate from "non-preferred" countries.
Also in 1923, the Chinese Head Tax was finally abolished. However, it was replaced with another exclusionary Chinese Immigration Act that was not repealed until 24 years later in 1947. The Act prohibited all Chinese immigrants except diplomats, students, children of Canadians and an investor class. So effective was the blockade against Chinese immigration that between 1930 and 1935, only three Chinese persons immigrated to Canada.
Red Lake Immigrants: Immigrated between 1919-1930 from Preferred and Non-Preferred countries
|
Preferred
Name
William Arthur (Bert) Allen
Immigrated in 1924 |
Country
England
|
Non-Preferred
Name
Mike Boyanowsky
Immigrated in 1927 |
Country
Ukraine (at the time, ruled by Romania)
|
|
Artur Carlson
Immigrated in 1929 |
Sweden
|
Katarzyna Boyanowsky
Immigrated in 1929 |
Austro-Hungarian Empire (now western Ukraine)
|
|
Matti Hakala
Immigrated in 1929 |
Finland
|
Irma Deedas
Immigrated in 1926 |
Latvia
|
|
Ingeman Kelson
Immigrated in 1923 |
Denmark
|
Matausas Deedas
Immigrated in 1926 |
Lithuania
|
|
Aune Palonpera
Immigrated in 1924 |
Finland
|
John Duczeminski
Immigrated in 1924 |
Poland (at the time, under Austrian rule)
|
|
Emil Palonpera
Immigrated in 1923 |
Finland
|
Josephene Duczeminski
Immigrated in 1927 Ignacy Kornell Immigrated in 1927 Michal Peterson Immigrated in 1925 |
Poland (at the time, under Austrian rule)
Poland Poland (at the time, part of Ukraine in Austro-Hungarian Empire) |
1919-1930 - Colonization & Empire Settlement Schemes
Between 1919 and 1930, there were several schemes to bring British immigrants to Canada, beginning with the British Veterans Settlement Scheme (1919-1922). In this program, which provided free passage to Canada to British ex-service men and women, 26,905 British immigrants settled in Canada.
Two more settlement programs to Canada followed, based on Britain's 1922Empire Settlement Act (ESA), the official British plan to increase emigration from Britain to other Commonwealth countries including Canada.
Red Lake Immigrant: Michal Peterson (Piotrowski), came to Canada under the Canadian Pacific Labour Service Scheme in 1925.
Under the ESA, the Three Thousand Family Scheme was launched in 1925, trying to get experienced British farmers to come to farm in Canada. Britain would lend them the money for stock and equipment and Canada made land available to the British farmer.
Between 1923 and 1930, programs under the ESA had assisted 107,084 British immigrants to Canada, including more than 22,000 young women who came as domestic servants between 1923 and 1929.
Red Lake Immigrants: Women who worked as domestic servants between 1923 and 1929
Katarzyna Boyanowsky, came to Canada in 1929 and was sponsored by wealthy Jewish family to work in their home.
Josephene Duczeminski, came to Canada in 1927 and worked on the farm of her uncle, Joe Holubowicz, then later as a domestic in a number of Jewish homes.
Aune Palonpera, came to Canada in 1924 and on Form 30A "Declaration of Passengers to Canada" she listed her occupation as "domestic". At the time, single women immigrants like Aune had limited occupation choices for entry into Canada.
Between 1919 and 1930, there were several schemes to bring British immigrants to Canada, beginning with the British Veterans Settlement Scheme (1919-1922). In this program, which provided free passage to Canada to British ex-service men and women, 26,905 British immigrants settled in Canada.
Two more settlement programs to Canada followed, based on Britain's 1922Empire Settlement Act (ESA), the official British plan to increase emigration from Britain to other Commonwealth countries including Canada.
Red Lake Immigrant: Michal Peterson (Piotrowski), came to Canada under the Canadian Pacific Labour Service Scheme in 1925.
