Immigration Act of 1910

The Immigration Act of 1910 extended the powers of deportation; strengthened the hand of government to exclude members of “any race deemed unsuited to the climate or requirements of Canada” or immigrants of “any specified class, occupation or character”; enhanced medical inspection prior to entry; and introduced a three-year period of “domicile,” during which deportation could be facilitated and immigrants had few rights of appeal. Canada remained hostile to newcomers of colour, particularly immigrants from the Asian continent. Black immigration, mostly from the United States, was also severely curbed. The Conservative opposition criticized Sir Wilfrid Laurier’s Liberal government chiefly for being insufficiently restrictive.