Kara Sears
Canada has regulated immigration since 1869, and its laws have been shaped by the social, political, and economic climate, as well as race, desirability, and integration. The country has a long-standing tradition of welcoming newcomers and helping vulnerable people, with immigration remaining vital for Canada. However, in 2025, Prime Minister Mark Carney proposed a new immigration bill, aiming to restrict asylum applications and expand authorities' ability to inspect mail. This has caused worry among advocacy groups, with some arguing that it would drastically restrict refugee protections and allow for mass deportations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Immigration laws since | 1869 |
| Current immigration laws | Refugees can claim asylum in Canada either when they arrive at a port of entry or when they are already in Canada, with no restrictions on how long they can be in the country before claiming asylum |
| New immigration laws | Barring asylum claims from those who have been in Canada for over a year, making them subject to deportation |
| Requiring people entering Canada from the US under the Safe Third Country Agreement to file a claim in Canada within 14 days | |
| Giving police more power to monitor Canada's shared border with the US | |
| Expanding authorities' ability to inspect mail | |
| Immigration laws in the past | Open-door approach in the late nineteenth century |
| The Immigration Act of 1869 focused on ensuring the safety of immigrants during their passage to Canada and protecting them from exploitation upon arrival | |
| The Chinese Immigration Act of 1885 was the first piece of Canadian legislation to exclude immigrants based on their ethnic origin | |
| The Immigration Act of 1906 introduced a more restrictive immigration policy, expanding the categories of prohibited immigrants, formalizing a deportation process, and assigning the government enhanced powers to make arbitrary judgements on admission | |
| Current immigration targets | 395,000 permanent residents in 2025, 380,000 in 2026, and 365,000 in 2027 |
| Immigration screening | Health, criminal background, and security risk |
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What You'll Learn
Canada's immigration history
Canada has a long history of immigration regulation, with laws and regulations governing the admission of immigrants since 1869. The country's immigration policies have evolved over time, shaped by shifting social, political, and economic climates, as well as beliefs about race, desirability, and integration. While Canada's first immigration policy following Confederation contained few restrictions, the open-door approach of the late nineteenth century gradually gave way to more discriminatory and restrictive measures.
The Immigration Act of 1869 focused on ensuring the safety of immigrants during their journey to Canada and protecting them from exploitation upon their arrival. However, as early as the 1880s, large numbers of Chinese labourers migrating to Canada to work on the Canadian Pacific Railway faced discrimination and protests from politicians, trade unionists, and white residents. This led to the Chinese Immigration Act of 1885, which was the first legislation to explicitly exclude immigrants based on their ethnic origin, imposing a duty of $50 on every Chinese person seeking entry. Despite the increasing duty over time, the number of Chinese immigrants to Canada only temporarily reduced.
In 1904, the Royal Commission on Italian Immigration was appointed to investigate the exploitation of Italian labourers by employment brokers known as padroni. While the subsequent Immigration Act of 1906 did not specifically restrict immigrants based on their culture, ethnicity, or nationality, it expanded the categories of prohibited immigrants and formalized a deportation process, granting the government enhanced powers over admission decisions.
Canada's immigration policy continued to be influenced by discriminatory attitudes until the latter half of the twentieth century when skill and education became the primary criteria for entrance into the country. The adoption of multiculturalism as an official policy in 1971 further promoted the cultural diversity of immigrants as a key component of Canadian identity. The "points system" introduced in 1967 also contributed to a more liberalized immigration approach.
Today, Canada continues to value immigration as vital to its economy and society. The government sets annual targets for each category of immigrant, aiming to address labour market needs and promote social services. Canada also prioritizes the successful settlement of immigrants, providing funding for over 550 settlement service organizations across the country. The country also screens immigrants before their arrival to ensure they meet health and security requirements. However, recent proposed changes to immigration laws have sparked concerns from advocacy groups, who argue that they could restrict refugee protections and lead to mass deportations.
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Current immigration laws
Canada has regulated immigration since 1869, and its laws have been shaped by the social, political, and economic climate, as well as beliefs about race, desirability, and integration. The country's first immigration policy, the Immigration Act of 1869, focused on ensuring the safety of immigrants and protecting them from exploitation. However, elements of discrimination were prominent in Canadian immigration policy until the latter half of the twentieth century, when skill and education became the primary criteria for entry. The Chinese Immigration Act of 1885 was the first piece of legislation to explicitly exclude immigrants based on their ethnic origin.
Canada's current immigration laws continue to be influenced by social, political, and economic factors. The country sets annual targets for immigration through the Immigration Levels Plan, which is designed to address Canada's demographic challenges and support its economy. For instance, the 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan includes targets for both permanent and temporary residents, such as international students and foreign workers, with the aim of attracting qualified workers and contributing to economic growth.
Before their arrival, immigrants are thoroughly screened to ensure they are in good health, have no serious criminal records, and do not pose a security risk. Canada also has laws in place to support the successful settlement of newcomers, such as funding over 550 settlement service organizations across the country. Additionally, government-assisted and privately sponsored refugees receive additional support during their first year in Canada, including monthly income for essentials.
However, Canada's current government has proposed a new immigration bill, the Strong Borders Act, which aims to restrict asylum applications and enhance border security. The bill has sparked controversy, with critics arguing that it would drastically restrict refugee protections and allow for mass deportations. It seeks to bar asylum claims from those who have been in the country for over a year and expand the authorities' ability to inspect mail, raising concerns about civil liberties and privacy. The proposed legislation reflects shifting priorities in Canada's immigration policy, moving away from the historically open-door approach.
