The 20The 20thth Century in Canada Century in CanadaImmigrationImmigration

Closing the Door to Closing the Door to ImmigrationImmigration

Many Canadians disliked Sifton’s “open-Many Canadians disliked Sifton’s “open-door immigration policy”door immigration policy”

Why?Why?1.1. Labour organizations feared that unskilled Labour organizations feared that unskilled

workers might take jobs away from their workers might take jobs away from their union members.union members.

2.2. Some feared that the British character of Some feared that the British character of Canada would be lostCanada would be lost

3.3. French-Canadians thought their culture French-Canadians thought their culture and people would be overrunand people would be overrun

B.C. & ImmigrationB.C. & Immigration

Immigration was a very thorny issue in Immigration was a very thorny issue in British Columbia.British Columbia.

Why?Why?

1. Employers were hiring Asian 1. Employers were hiring Asian immigrants in the mines, forests, and immigrants in the mines, forests, and the canneries because they worked the canneries because they worked hard and for less money.hard and for less money.

Frank OliverFrank Oliver

► Frank Oliver became Frank Oliver became the Minister of the the Minister of the Interior in 1905.Interior in 1905.

► He supported the Anti-He supported the Anti-Asian sentiment in B.C.Asian sentiment in B.C.

► He introduced a more He introduced a more selective immigration selective immigration policy aimed at Asian policy aimed at Asian immigrants.immigrants.

► Provincial governments Provincial governments started to restrict started to restrict Chinese, Japanese, and Chinese, Japanese, and East Indian immigrantsEast Indian immigrants

B.C. – The “Golden Mountain”B.C. – The “Golden Mountain”► Chinese immigrants Chinese immigrants

were the largest group were the largest group of Asians in B.C. at the of Asians in B.C. at the turn of the century.turn of the century.

Why?Why?1.1. Cariboo Gold RushCariboo Gold Rush2.2. Construction of the Construction of the

CPRCPR By 1891 close to 9400 By 1891 close to 9400

Chinese living in B.C. Chinese living in B.C. Most of these men Most of these men lived in Chinatowns in lived in Chinatowns in Vancouver, Victoria, Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo, and New Nanaimo, and New Westminster.Westminster.

Chinatown in San Francisco (1900)

Opponents of Asian Opponents of Asian ImmigrationImmigration

► Organizations formed such Organizations formed such as the Asiatic Exclusion as the Asiatic Exclusion League (1907)League (1907)

► In 1907 Lieutenant In 1907 Lieutenant Governor James Dunsmuir Governor James Dunsmuir refused to sign a Anti-refused to sign a Anti-Japanese Immigration bill a Japanese Immigration bill a mob formed and destroyed mob formed and destroyed much of Vancouver’s much of Vancouver’s Chinatown.Chinatown.

► Brought worldwide Brought worldwide attention onto the city of attention onto the city of Vancouver, which was very Vancouver, which was very embarrassing to Federal embarrassing to Federal Government.Government.

Why was the Federal Govt Why was the Federal Govt Upset?Upset?

► Japan was an ally of Japan was an ally of Great Britain.Great Britain.

► Prime Minister Laurier Prime Minister Laurier apologized to the apologized to the Japanese government Japanese government and created a Royal and created a Royal Commission to Commission to investigate the issue.investigate the issue.

► The government did set The government did set a limit of 400 Japanese a limit of 400 Japanese immigrants a year into immigrants a year into Canada after this event.Canada after this event.

By “Continuous Passage” By “Continuous Passage” OnlyOnly

► Since 1904 Sikhs had Since 1904 Sikhs had been encouraged to been encouraged to immigrate to Canada immigrate to Canada by CPR agents.by CPR agents.

► It was difficult to It was difficult to restrict East-Indian restrict East-Indian immigration because immigration because they were British they were British subjects.subjects.

What did the Federal What did the Federal Government do to restrict East-Government do to restrict East-

Indian Immigration?Indian Immigration?► The government The government

amended the 1906 amended the 1906 Immigration ActImmigration Act

► Immigrants were Immigrants were now required to now required to come to Canada via come to Canada via a non-stop, direct a non-stop, direct route from their route from their country of origin.country of origin.

► But this was But this was impossible from impossible from India.India.

The Komagata Maru IncidentThe Komagata Maru Incident

19141914 Gurdit Singh, an East Gurdit Singh, an East

Indian businessman, Indian businessman, tried to challenge tried to challenge the amended the amended Immigration Act.Immigration Act.

He charted the He charted the Komagata Maru and Komagata Maru and transported 354 Sikh transported 354 Sikh immigrants to immigrants to Vancouver.Vancouver.

The Komagata Maru Incident The Komagata Maru Incident ContinuedContinued

The Komagata Maru left The Komagata Maru left Hong Kong on April 4, Hong Kong on April 4, 1914. The ship stopped in 1914. The ship stopped in China and Japan before China and Japan before arriving in Vancouver on arriving in Vancouver on May 23, 1914.May 23, 1914.

The Canadian The Canadian Government quarantined Government quarantined the ship in the harbor.the ship in the harbor.

The ship sat in the harbor The ship sat in the harbor for two months before for two months before the Government escorted the Government escorted out of Vancouver harbour out of Vancouver harbour on July 23, 1914.on July 23, 1914.

What happened to the What happened to the Komagata Maru?Komagata Maru?

- The ship sailed back to Calcutta (Arriving on September 26, 1914)The ship sailed back to Calcutta (Arriving on September 26, 1914)- A British gunboat detained the ship and they were taken to Baj A British gunboat detained the ship and they were taken to Baj

Baj, a suburb of Calcutta, where they were detained.Baj, a suburb of Calcutta, where they were detained.- The British officials told the Sikhs that were to be sent to Punjab The British officials told the Sikhs that were to be sent to Punjab

via a special trainvia a special train- The men refused due to religious and political reasons.The men refused due to religious and political reasons.- Gurdit Singh tried to walk to Calcutta with the other occupants of Gurdit Singh tried to walk to Calcutta with the other occupants of

the ship. A skirmish took place, gunfire ensued, and 20 East the ship. A skirmish took place, gunfire ensued, and 20 East Indians were killed and nine were wounded.Indians were killed and nine were wounded.