Section 2 Introduction

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Section 2 Introduction

Many immigrants from around the world have made Canada their home. It is Canada's goal that immigrants benefit from emigrating from their country of origin to Canada.

Over time, immigration to Canada has changed. Over the years, waves of immigrants have come from France, the United Kingdom, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and, more recently, from Eastern Asia and Southeast Asia.

Throughout the years, people have had many reasons to choose to leave their countries or regions of origin. These reasons for leaving are called push factors, and may include government conflicts, poor standard of living, lack of basic needs, or war.

Canada has been chosen as a new home for many immigrants because of its many pull factors. Pull factors may be political or economic, or they may be related to health and security. Examples of some of Canada's pull factors include democratic government, employment opportunities, publicly-funded health care, and the safety and security in which Canadians take pride.

emigration: the movement out of one's country of origin to settle in another

immigration: the movement of people into a country or a region where a new home is established

push factors: reasons people emigrate from a certain region or country; these may include political, economic, health, or security factors

pull factors: reasons people immigrate to a certain region or country; these may include political, economic, health, or security factors

 Vocabulary

Record the definitions for these new terms (emigration, immigration, push factors, and pull factors) in your Issues for Canadians Definitions handout.

Add icons, symbols, or pictures to help you remember the definitions.

Save your updated handout to your Activities folder.

Conduct an informal survey to determine who among your friends, family, or community members may be an immigrant or has an ancestor who originated from another country.

• What were the push or pull factors that influenced their emigration from their country of origin?
  
  
• Is there an immigration story in their family history?
  
  

Save your survey notes to your Activities folder.

Canada is a multicultural nation with a diverse population of immigrants or descendants of immigrants who have found many corners of Canada to call their home.

Many immigrant stories can be heard across Canada. People from around the world have begun new lives in our growing nation. Canada is built on the experiences of immigrants. In Toronto, for example, if you listen closely, you may be able to hear over 100 languages or dialects. Immigrants to Canada have helped build a nation of opportunity and prosperity.

Click on the link below to read 100 Years of Immigration to Canada (1901 - 2001).

https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/English/census01/products/analytic/companion/etoimm/imm.cfm

Note the various cultural groups who immigrated to Canada.

Record your findings in point-form notes or in a graphic organizer of your choice.

Save your findings to your Activities folder.

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©Thinkstock

In Section 2, you will gain understanding of how legislative processes attempt to address emerging immigration issues. You will examine the factors that influence immigration policy in Canada and how changes to the many policies on immigration reflect world issues.

You will also examine the policies of provincial governments designed to encourage immigration to the various provinces and to speed the immigration process. You will review the immigration policy in Quebec and examine how it attempts to strengthen the French language in North America.

In this section, you will answer this inquiry question:

How does Canadian immigration policy affect my Canada?

In this section, you will complete the following:

• Section 2 Inquiry
• activities
• assignments