Date

Event

20, 000 Years Ago

The settlement of North America Began with the migration of the Aboriginals. 

Around 1000 A.D.

Early Norse Colonists arrived on Canada's shores.

16th Century

European explorers, such as John Cabot, Jacques Cartier and Samuel De Champlain, discovered valuable fishing grounds and other natural resources.

17th Century

The first European settlement

18th Century

Growing Numbers of immigrants from England, Scotland and Ireland settled in Canada looking for a better life. After the American revolution in 1776, United Empire Loyalists fled to Canada to keep their loyalty to Britain (Canada's first refugees.)

19th Century

The British Immigration continued. Later in the century, Canada welcomed immigrants from central and eastern Europe to develop the land. Chinese workers were brought to build the transcontinental railway. But then, measures were made to exclude Asian Immigration for a number of years.

1869

First act dealing with immigration passed by the government by Sir John A. MacDonald.

20th Century

Immigration blasted off during the time leading up to the World War (1913, more than 400,000)

Immigration has increased and decreased over the years, depending on the pressures put upon people and Canadian's needs. Many Europeans settled in Canada after World War 2.

1947

First Canadian Citizenship act took effect January 1st, 1947, creating Canadian Citizenship. Before that, Canadians were British Subjects.

1967

More liberal immigration policy was eliminated because of Race, religion, or national origin. They accepted immigrants based on their Contributions they could make to the Canadian Economy.

1969

Canada signed the 1951 Convention relating to the Stats of Refugees, and its 1967 Protocol guaranteeing refugees protection.

1976

Current Immigration act was drafted, and introduced in 1978. Today's immigration act was based on this.

1977

Current Citizenship act was passed

1978

Canada began resettling thousands of Vietnamese boat people.

1980s

Canada accepted growing numbers of people fleeing the oppression and civil war in countries.

1990s

Immigration Levels have been set at more than 200,000 throughout the decade. Asian immigration increased during the years.

1998

January 1998, Legislative Review Committee suggested changes to the Immigration act, and regulations based on Confrontations with the Canadians during 1997.

1999

Spring of 1999, Canadians welcomed more than 5000 refugees from Kosovo under emergency evacuation program.

21st century

The Immigration and Refugee protection act received royal assent in November 2001.