Under the ESA, the Three Thousand Family Scheme was launched in 1925, trying to get experienced British farmers to come to farm in Canada. Britain would lend them the money for stock and equipment and Canada made land available to the British farmer.
Between 1923 and 1930, programs under the ESA had assisted 107,084 British immigrants to Canada, including more than 22,000 young women who came as domestic servants between 1923 and 1929.
Red Lake Immigrants: Women who worked as domestic servants between 1923 and 1929
Katarzyna Boyanowsky, came to Canada in 1929 and was sponsored by wealthy Jewish family to work in their home.
Josephene Duczeminski, came to Canada in 1927 and worked on the farm of her uncle, Joe Holubowicz, then later as a domestic in a number of Jewish homes.
Aune Palonpera, came to Canada in 1924 and on Form 30A "Declaration of Passengers to Canada" she listed her occupation as "domestic". At the time, single women immigrants like Aune had limited occupation choices for entry into Canada.
1925 - Red Lake Gold Strike
While Canada was recruiting for new immigrants, things were happening in Red Lake that would set the foundations for a lasting community.
Gold was discovered on its shores in 1925 leading to the famous Red Lake Gold Rush which began in March 1926. Travelling by dog team, on foot, or in open-cockpit airplanes, thousands of people from Canada and around the world flocked to Red Lake to seek their fortune. Some newcomers had lived in Canada for some time, working on farms, factories, and railroads, while others came directly from overseas, without any knowledge of the area's climate or geography.
These pioneer men and women brought a diverse set of skills, languages, and traditions with them, but they quickly learnt they would have to set their differences aside and work together in order to get things done and build a town in which to live.
Red Lake Immigrants: Those who came to Red Lake during the gold rush or to specifically work in the mines during the 1920s.
William Arthur (Bert) Allen first arrived in Gold Pines in spring 1928 and soon found work at Jackson-Manion Mine. A year later, he came to Red Lake where he was hired by the Howey Mine as a hoistman. A highlight of his career was helping to pour the first gold brick.
Artur Carlson arrived in Red Lake in June 1929. After a few days in town, he went to Trout Bay at the west end of Red Lake where he began doing assessment work, such as hand-steeling and drilling, on mining claims. Artur later did various work at local mines, including shaft sinking, drifting underground, constructing headframes, and prospecting.
Matausas Deedas came to Red Lake in 1929 to try his luck in the gold mining district. His first employment was as a carpenter, then underground miner at the Howey Mine, where he remained for nearly 13 years. He later worked for 16 years at Campbell Red Lake Mines until his retirement in 1967.
Ignacy Kornell likely came to Red Lake in the late 1920s in wake of the gold rush. He lived near Pipestone Bay where he worked as a prospector, trapper, and mine caretaker. He was a legendary figure at the west end of Red Lake, an area he called home long after its mining and residential boom of the 1930s subsided.
Leo Kostynuk settled in Red Lake between 1925-26, around the same time the Howey Mine was beginning construction and before any community was established. He first worked in the mine’s sawmill, providing wood to construct the shaft and buildings on the property. His sons (Alex, Michael, William & Steve) all held various positions at local mines, and even established their own venture called The Kostynuk Brothers Mine in the 1960s.
Emil Palonpera was hired by the Howey Red Lake Gold Syndicate in the winter of 1925 and accepted the offer of a five month contract. While he did not stay in the area for long, he could not have come at a more exciting time in Red Lake’s history.
Red Lake Immigrants: Pioneer women and children.
Inga Dawson (nee Kelson) was only three months old in December 1930 when she and her mother, Kristine, made the voyage across the Atlantic from Denmark to Canada, and eventually to their new home in Red Lake. As Inga grew, so did the town, and together they celebrated many firsts.
Kristine Kelson was one of the Red Lake community's first non-Aboriginal women. The Kelsons were also Red Lake's first Danish family, and cheerfully withstood the rigors of living in a rough, developing frontier community.
Aune Palonpera made history when she came to Red Lake in October 1925 as she was the first non-Aboriginal woman to arrive in the community. She obtained a job as a cook for the Howey Mine camp, and was well-known for her generosity and culinary ingenuity.
