"Bring your families to Canada"

	Dusk on the Parliament Building, Ottawa Photo: Egidio Smiderle

During the first part of the 20th century, settlers from different countries were encouraged by posters for the Canadian Pacific Rail Company to bring their families to Canada—and they responded in droves. By 2001, a full 18% of all Canadians were foreign born. In fact, about 27% of those who lived in Ontario and 26% of those in British Columbia that year were born abroad, while 10% of those living in Quebec were immigrants. In the Atlantic region, Nova Scotia had the highest proportion of immigrants at 5%, while Newfoundland and Labrador had only 2%. Toronto had the highest proportion of foreign-born of any metropolitan area at 44%. Vancouver ranked second with 38%.

Immigration has always been an important factor in Canadian growth. Given our current low birth rate, it will remain so if Canada is to maintain its population. In 2001/02, Canada's population increase from immigration was almost twice as much as from natural growth: 96,000 more Canadians were born than died and 185,000 more people moved to Canada than left.

Reasons for immigrating to Canada vary. Some immigrants are fleeing war and oppression or are seeking better economic opportunities. Others hope to reunite with their families. Whatever the reason, the Canadian population today is a mosaic of different ethnic origins—partly as a result of the evolution of Canadian immigration policy.

Immigrants who came to Canada before 1961 were most likely to have been born in Europe, particularly in northern and western Europe and the United Kingdom. Those who came during the 1960s were most likely to have left homes in southern Europe. During the 1970s, the proportion coming from Europe declined; in contrast, the proportion of immigrants from east and southeast Asia increased and began to dominate immigration patterns by the 1980s. Of the 1.8 million immigrants who arrived between 1991 and 2001, 58% came from Asia, including the Middle East; 20% from Europe; 11% from the Caribbean, Central and South America; 8% from Africa; and 3% from the United States.

Our large urban centres have been the most attractive destinations for many new Canadians. Perhaps not surprisingly, some cities tend to attract immigrants from certain regions. For example, 39% of all immigrants living in Montréal in 2001 were born in Europe, and only 29% were born in Asia. In Toronto, 35% were European-born and 43% Asian-born. Farther west, in Vancouver, the figures were 25% European-born and 62%, Asian-born.