Inquiry into the Issue

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Inquiry into the Issue

Prime Minister John A. Macdonald, through his National Policy, encouraged immigration and migration to Canada's prairies. Settlers to the West would help to protect the land from American expansion and encourage the growth of the country's economy.

Pull factors such as new government policy and the need for settlers were reasons to immigrate to Canada. Push factors also existed, such as political and economic unrest throughout Europe, as well as other world events.

migration: the movement of people from one region or country to another

 Vocabulary

Record the definition for migration in your Issues for Canadians Definitions handout.

After you complete the inquiry activity, add symbols, icons, or pictures to your handout to help you remember the definition.

Save your updated handout to your Activities folder.

Inquiry Activity

In this activity, you will complete a series of graphs showing Canada's immigration patterns over time.

Read page 348 in your Issues for Canadians textbook to learn about interpreting and constructing graphs before you begin.

Since 1971, Statistics Canada has taken a census of the population every five years. There was a census on May 15, 2001, on May 16, 2006, on May 10, 2011, and so on.

The census provides a comprehensive set of data about the people in Canada. The data collected is then used to interpret a collection of facts about the population. All residents of Canada are included in the census, including temporary residents such as foreign students, visa workers, and refugees. Canadian citizens who are living out of the country are also counted. 

The census is an inventory of the population of Canada. People are asked questions about their age, gender, marital status, education, employment, income, ethnic origin, language, and other subjects. The need for this kind of information increases as our society becomes more diverse and complex.

Complete the Immigration to Canada activity by clicking on one of the links below.

Immigration to Canada (Word)
Immigration to Canada (pdf)
Immigration to Canada (Google Doc)

Save your completed work to your Activities folder.

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