While Canada was recruiting for new immigrants, things were happening in Red Lake that would set the foundations for a lasting community.
Gold was discovered on its shores in 1925 leading to the famous Red Lake Gold Rush which began in March 1926. Travelling by dog team, on foot, or in open-cockpit airplanes, thousands of people from Canada and around the world flocked to Red Lake to seek their fortune. Some newcomers had lived in Canada for some time, working on farms, factories, and railroads, while others came directly from overseas, without any knowledge of the area's climate or geography.
These pioneer men and women brought a diverse set of skills, languages, and traditions with them, but they quickly learnt they would have to set their differences aside and work together in order to get things done and build a town in which to live.
Red Lake Immigrants: Those who came to Red Lake during the gold rush or to specifically work in the mines during the 1920s.
William Arthur (Bert) Allen first arrived in Gold Pines in spring 1928 and soon found work at Jackson-Manion Mine. A year later, he came to Red Lake where he was hired by the Howey Mine as a hoistman. A highlight of his career was helping to pour the first gold brick.
Artur Carlson arrived in Red Lake in June 1929. After a few days in town, he went to Trout Bay at the west end of Red Lake where he began doing assessment work, such as hand-steeling and drilling, on mining claims. Artur later did various work at local mines, including shaft sinking, drifting underground, constructing headframes, and prospecting.
Matausas Deedas came to Red Lake in 1929 to try his luck in the gold mining district. His first employment was as a carpenter, then underground miner at the Howey Mine, where he remained for nearly 13 years. He later worked for 16 years at Campbell Red Lake Mines until his retirement in 1967.
Ignacy Kornell likely came to Red Lake in the late 1920s in wake of the gold rush. He lived near Pipestone Bay where he worked as a prospector, trapper, and mine caretaker. He was a legendary figure at the west end of Red Lake, an area he called home long after its mining and residential boom of the 1930s subsided.
Leo Kostynuk settled in Red Lake between 1925-26, around the same time the Howey Mine was beginning construction and before any community was established. He first worked in the mine’s sawmill, providing wood to construct the shaft and buildings on the property. His sons (Alex, Michael, William & Steve) all held various positions at local mines, and even established their own venture called The Kostynuk Brothers Mine in the 1960s.
Emil Palonpera was hired by the Howey Red Lake Gold Syndicate in the winter of 1925 and accepted the offer of a five month contract. While he did not stay in the area for long, he could not have come at a more exciting time in Red Lake’s history.
Red Lake Immigrants: Pioneer women and children.
Inga Dawson (nee Kelson) was only three months old in December 1930 when she and her mother, Kristine, made the voyage across the Atlantic from Denmark to Canada, and eventually to their new home in Red Lake. As Inga grew, so did the town, and together they celebrated many firsts.
Kristine Kelson was one of the Red Lake community's first non-Aboriginal women. The Kelsons were also Red Lake's first Danish family, and cheerfully withstood the rigors of living in a rough, developing frontier community.
Aune Palonpera made history when she came to Red Lake in October 1925 as she was the first non-Aboriginal woman to arrive in the community. She obtained a job as a cook for the Howey Mine camp, and was well-known for her generosity and culinary ingenuity.
1925-1930 - The Railway Agreement
In 1919, the Canadian government revised the Immigration Act to give power to bureaucrats in order to keep out any nationality or race they deemed "unsuitable" and to bar entry of "enemy aliens" (people from countries Canada had fought in the First World War). The government had also started to restrict immigration from "non-preferred" countries.
However, from the early 1920s, Canada's sluggish economy rebounded and businesses lobbied the government to open the gates to immigrant labour...and big business won.
In 1925, the Canadian government signed a controversial agreement with the nation's two transcontinental railways – Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) andCanadian National Railway (CNR). The Agreement gave CPR and CNR the right to directly recruit agricultural and domestic servant immigrants from the "non-preferred" countries in Central and Eastern Europe.