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Proposed changes to immigration laws
Canada has regulated immigration since 1869, and its laws have been shaped by the social, political, and economic climate, as well as beliefs about race, desirability, and integration. While the Immigration Act of 1869 focused on protecting immigrants from exploitation, subsequent laws introduced discrimination, particularly against Chinese immigrants, who were targeted by the Chinese Immigration Act of 1885. This Act imposed a duty on Chinese people seeking entry, which increased over time.
In 2023, the Canadian government announced plans to offer a pathway to citizenship for certain undocumented workers, despite concerns from some Canadians about the target of 500,000 immigrants per year. The previous government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also oversaw a sharp increase in temporary workers and students, as well as a spike in asylum claims.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, who was elected in April 2025, has promised to address ""unsustainable" immigration levels. The 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan aims for sustainable population growth by reducing permanent resident targets and controlling the number of temporary residents, including international students and foreign workers. The Plan is expected to result in a marginal population decline of 0.2% in 2025 and 2026, followed by a return to population growth of 0.8% in 2027.
The proposed changes have been criticised by some advocacy groups, who argue that they "drastically restrict refugee protections and allow for mass deportations". However, supporters of the Plan assert that it will enable responsible population growth and ensure that everyone has access to quality jobs, housing, and support.
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Asylum and refugee protection
Canada has regulated immigration since 1869, and its laws have been shaped by the social, political, and economic climate, as well as race, desirability, and integration. The country's first immigration policy contained few restrictions, focusing on ensuring the safety of immigrants and protecting them from exploitation. However, elements of discrimination were prominent in Canadian immigration policy until the latter half of the twentieth century. The Immigration Act of 1906 introduced more restrictive policies, expanding the categories of prohibited immigrants and assigning the government enhanced powers to make arbitrary judgments on admission.
Canada's current immigration laws include the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, which allows refugees to claim asylum when they arrive at a port of entry or when they are already in the country. There are no restrictions on how long they can be in the country before claiming asylum. To get refugee protection, individuals must demonstrate that they cannot return to their country of nationality or residence due to a well-founded fear of persecution based on various factors, including ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, or political opposition.
However, in 2025, Canada proposed a sweeping immigration and security bill, the Strong Borders Act, aimed at curbing organized crime and addressing strained public services and a housing crisis. The new rules would bar asylum claims from those who have been in Canada for over a year and require those entering from the US under the Safe Third Country Agreement to file a claim within 14 days. These changes have been criticized by some advocacy groups as immoral and as drastically restricting refugee protections.
Canada's immigration laws and policies have evolved over time, reflecting the country's changing beliefs and attitudes toward inclusion and exclusion. The cultural diversity of Canadian immigrants is now promoted as a key component of Canadian identity, and the country continues to navigate the complex balance between border security and its commitment to offering protection to those seeking refuge.
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Immigration targets
Canada has regulated immigration since 1869, with laws and regulations governing the admission of immigrants. The country's immigration legislation has evolved over time, reflecting shifting social, political, and economic climates, as well as beliefs about race, desirability, and integration. Canada's immigration laws have historically included elements of discrimination, with policies that favoured certain races and ethnicities over others.
In 2025, the Canadian government proposed a new immigration and security bill, the Strong Borders Act, aimed at curbing organised crime and improving the integrity of its immigration system. The bill includes provisions that would enhance border security and give authorities more power to inspect mail and monitor Canada's shared border with the US. It also seeks to restrict asylum applications by imposing a one-year deadline for claims, which has been a point of contention for critics.
Canada sets annual targets for immigration through the Immigration Levels Plan, which is introduced each year. The plan includes targets for both permanent and temporary residents, such as international students and foreign workers. For 2025-2027, the targets are 395,000 permanent residents in 2025, 380,000 in 2026, and 365,000 in 2027. The government also screens immigrants before their arrival to ensure they are in good health, have no serious criminal records, and do not pose a security risk.
Canada's immigration targets aim to address the country's economic needs and labour shortages. With Canadians living longer and having fewer children, immigration is vital to ensuring a sufficient workforce to support social services and economic growth. The country has a long-standing tradition of welcoming newcomers and helping vulnerable people, and it continues to set ambitious immigration targets to fuel its economy.
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Frequently asked questions
Canada has regulated immigration since 1869, and its laws have been shaped by the social, political, and economic climate, as well as race, desirability, and integration. Canada sets targets for the number of immigrants allowed into the country each year, and the government funds settlement services to help immigrants settle in their communities.
Canada's current immigration law is the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. However, in 2025, Prime Minister Mark Carney proposed a new immigration bill, the Strong Borders Act, which aims to restrict asylum applications and give authorities more power to monitor the US-Canada border and inspect mail.
The Strong Borders Act proposes to bar asylum claims from those who have been in Canada for over a year and require people entering Canada from the US under the Safe Third Country Agreement to file a claim within 14 days. It also seeks to give police more power to monitor the US-Canada border and expand the authorities' ability to inspect mail.
Canada's first immigration policy, the Immigration Act of 1869, focused on ensuring the safety of immigrants and protecting them from exploitation. However, subsequent policies introduced discrimination based on race, ethnicity, and national origin, particularly targeting Chinese immigrants with the Chinese Immigration Act of 1885. Overt discrimination remained part of Canadian immigration policy until the latter half of the 20th century, when skill and education became the main criteria.
Critics argue that the new bill would drastically restrict refugee protections and allow for mass deportations and immigration exclusion. There are also concerns about citizens' privacy and the lack of apparent appeals processes. Some believe that the bill mirrors US immigration policy and does not address the issues with Canada's border security and public safety.
