The Facts
A diverse tapestry of peoples
An immigrant-rich nation. Immigration flow to Canada has varied over the years. During the
Great Depression of the 1930s and the Second World War, the admission of immigrants into Canada
virtually ceased (Statistics Canada, 2008a, p. 20). However, after 1945, the acceptance of immi grants
from European countries increased, as a result of more open immigration policies (Statistics Canada,
2008a, p. 21). It is estimated that almost three out of four immigrants were from Europe between 1961
and 1966 (Statistics Canada, 2008a, p. 21).
As Canada’s immigration laws becoming more liberal in the 1960s, individuals were admitted from
regions other than Europe, and by the 1970s, an increased presence of visible minorities in Canadian
society become more apparent (Li, 2000, p. 3-4). The number of individuals from visible minority
groups nearly quadrupled, from 1.1. million to 4.0 million, between 1981 and 2001 (Statistics Canada,
2008a, p. 32).
These numbers continued to grow; between 2001 and 2006, 83.9 per cent of immigrants who came to
Canada were born in places other than Europe, with three-quarters (75 per cent) belonging to a visible
minority group (Statistics Canada, 2008b, p. 2). During this time, the visible minority population grew
five times faster than the total population, with a growth rate of 27.2 per cent, compared with 5.4 per
cent of the population as a whole (Statistics Canada, 2008b, p. 2). These individuals were
predominantly South Asian, Chinese, Black and Filipino (Statistics Canada, 2008b, p. 3).
“In 2010, Canada welcomed the highest number of legal immigrants in more than 50 years, at 280,636
permanent residents” (Citizenship and Immigration Canada, 2011). It is projected that between 2006
and 2031, Canada’s foreign-born population will grow about four times faster than the rest of the
population (Statistics Canada, 2010, p. 2).
With its vast diversity, Canada is a nation where many languages are spoken. Results from the 2006
Census show that about 6.3 million people (20.1 per cent) had a mother tongue other than English or
French (Statistics Canada, 2008a, p. 36). In religious affiliation, the 2006 Census indicates 75 per cent
were of a Christian religion, 8 per cent were of a non-Christian religion and 17 per cent identified as
having no religion (Statistics Canada, 2010, p. 3). By 2031 it is estimated that the proportion of people
with a Christian religion will decrease to 65 per cent, while those with a non -Christian religion will nearly
double to 14 per cent, of which approximately half will be of the Muslim faith; the proportion of
individuals with no religion is expected to rise to 21 per cent (Statistics Canada, 2010, p. 3).
Did you know…

Newcomers to Canada tend to be in the younger age brackets and therefore arrive in the
prime of life (Statistics Canada, 2008a, p. 23).
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The document strives to use the most recent Census data available. In many cases, 2011 Census data were not yet available.
Did you know…

In 2006, most people who immigrated to Canada were between the ages of 25 and 44
(Statistics Canada, 2008a, p. 23). In fact, the median age of arriving immigrants (29.8 years)
was nine years younger than Canada’s overall population that year (38.8 years) (Statistics
Canada, 2008a, p. 23). Immigrants accounted for about 681,900 individuals in the workingage population of 25 to 64 (Chui, Tran & Maheux, 2007, p. 13).
A significant number of Canada’s newcomers settle in the most urbanized areas, with the focus being
particularly strong in Canada’s three largest metropolitan areas: Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal
(Statistics Canada, 2008a, p. 48). By 2031, it is estimated that more than 71 per cent of individuals
from visible minority groups could live in these three cities (Statistics Canada, 2010, p. 3).
Canada is a country that has a peaceful and tolerant reputation and is known to embrace
multiculturalism. Many newcomers feel Canada offers them a fresh start and a better future.
References
Citizenship and Immigration Canada. (2011). Canada welcomes highest number of legal immigrants in 50 years while taking
action to maintain the integrity of Canada’s immigration system. Ottawa: Author. Retrieved from
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/releases/2011/2011-02-13.asp
Chui, T., Tran, K., & Maheux, H. (2007). Immigration in Canada: A portrait of the foreign-born population, 2006 census. Ottawa:
Statistics Canada. Retrieved from http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/as-sa/97-557/pdf/97-557-XIE2006001.pdf
Li, Peter S. (2000). Cultural diversity in Canada: The social construction of racial differences. Ottawa: Department of Justice.
Retrieved from http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/pi/rs/rep-rap/2002/rp02_8-dr02_8/rp02_8.pdf [p.3]
Statistics Canada. (2008a). Canadian demographics at a glance. Ottawa: Author. Retrieved from
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/91-003-x/91-003-x2007001-eng.pdf
Statistics Canada. (2008b). 2006 Census: Ethnic origin, visible minorities, place of work and mode of transportation . The Daily.
Ottawa: Author. Retrieved from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/080402/dq080402-eng.pdf
Statistics Canada. (2010). Study: Projections of the diversity of the Canadian population, 2006 to 2031. The Daily. Ottawa:
Author. Retrieved from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/100309/dq100309-eng.pdf
The document strives to use the most recent Census data available. In many cases, 2011 Census data were not yet available.