The Railway Agreement, signed on September 1, 1925, stated in part:
In 1919, the Canadian government revised the Immigration Act to give power to bureaucrats in order to keep out any nationality or race they deemed "unsuitable" and to bar entry of "enemy aliens" (people from countries Canada had fought in the First World War). The government had also started to restrict immigration from "non-preferred" countries.
However, from the early 1920s, Canada's sluggish economy rebounded and businesses lobbied the government to open the gates to immigrant labour...and big business won.
In 1925, the Canadian government signed a controversial agreement with the nation's two transcontinental railways – Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) andCanadian National Railway (CNR). The Agreement gave CPR and CNR the right to directly recruit agricultural and domestic servant immigrants from the "non-preferred" countries in Central and Eastern Europe.
The Railway Agreement, signed on September 1, 1925, stated in part:
"Whereas...the Government desires to procure the immigration of agriculture, agricultural workers and domestic servants from countries provided for by existing laws and regulations;
And whereas the Parties of the Second Part [CPR and CNR] by reason of their special interest in the early settlement of available unoccupied lands and their transportation facilities by land and sea are specially qualified to procure, select and settle immigrants of the classes mentioned, and have the necessary organizations for that purpose..."
Read Railway Agreement
As long as the two railways recruited immigrants as agriculturalists (farmers), farm workers and domestics, the government did not interfere in the railways right to select the immigrants, assist in their transportation and settlement in the west. Basically, the government handed two big corporations the right to manage immigration to Canada.
Red Lake Immigrant Leo Kostynuk, came to Canada from the Ukraine sometime between 1907 and 1910. He was given farm land by the Canadian government to clear and settle on near Gimli, Manitoba. Leo decided not to develop the land, but instead went to work for the Canadian Pacific Railway in Montreal.
It was a highly controversial agreement. Canadians across the country voiced strong opposition to "undesirable" European immigrants being let into the country. A strong anti-foreigner prejudice was prevalent in Canada. Opposition came from a wide range of people, from high profile religious leaders to politicians, even journalists. The Anglican Bishop of Saskatchewan, George Exton Lloyd, said in 1928:
As long as the two railways recruited immigrants as agriculturalists (farmers), farm workers and domestics, the government did not interfere in the railways right to select the immigrants, assist in their transportation and settlement in the west. Basically, the government handed two big corporations the right to manage immigration to Canada.
Red Lake Immigrant Leo Kostynuk, came to Canada from the Ukraine sometime between 1907 and 1910. He was given farm land by the Canadian government to clear and settle on near Gimli, Manitoba. Leo decided not to develop the land, but instead went to work for the Canadian Pacific Railway in Montreal.
It was a highly controversial agreement. Canadians across the country voiced strong opposition to "undesirable" European immigrants being let into the country. A strong anti-foreigner prejudice was prevalent in Canada. Opposition came from a wide range of people, from high profile religious leaders to politicians, even journalists. The Anglican Bishop of Saskatchewan, George Exton Lloyd, said in 1928:
"This "agreement" is one of the most vicious things from the standpoint of nation-building, which has happened within my memory of 48 years in Canada....[It] is flooding the country with undesirable Europeans by tens of thousands and visiting the blood and character of this, as a British nation to that it can never be rectified. Its results will always be with us..."
An article in the 1925 Canada Churchman stated:
"These immigrants with their different language, dress and culture...posed direct threat to dream of an idea 'British Canada' populated by citizens possessing the same language, the same ideals, the same character, the same King, the same flag, and the same old Mother Church of England."
By the time the Railway Agreement was annulled five years later in 1930, more than 185,000 immigrants had entered Canada, including Hungarian, Polish, Russian, Slovakian, and Ukrainian workers.
Another system used by business to circumvent Canadian immigration policy was via the "special permit" that the government initiated in 1926. The decision to allow entry into Canada under a special permit to any immigrant whose labour or service was requested in Canada further opened doors to those European immigrants from the non-preferred countries.
