A National Open-Door Policy (1867-1895)

Introduction

Following Confederation, the newly formed country of Canada began to develop its own national immigration policies. Seeking rapid population growth and economic expansion, the country was more interested in enticing than it was in restricting immigration. Its open-door policy helped attract a more diverse group of arrivals than ever before, but not all the new immigrants were welcomed with open arms.

In this section you can interpret the impact Canada's land policy had on immigration in Free Land!; investigate some of the promises Canada made to entice certain groups of immigrants in Religious Refugees; learn about the more negative response of some Canadians towards immigrant labourers in A Temporary Line; explore the sometimes tragic fate awaiting immigrant children placed in Canadian families in Home Children; and analyze one of the major challenges Canada faced in keeping its own population in Repatriation.