Unit 4 - Immigration

Displaced Persons (DPs)

Individuals forced to leave their homes due to war or persecution, including Ukrainians, Poles, Holocaust survivors, and others after World War II.

Progress vs. Decline

Refers to the contrasting views in Canada regarding immigration policy and practices post-World War II, highlighting improvements in accepting refugees versus racial prejudice and exclusionary policies.

1919 Immigration Act

Legislation that limited the number of immigrants based on nationality, class, occupation, and deemed unsuitability regarding social and labor conditions.

Chinese Exclusion Act of 1923

Legislation that banned Chinese immigrants from entering Canada, with some exceptions, reflecting racial discrimination and eugenic ideologies.

Eugenics

The philosophy aimed at improving the genetic quality of a human population through selective breeding, which influenced early 20th-century immigration policies.

Racial Discrimination Act of 1944

An act in Ontario that prohibited any publication promoting racial discrimination, marking a step towards progress.

Points System (1967)

A system introduced to assess independent immigration applicants based on various criteria, focusing on skills and suitability to Canada.

Ugandan refugee crisis (1972)

A significant event where refugees from Uganda, mainly Sikhs and Goans, were resettled in Canada following violent political oppression.

Boat People

Vietnamese refugees who fled their country by boat after the Vietnam War, with Canada accepting 60,000 between 1979 and 1980.

2015 Syrian Refugee Crisis

A humanitarian response in Canada where approximately 60,000 Syrian refugees were resettled following public outcry over the plight of refugees.