How did it the permit system work? Companies would make a request to government for permits based on their employment needs. Immigration authorities would select the individuals and bring them to Canada. If satisfactory, they were issued visas permitting their immigration to Canada.
Although the permit system brought thousands of Jews, eastern and southern Europeans to Canada, the number of "permit" immigrations is unknown.
Red Lake Immigrants: Both of these immigrants came to work for the Hudson's Bay Company around the time the "special permit" policy was enacted.
Ralph Butchart came to Canada in 1927 from Scotland aboard a Hudson's Bay Company ship with 32 others who had been hired to work for the northern fur trade posts. His first posting was that of apprentice clerk at Cumberland House, Saskatchewan.
Charles Reiach came to Canada from Scotland in 1926. He had seen an advertising campaign for the Hudson's Bay Company who was recruiting youth to work in Canada. Charlie jumped at the opportunity and spent his first summer at Fort Chipewyan, Alberta as an apprentice fur trade clerk.
Another system used by business to circumvent Canadian immigration policy was via the "special permit" that the government initiated in 1926. The decision to allow entry into Canada under a special permit to any immigrant whose labour or service was requested in Canada further opened doors to those European immigrants from the non-preferred countries.
How did it the permit system work? Companies would make a request to government for permits based on their employment needs. Immigration authorities would select the individuals and bring them to Canada. If satisfactory, they were issued visas permitting their immigration to Canada.
Although the permit system brought thousands of Jews, eastern and southern Europeans to Canada, the number of "permit" immigrations is unknown.
Red Lake Immigrants: Both of these immigrants came to work for the Hudson's Bay Company around the time the "special permit" policy was enacted.
Ralph Butchart came to Canada in 1927 from Scotland aboard a Hudson's Bay Company ship with 32 others who had been hired to work for the northern fur trade posts. His first posting was that of apprentice clerk at Cumberland House, Saskatchewan.
Charles Reiach came to Canada from Scotland in 1926. He had seen an advertising campaign for the Hudson's Bay Company who was recruiting youth to work in Canada. Charlie jumped at the opportunity and spent his first summer at Fort Chipewyan, Alberta as an apprentice fur trade clerk.
1930-1939 - The Depression Years
During the decade between 1921 to 1931, Canada welcomed 1,116,000 immigrants. However, immigration plunged with the onset of the Great Depression that began in 1930. During the 10 years between 1931 to 1941, only 140,000 immigrants were admitted to Canada.
Why did the immigration numbers drop so drastically? Due to the economic effects of the depression, the Canadian government basically closed the door to immigration.
In March 1931, under Order-in-Council 695, immigration was restricted to British subjects, American citizens and agriculturalists with economic means, or the wives and unmarried children of Canadian citizens.
During the decade between 1921 to 1931, Canada welcomed 1,116,000 immigrants. However, immigration plunged with the onset of the Great Depression that began in 1930. During the 10 years between 1931 to 1941, only 140,000 immigrants were admitted to Canada.
Why did the immigration numbers drop so drastically? Due to the economic effects of the depression, the Canadian government basically closed the door to immigration.
In March 1931, under Order-in-Council 695, immigration was restricted to British subjects, American citizens and agriculturalists with economic means, or the wives and unmarried children of Canadian citizens.
1937-1939 - Refugees Not Welcome in Canada at this Time
By 1937, the winds of the upcoming European war were already in the air and already the lives of Jewish people were at risk because of the actions against them by Nazi Germany. In Canada, a number of individuals and groups—including the Anglican Church of Canada, the United Church, the YMCA, local service clubs and the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), plus Jewish community groups—called on federal government to admit refugees to Canada, particularly Jewish refugees.
But there was strong resentment against accepting refugees. Even among the government leaders, the anti-refugee sentiment was strong. In 1938, Canada's Director of Immigration Branch F. C. Blair is quoted as saying:
By 1937, the winds of the upcoming European war were already in the air and already the lives of Jewish people were at risk because of the actions against them by Nazi Germany. In Canada, a number of individuals and groups—including the Anglican Church of Canada, the United Church, the YMCA, local service clubs and the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), plus Jewish community groups—called on federal government to admit refugees to Canada, particularly Jewish refugees.
