Essay About Canada's Immigration Policies Prior To The 1930s

The 1930s witnessed a dark chapter in human history as the rise of Nazism in Germany unleashed a wave of anti-Semitic persecution across Europe. This rise, culminating in Hitler's ascension to power in 1933, ushered in a series of anti-Jewish actions, such as boycotts, the implementation of the Nuremberg laws, and the infamous Kristallnacht. As Europe was thrown into upheaval, a refugee crisis ensued, prompting many to seek safety elsewhere, including Canada. However, the international response to the influx of Jewish refugees was largely apathetic, with Canada admitting only around 5,000 Jewish refugees in the 1930s, one of the lowest numbers in the Western world. These low numbers raise questions about Canada’s restrictive immigration policies

This approach to immigration was deeply rooted in the prevailing social, economic, and political attitudes of the time. For example, the Immigration Act of 1919, which established policies to prevent some groups from entering the nation, institutionalized this prejudice. Communists, Mennonites, Doukhobors, and other religiously affiliated groups were among these excluded groups. In addition, people of Austrian, Hungarian, and Turkish descent, as well as those whose nations had fought against Canada in the First World War, were prohibited from entering. The federal government also imposed increasingly prejudicial restrictions based on race and religion. For instance, a proposal to outlaw Black immigration was made in 1911, but it was eventually abandoned. Furthermore, the limitations placed on migration from South Asia reached a turning point in 1914, when the SS Komagata Maru arrived in Vancouver, British Columbia, carrying 376 Punjabi immigrants seeking entry to Canada. Newspapers in Vancouver and Victoria at the time characterized this new immigration group, which included mainly adult males, as “undesirable,” “sick,” “hungry,” and “a menace to women and

This difference emphasizes how difficult it is to match public opinion with national policies and how difficult it is to handle refugee immigration in the context of late 1930s Canadian society. Moreover, the petitions from La Société St. Jean Baptiste provide additional insight into the diverse range of perspectives within Canadian society. The strong opposition expressed in these petitions, particularly against Jewish immigration, reflects deeply ingrained xenophobic attitudes prevalent at the time. Additionally, the opposition to all immigration expressed in the second petition underscores the broader resistance to immigrants, further complicating the discourse surrounding immigration policy. This contrast emphasizes the need for decision-makers to balance opposing ideas and create immigration laws that serve both the interests of the country and humanitarian ideals. Furthermore, it demonstrates the fact that achieving widespread satisfaction can be challenging, if not unachievable. As Nazism gained momentum in Europe, many Jewish refugees sought safety in Great