Immigration to Canada

Immigration to Canada is a way that people from other countries can move to Canada. Some laws about this include the Immigration Act 1976, and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act 2002.

Canada lets many people move to Canada. Because of this, there are some high percentages of non-Canadians in ethnicity results.

History

Even after Canadian colonization by the United Kingdom and France, there have been many other people coming to Canada in large groups.

First large group: 1700s

In the 1700s, the French were settling in Quebec and Acadia, followed by some American and European movement.

After the American Revolution ended many Americans loyal to Britain went to Canada as it was the last main territory in North America still loyal to the Crown.

Second large group: 1800s

The War of 1812 promoted British and Irish immigration to Canada. Some British officers went to Canada, fearing that the Americans would invade Canada. While Irish immigration was still high, eventually some went to the United States.

Others went to Canada from America, especially during the Klondike Gold Rush.

Third and fourth groups: 1900s

This time, many people went to Canada from Europe. A large spike in the third group was pre-World War I.

Fifth group: the present

This group saw an increase in Asian immigrants.