But there was strong resentment against accepting refugees. Even among the government leaders, the anti-refugee sentiment was strong. In 1938, Canada's Director of Immigration Branch F. C. Blair is quoted as saying:
"Ever since the war, efforts have been made by groups and individuals to get refugees into Canada, but we have fought all along to protect ourselves against the admission of such stateless persons without passports for the reasons that coming out of the maelstrom of war, some of them are liable to go on the rocks and when they become public charges, we have to keep them for the balance of their lives."
The same year, at the Evian Conference, the Canadian Prime Minister, Mackenzie King, instructed his representatives not to support measures to assist refugees.
In October, the Canadian National Committee on Refugees and Victims of Persecution formed, focused on public awareness with publications like their "Should Canada Admit Refugees?" pamphlet. The group was unsuccessful in changing government policy on refugees, though it was able to intervene in individual cases, including bringing to Canada the Czech industrialist Thomas Bata and 92 of his workers.
Later in a memo to Prime Minister Mackenzie King about Jewish refugees, the Departments of External Affairs and Mines and Resources wrote:
In October, the Canadian National Committee on Refugees and Victims of Persecution formed, focused on public awareness with publications like their "Should Canada Admit Refugees?" pamphlet. The group was unsuccessful in changing government policy on refugees, though it was able to intervene in individual cases, including bringing to Canada the Czech industrialist Thomas Bata and 92 of his workers.
Later in a memo to Prime Minister Mackenzie King about Jewish refugees, the Departments of External Affairs and Mines and Resources wrote:
"We do not want to take too many Jews, but in the circumstances, we do not want to say so."
A refugee crisis developed in Europe, with people desperately trying to flee the Nazis...but Canada still refused to take refugees, standing by its general policy – refugees who met the categories for admissible immigrants according to the regulation in force (PC 695) could come to Canada. PC 695 restricted immigration to American citizens, British subjects and agriculturalists with economic means.
"In absence of a refugee policy that distinguished immigrants and refugees, the restrictions imposed in the interwar years raised barriers for those fleeing the chaos and devastation of the Second World War."
Source: 100 Years of Immigration in Canada, Monica Boyd and Michael Vickers.
In 1938, in the infamous St. Louis incident, Canada forced over 900 Jewish refugees to return to Europe where the majority were killed by the Nazis.
The Second World War began with the declaration of war on Germany on September 10, 1939. With Canada entering the war, new regulations were passed which prohibited the entry or landing in Canada of immigrants from the countries with which Canada was at war.
Two years after the start of the Second World War, according to the 1941 Census, the population of Canada was 11,506,655 (17.5% immigrants). A year later, in 1942, immigration to Canada reached its lowest level of the century, down to only 7,576.
The Second World War ended in 1945 when Germany surrendered on May 6th and Japan on August 14th.
Red Lake Immigrant: Friedrich Bartelt was an officer in the German army during the Second World War. This forced service haunted him for the rest of his life. He put his agricultural degree and training to use when he immigrated to Canada in the 1940s.
In 1938, in the infamous St. Louis incident, Canada forced over 900 Jewish refugees to return to Europe where the majority were killed by the Nazis.
The Second World War began with the declaration of war on Germany on September 10, 1939. With Canada entering the war, new regulations were passed which prohibited the entry or landing in Canada of immigrants from the countries with which Canada was at war.
Two years after the start of the Second World War, according to the 1941 Census, the population of Canada was 11,506,655 (17.5% immigrants). A year later, in 1942, immigration to Canada reached its lowest level of the century, down to only 7,576.
The Second World War ended in 1945 when Germany surrendered on May 6th and Japan on August 14th.
Red Lake Immigrant: Friedrich Bartelt was an officer in the German army during the Second World War. This forced service haunted him for the rest of his life. He put his agricultural degree and training to use when he immigrated to Canada in the 1940s.
