Immigration Act, 1976
Encyclopedia
The Immigration
Act
in Canada
was created in 1976 by then Prime Minister
Pierre Trudeau
. It focused on who should be allowed into Canada, not on who should be kept out. The Act came into force in 1978 along with new Immigration Regulations. This Act gave more power to the provinces to set their own immigration laws, and defined "prohibited classes" in much broader terms. Individuals who could become a burden on social welfare
or health services would now be refused entry, rather than specific categories of people, i.e. homosexuals, the disabled, and so on; created four new classes of immigrants who could come to Canada, which are refugees, families, assisted relatives, and independent immigrants. While independent immigrants had to take part in the Points System
, other classes did not have to take part in this test so long as they passed basic criminal, security and health checks. This Act also created alternatives to deportation
for less serious criminal or medical offenses, since deportation meant the immigrant was barred from entering Canada for life. After 1978, the government could issue 12-month exclusion orders and a departure notice, if the cause for a person's removal wasn't serious. but in some cases it could be severe.
The 1976 Immigration Act was replaced by the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) in 2002.
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
Act
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
was created in 1976 by then Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Pierre Trudeau
Pierre Trudeau
Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, , usually known as Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 4, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984.Trudeau began his political career campaigning for socialist ideals,...
. It focused on who should be allowed into Canada, not on who should be kept out. The Act came into force in 1978 along with new Immigration Regulations. This Act gave more power to the provinces to set their own immigration laws, and defined "prohibited classes" in much broader terms. Individuals who could become a burden on social welfare
Welfare
Welfare refers to a broad discourse which may hold certain implications regarding the provision of a minimal level of wellbeing and social support for all citizens without the stigma of charity. This is termed "social solidarity"...
or health services would now be refused entry, rather than specific categories of people, i.e. homosexuals, the disabled, and so on; created four new classes of immigrants who could come to Canada, which are refugees, families, assisted relatives, and independent immigrants. While independent immigrants had to take part in the Points System
Economic impact of immigration to Canada
The economic impact of immigration is an important topic in Canada. While the immigration rate has declined sharply from its peak early in the 20th century, Canada still holds the title of accepting more immigrants per capita than any other country....
, other classes did not have to take part in this test so long as they passed basic criminal, security and health checks. This Act also created alternatives to deportation
Deportation
Deportation means the expulsion of a person or group of people from a place or country. Today it often refers to the expulsion of foreign nationals whereas the expulsion of nationals is called banishment, exile, or penal transportation...
for less serious criminal or medical offenses, since deportation meant the immigrant was barred from entering Canada for life. After 1978, the government could issue 12-month exclusion orders and a departure notice, if the cause for a person's removal wasn't serious. but in some cases it could be severe.
The 1976 Immigration Act was replaced by the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) in 2002.