The Last Best West (1896 - 1914)

Immigration Act, 1910

Un Acte concernant l'immigration et les immigrants, 1910

Section 38 of this act was used to keep Sikhs and residents of East India out of Canada.

Document Summary:

Some important sections:

3: No immigrant, passenger or other person, unless he or she is a Canadian citizen or has a Canadian home, shall be permitted to land or remain in Canada if they are or recently have been:
? mentally disabled, disturbed or epileptic;
? diseased;
? dumb, blind or otherwise physically disabled, unless a Board of Inquiry or officer rules otherwise;
? convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude;
? prostitutes or pimps;
? professional beggars or vagrants;
? immigrants loaned or given money by any charitable organization for the sole purposes of coming to Canada.
? persons who do not comply with any conditions and requirements under sections 37 or 38 of this act.

4: The Minister of Immigration may issue a written permit allowing persons to enter Canada without being subject to the provisions of this act.

26 - 28: Deal with medical or other examinations of passengers arriving by ship.

37: Immigrants must possess a prescribed amount of money upon landing in Canada.

38: Allows the government to prohibit specified classes of immigrants, or passengers brought by shipping companies into Canada. The immigrant must arrive by continuous journey from the country of which he or she is a native or a naturalized citizen.

40 - 43: Deal with the deportation of prohibited and undesirable classes.

55: Anyone advertising false information about the country's employment opportunities may be fined up to $500 or serve a six-month prison term, or both.