Immigrating to Canada
Barriers - Policies - Incidents
and CHANGE

People

William Lyon Mackenzie King and
Liberal Government

With the arrival of the SS St. Louis, PM William Lyon Mackenzie King was notified almost instantly. The Liberals didn't see it a time where they could help others as the Canadian economy itself was still "recovering". Both sides the ones that wanted to help the Jews and the one that did not tried to convince the Prime Minister. To be fair, PM King heeded for advice from all over, for example Ernest Lapointe, minister of Justice in Quebec, Lapointe also did not want to take the Jews because he knew that all of Quebec would oppose it.

Did You Know?
It is said that PM King had some personal views on the Jewish which contributed to the SS St. Louis decision.

Ideas

Order-in-Council PC 1931-695

With the Great Depression soaring across Canada, the government thought necessary to tighten up immigration even more with this. The order limited immigrants to only from Great Britain and the US, those who could support themselves and wives and kids of someone already well settled.

Events

The SS St. Louis Event

A ship with more than 900 Jewish people aboard sets sail for the island of Cuba after the night of Kristallnacht. They were well verified to go to Cuba but when they arrived they were denied and so they continued their search through to the US and it was also a negative. At last, they tried Canada but the results weren't much different as Canada also said no, forcing the Jewish to return. It is recorded that no Jewish person on that ship survived.

CHANGE CONTINUES FOR THE POSITIVE

Ideas

Syrian Refugees Welcomed!

Syria is being torn apart due to bad leadership causing many a lot of trouble surviving and unlike long ago Canada is helping out greatly! Canada has welcomed more than 40,000 Syrian refugees since 2015. The Canadian Govn't provides the refugees with shelter, food and much more.

People

Stephen Harper and Justin Trudeau

Having progressed so far the latest leaders realize the mistakes made by their predecessors and to show that they do they have apologized. First, Stephen Harper, former PM, apologizes to a crowd of 8,000 people(mostly Sikhs) for the Komagata Maru incident of 1914. More recently, Justin Trudeau (current PM) apologized for the Komagata Maru incident formally in the H of C and apologised for the SS St. Louis.

Events

Viola Desmond Pardoned and $10 bill
---Little off topic but it relates

Viola Desmond was granted an apology and a free pardon by the province of Nova Scotia for wrongfully accusing Viola Desmond for something she didn't do. Furthermore, Viola Desmond will not be forgotten as she will be featured on the new $10 bill of Canada, the first vertical bill.

CHANGE BEGINS FOR THE POSITIVE - SLOWLY

Ideas

Canadian Citizenship Act - 1947
Previously to this act people not born in Britain could not become citizens and were considered Britain subjects rather than Canadian citizens. Now all residents of Canada (no matter what origin) could apply to get a citizenship.

ARTIFACT 7:
On the link below you can find all my pictures there are multiple. Scroll Down
https://pier21.ca/research/immigration-history/canadian-citizenship-act-1947

Events
-Little off topic but it relates

Roseland Theater - Viola Desmond0
Viola Desmond was a African-Canadian
November 8/1946 - V. Desmond goes to see a movie and ask for a seat on the main level but receives a ticket for the balcony seats like all 'colored' people of the time. She refuses to get off a seat and was forced off by an officer, put in a cell and charged for something she didn't even commit.

People

Pierre Elliott Trudeau - 15th PM
P. E Trudeau perhaps brought the most change to Canada all around. P.E Trudeau put many acts in action during his 15 years in power including the Immigration Regulations, Order-in council, Canadian Multiculturalism Policy & Act, and the Immigration Act of 1976 which was perhaps most important in breaking down racial barriers.

People & Ideas

Immigration Act Amendment 1919

The Idea

The Immigration Act amendment was further intensifying the original Immigration Act. The act banned immigrants from countries who fought against Canada during the WWI(Bulgaria, Austria etc.) and banned certain groups like Mennonites. In simple terms, it minimized the # of immigrants that could enter Canada.

The People

Sir Robert Borden and his Unionist party were the ones to have negotiated and come up with the immigration act amendment in 1919 . S.R Borden was really loyal to Britain and believed in a "White Canada". He also made all efforts to help with the war effort. After the war he visited the soldiers receiving treatment in Britain and realized what he'd done to these young boys who risked their lives fighting.

It could be said that he was angry at the ones who hurt the Canadian boys which is why the act was put in place

Events

Komagata Maru

The Komagata Maru was a ship containing 376 passenger most of whom were Sikh and men. They wanted to emigrate to Canada despite knowing the Canadian government had discriminated against South Asian immigrants. In the end they were only ever able to stay in Canadian waters as they were denied access to Canadian Land and were forced to return where they faced even more unacceptable treatment .