| Immigration, the entrance of people into a | | | | of the century, Canada would not be the culturally |
| country for the purpose of settling there, has | | | | rich, prosperous, and progressive nation that it is |
| always played a central role in Canada's history. In | | | | today. |
| comparison to many other nations, immigration | | | | So much so is the lure to gain entry into Canada |
| into Canada has generally been viewed as being | | | | that people sometimes take extreme measures, |
| much easier than in other countries. Canada as | | | | even if those measures are against the law. Illegal |
| whole seems to be a favorable place for | | | | immigration into Canada is one problem that is |
| immigrants to gain naturalization. Since Canada is a | | | | deeply affecting this country. So big is the |
| relatively new country, the goal of Canadian | | | | problem that recently, police discovered Chinese |
| officials for some time was to infuse the land with | | | | immigrants being illegally smuggled into Canada |
| many different cultures and peoples, and its | | | | inside shipping crates at a Vancouver, British |
| lenient immigration process played a key role in | | | | Columbia port. Such incidents go to highlight the |
| this. | | | | measures and risks that some immigrants are |
| Thus far, this system has worked as Canada has | | | | willing to take to get into Canada. There is a |
| a very diverse group of ethnicities, including 200 | | | | growing business of trying to smuggle immigrants |
| ethnic groups total, of which 34 ethnic groups | | | | into the country, many of which are hoping to |
| boast at least one hundred thousand members | | | | gain political asylum. Unfortunately, the fate of |
| each. Of those 34 groups, 10 have over | | | | most of these illegal immigrants is usually |
| 1,000,000 people, or 13.4% of the population. | | | | deportation. For most of the illegal immigrants, |
| According to the 2001 census, the breakdown | | | | their only option is to prove to Canadian officials |
| was Chinese (3.5% of the population), South Asian | | | | that they should be protected under refugee |
| (3.1%), Black (2.2%), and Filipino (1.0%). | | | | status, and most illegal immigrants often apply to |
| As one can see, Canada is a truly multicultural | | | | be granted refugee status when they are |
| nation that cannot truly trace their heritage to | | | | captured. |
| just one cultural background, race. Each current | | | | In fact, an estimated 18 million Chinese look to |
| crop of Canadians can trace their heritage to | | | | immigrate out of the China, and they will take any |
| someone that wasn't a true Canadian national. The | | | | risk to achieve this goal. A majority of these illegal |
| whole country is built upon immigrants. Thanks to | | | | immigrants come from China's eastern coastal |
| centuries of immigration, Canadians are a very | | | | province of Fujian and most flock toward Canada |
| multicultural and diverse group of people. Although | | | | and the United States. Once in Canada, many of |
| the progress was positive for many years, | | | | the illegal Chinese immigrants can disappear into a |
| attitudes toward immigration are changing, and | | | | massive underground network, where they must |
| restrictions are beginning to be placed on who | | | | work to pay off their indentured servitude to the |
| may enter the country. | | | | smugglers. This Chinese smuggling system is a |
| Mostly, immigrants also have higher levels of | | | | $10 billion business. |
| educational attainment than people born in Canada. | | | | Each year, approximately 600 illegal Chinese |
| Yet, in virtually every urban region, a far higher | | | | immigrants arrive on Canada's west coast seeking |
| proportion of recent immigrants were employed in | | | | refugee status through legal channels, after having |
| jobs with lower skill requirements, than the jobs | | | | promised smugglers $60,000 per person to get |
| held by Canadian-born citizens. The level of | | | | them into the country. |
| equality has yet to permeate into everyday | | | | For illegal immigrants migrating to Canada, |
| society. | | | | Vancouver, British Columbia is a popular |
| Although most immigrants are pleased to be in | | | | destination. Vancouver's metro area is home to |
| Canada, most still have difficulties finding adequate | | | | more than two million residents, and the high |
| jobs, and dealing with the language barrier. The | | | | population makes it very easy for illegal |
| majority of people immigrating into Canada remain | | | | immigrants to blend into the environment unseen |
| positive about their decision to come into Canada, | | | | and unnoticed. |
| in light of the better standard of living. They are | | | | For legal immigrants, Vancouver is also a popular |
| extremely pleased with an increased quality of life, | | | | destination, because several major publications |
| overall peace and happiness, and the opportunity | | | | consistently rate Vancouver as one of the three |
| to offer their families a brighter future with more | | | | most livable cities in the world. |
| hope for success. | | | | The huge waves of immigrants that have entered |
| According to Wikipedia, in 2001, there were | | | | Canada over the last couple centuries have helped |
| 250,640 immigrants into Canada. These elevated | | | | the country develop a much more multi-ethnic |
| numbers are the reason that Canada has the | | | | outlook and a much richer and more vibrant |
| highest per capita immigration rate in the world. | | | | culture. Going forward, it is expected that |
| At no time has immigration played a greater role | | | | immigrants will continue to play a vital part in |
| in Canadian history than during the twentieth | | | | influencing Canada's social, economic, and political |
| century. In fact, without the immigrants who have | | | | culture. |
| settled in all areas of the country since the turn | | | | |