Introduction

In the early 1950s, members of the Department of Citizenship and Immigration, one of the two branches of the Canadian state which exercised control over international migration to the country, debated whether they should deport immigrants who were initially granted entry to the country on the basis of their intention to work as farm labourers but who, shortly after their entry to the country, found better-paying jobs in other industries. The following are a few extracts from that debate: It may well be argued that implementation of such a law is an infiringement of the freedom of the individual and abnegation of human rights which cannot be justified in a democratic country. It involves applying a control and regimentation to immigrants which would be unacceptable to Canadians, at the same time as we profess an earnest desire to make these immigrants into good Canadian citizens.… The denial of opportunity of a man to better himself is difficult to defend for it may be argued that the sum of self improvement is a national benefit. 1 … as we are proud of the freedom experienced in Canada and must endeavour to maintain our present standards which are advertized abroad, it would not be feasible to impose a contract which would amount to virtual slavery. 2 … it is difficult to force immigrants to remain at farm work as this would closely approximate forced labour 3 … a sounder means of control lies in facilitating the movement of races that experience has shown are likely to remain in agriculture… and tightening up on the screening of those races that tend to drift into occupations adequately provided for now. 4