CANADA CASE STUDY

INTRO

Population of 33 MILLION

PULL factors; fertile soils and modern industries which has fuelled migration streams

Immigration has fuelled Canada’s development work force over time.

Highly SELECTIVE migration policy which has evolved over time

PART 1

The Open Door Policy (1870-1918):

  • main aim was to INCREASE economic development by reaching OPTIMUM population but also control the RACIAL composition of the immigrants
  • government wanted to build communication links to ensure that development could be easily SPREAD and evenly DISTRIBUTED
  • this was CRITICISED due to the racial undertones with preferred and non-preferred countries prioritising the country of origin of each immigrant
  • those from PREFERRED countries were given financial assistance
  • those from NON-PREFERRED countries had barriers for migration put into place

the policy was ALTERED to suit the changing needs of the country and immigration became more SELECTIVE with the introduction of a literacy test

govenment had tight CONTROL over numbers and also controlled their location to help evenly spread development

UNSUCCESSFUL as migrants placed in rural areas MIGRATED to urban areas despite government attempts to reduce possibility of high pop densities in urban areas

PART 2

When unemployment ROSE the government put restrictions on and stopped immigration

the policy was REFOCUSED - they began to focus on the SKILLS rather than country of origin. a SCALE was created, focusing on skills, age and education levels

they began to gain highly SKILLED workers which contributed to the ECONOMIC and SOCIAL development of the country

The points system could be altered to reflect job availability which facilitates development

PART 3

policy was REFOCUSED again in 1986

no longer needed for ECONOMIC development but a LONG TERM demographic need

they had an AGEING population so relied on IMMIGRATION to increase TFR

migration increased from 85,000 in 1985 to 250,000 in 1993

migration is a demographic REQUIREMENT with major focus on SKILLS

PART 4

the immigration policy CHANGED to suit their needs and was necessary to remain SUCCESSFUL

the aims have been MET and the policy was successful in relation to demographic and economic ADVANCEMENTS that has occurred

75% of growth in workforce if due to MIGRATION

the workforce is extremely SKILLED

aged dependency has REDUCED which puts less pressure on economically active

policy has been proven to be SUSTAINABLE in the long term in relation to DEMOGRAPHIC impact and ECONOMIC growth

DISADVANTAGES include the CULTURAL and MORAL impacts with the selective early policies.

family life was DISRUPTED and distribution of migration was UNEVEN and some were unable to gain work due to lack of SKILLS