Immigration reforms

April 19, 2017

Immigration offices at Dorval Airport, Montréal

Immigration offices at Dorval Airport, Montréal, Gabor Szilasi. Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, Fonds E6, S7, p701018

1962

Prior to 1962, Canadian immigration polices promoted the entry of certain preferred classes of immigrants — mainly from Western Europe and the United States — and discriminated against others, particularly non-white immigrants from Asia, Africa and the Caribbean. After the immigration reforms of 1962, potential immigrants were assessed based on their skills and humanitarian needs. Prospective immigrants could no longer be denied entry to Canada because of their nationality, colour or race. As a result, immigrant applications and admissions to Canada increased after 1962.

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