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DCER : Volume #16 - 706.DEA/232-AH-40 : INDIAN IMMIGRATION INTO CANADA

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Volume #16 - 706.

CHAPTER VII

COMMONWEALTH RELATIONS

PART 4

RELATIONS WITH INDIVIDUAL COUNTRIES

SECTION B

INDIA: IMMIGRATION

706.

DEA/232-AH-40

Memorandum from Under Secretary of State for External Affairs
to Secretary of State for External Affairs Department of Citizenship and Immigration

CONFIDENTIAL

[Ottawa], November 7th, 1950

INDIAN IMMIGRATION INTO CANADA

I attach a copy of a memorandum of November 7 prepared by Mr. P.K. Banerjee of the Office of the High Commissioner for India on the subject of the immigration of Indians into Canada.

ESCOTT REID

for A.D.P. H[eeney]

[PIÈCE JOINTE/ENCLOSURE]

Note du haut commissariat de l'Inde

Memorandum by High Commission of India

[Ottawa], November 7, 1950

IMMIGRATION OF INDIANS INTO CANADA

There is discrimination against Indians in Canada in the matter of: (i) Immigration of Indians into this country; and (ii) admission of relatives of Indians already settled down in Canada.

(i) Under the Order in Council No. PC 2115 of 16th September, 1930, immigration of persons of Asiatic race, including Indians, is prohibited. After the attaining of independence by India and in view of very cordial relations between Canada and India, the Government of Canada have been approached from time to time for removal of this ban. Large scale immigration from India will neither be possible nor desirable but it has been represented to the Government of Canada previously to consider favourably the question of immigration of Indians on an annual quota basis as is being done in the United States.

(ii) The present position of about 1400 Indians settled down in Canada is anomalous in the respect that, although they are Canadian citizens, they do not enjoy the same rights as their other fellow Canadian citizens of European origin. The latter have the privilege to bring into Canada not only their first degree relatives but, according to the announcement of the Immigration Minister of 30th June, 1950,28 any of their relatives sponsored by them can be admitted as immigrants. Further, immigrants will also be brought by employers to a maximum limit of 25. However, Canadian citizens of Indian origin, at present, can only seek admission of their wives, and children under 18 years of age. This has been the main cause of complaint of those of our people who have settled down in British Columbia. In view of the changed times and the cordial relations which exist between our two sister countries of the Commonwealth, it may be agreed that this remaining differentiation should be removed against Canadian citizens of Indian origin at an early date.

On representations from the Indian community in British Columbia, this Mission has time and again taken over this matter with the Immigration authorities at Ottawa. Last year they only agreed to give consideration to applications for admission of relatives of Indians resident in Canada only where these residents have reached an advanced age and require assistance not otherwise available in the management of their properties in this country. This concession is however meagre as compared to the facilities given to other Canadian citizens of European origin. It has also been brought to notice that in view of the general policy of ban on immigration from India, the applications made for admission under this category have not been given the same consideration as is being given to those from other Canadian citizens. Moreover even if given the necessary sympathetic consideration in such cases, this concession does not give equal privileges and facilities in the matter of admission of relatives to Canadians of Indian origin with those of Canadians of European origin.

The Government of India and the Indian community in Canada have deeply appreciated the very sympathetic consideration shown by the Government of Canada in the matter of granting privileges of citizenship rights and other immigration concessions to the Indian community in British Columbia and doubtless the grant of equality with other Canadian citizens of European' origin in regard to admission of all categories of relatives, as the latter enjoy, will be gratifying and will go a long way in further strengthening the bonds of friendship between our two great countries.

(P.K. BANERJEE]


28 Voir/See Canada, Canadian Weekly Bulletin, Volume 5, No. 35, July 7, 1950, p. 6.



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