Canada and Newfoundland

by Frank G. Carpenter

The prediction of James J. Hill, many years ago, that Canada would have fifty million people by 1950 seems unlikely to be fulfilled, but every Canadian expects the population of his country eventually to reach that figure. The Dominion has four hundred and forty million acres of land suitable for cultivation. Only one fourth of this area is even occupied, and but thirteen per cent. is being tilled. To get men and women on the unoccupied lands is a national policy of the government that enjoys the support of all the people.

Canada’s banner year was 1913, when more than four hundred thousand immigrants settled in the Dominion. During the war not one eighth of this number came in. The annual inflow is now only one fourth what it was the year before the World War, and about as many more are added by natural increase. If there is no radical change in conditions Canada should gain at least a million about every five years. On the other hand, she has lost population by emigration, especially to the United States.

Two racial stocks—British and French—make up eighty-three per cent. of the population. With our “melting pot” example next door, Canada is determined to preserve her race character, and she controls immigration accordingly. She tries to get settlers chiefly from the British Isles, the northern countries of Europe, and the United States. Labourers from Japan and China are no longer admitted, though for many years the head taxes of five hundred dollars on each Chinese who came in paid most of the expenses of promoting general immigration.

We might profit by the way Canada regulates her immigration. In the first place, the government has wide discretion as to what kinds of people shall come in. It can partially close the gates during dull times, and open them wide when times are good. Immigrants are admitted only as the authorities are satisfied that they are fitted to work on the land and that they can become self-supporting. Government agents in foreign countries start immigrants on their way, and others meet them on their arrival. Canada does not allow hordes of foreigners to be thrown into her cities. She guides them out to the land, and helps them to establish themselves there. She has no fixed quota law such as ours, but she is vastly more particular as to whom she admits.

Besides the government, both the Canadian National and the Canadian Pacific railways maintain immigration offices abroad. The C. P. R. at one time had practically all Europe covered with agents engaged in drumming for immigrants, whom it brought across the Atlantic in its own steamers, carried through Canada on its own trains, and located on farms along its own lines. When that road was built the company received a grant of twenty-five million acres of government land. Four fifths of these have been sold, but the company still has five million acres for settlers. At the present time, it is selling land for a cash payment of only one seventh of the purchase price, the balance to be paid within thirty-five years.

Canada feels acutely the need of more population. She not only welcomes settlers from the British Isles, northern Europe, and the United States, but gives them every assistance in establishing themselves on the land.

It is still possible for the immigrant to take up good land in Canada with the reasonable hope of making it into such a ranch as this. Many of the richest farmers of to-day came from the United States.

The government and the railroads spend large sums in advertising Canada as the Land of Great Opportunity. Ottawa and each of the provincial capitals produce literature by the ton. Information bureaus are maintained that answer every conceivable question about the resources and farming conditions in all parts of the Dominion. The government regularly exhibits at fairs in the United States and also in the United Kingdom. It distributes photographs and “movie” films, and sends out lecturers to tell of the glories of Canadian life. It advertises in our American farm journals and plasters the countries of northern Europe with posters. The Canadian Pacific conducts publicity campaigns for the purpose of attracting both tourists and settlers, and for forty years it has been a great force for the settlement and upbuilding of the Dominion.