History

• The Canadian Immigration Policy has been slowly changing since 1945. Discriminatory clauses in the original immigration bill were first altered, and then removed altogether. The first changes were made due to a new economic climate in Canada---the country needed educated or highly-skilled immigrants to help contribute to the demands of the growing technology industry. The post-war period was one of great economic growth for Canada, so immigrants were perceived as contributing to the well-being of the country, not competing for scarce jobs.
  
  

Time Frame

• In the early 1960s, Canada harbored strong anti-communist sentiments. These sentiments were visible in the immigration policy of that decade---Canada extended asylum to anti-communists and anyone fleeing communist dictatorships. In 1976, Canadare wrote its immigration act, based around three pillars of admission: applicants were awarded points for job skills, education and language abilities; sponsorship by family members was permitted; and refugee status was officially introduced.
  
  

21st Century

• In 2005, Canada announced its intention to drastically change its immigration policy once again. During the 1980s, Canada had restricted immigration due to an influx of foreign nationals. However, by the start of the 21st century, those immigrants were needed once more as demands in the labor market increased and Canadian birth rates sharply decreased. Canada's new plan was to admit as many as 300,000 immigrants per year for five years, as well as to issue more temporary worker visas, and allow temporary workers to apply from within Canada for permanent residency once they had worked inside Canada for a certain number of months.
  
  

Modern Policy

• By the end of 2009, Canada plans to accept between 240,000 and 265,000 new permanent residents, which includes family-based immigrants, refugees, and skilled workers. The new changes, implemented in the 2008 federal budget, also reduce the backlog on skilled worker applications---before, skilled workers sometimes had to wait up to six years to find out if their applications were approved. Now, workers will receive a decision on their visa within six to 12 months.
  
  

Citizen Act

• Canada's Citizenship Act changed in 2008 to 2009 as well. Canadian citizenship has been granted to anyone born outside of Canada after 1977 whose parents or parent, at the time of his birth, was a Canadian citizen. Also, anyone born in Canada after 1977, whether her parents were citizens or not, is considered a Canadian citizen.
  
  

Effects

• As of Jan. 1, 2009, Canada's population was up approximately 63,400 from October of 2008. This population increase is due to an increase in both permanent resident immigrants and temporary workers or residents. Whereas in the past, new migrants or temporary workers tended to live in the larger cities, with more than 60 percent of them living in or around Toronto, immigrants are beginning to spread out across the rest of the country. For Canadian Skilled Worker visa information, see an assessment link in the Resources section.