The Plight of Immigrants

January 1, 1975

For the first 65 years of the century, Canadian immigration policy focused on encouraging European immigration. Immigration of visible minorities was discouraged, through both neglect and design. Head taxes, special regulations and outright obstruction combined to ensure that most immigrants arrived from white European nations.

That has now changed. In keeping with Canada's expanding commitment to human rights at home and abroad, the demographics of immigrants are changing. Immigration policy is striving to become truly colour-blind. Requirements now focus on how an immigrant can contribute to Canada, and not on his or her ethnic background.

In 1974, there were as many immigrants from Asia as there were from Europe, and soon, many more will arrive every year. Canada's multicultural quilt is finally being knit together.