"Immigrants and immigration have always been central to Canadians' perception of themselves as a country and a society. In this crisply written history, Valerie Knowles describes the different kinds of immigrants who have settled in Canada, and the immigration policies that have helped define the character of Canadian immigrants over the centuries. Key policymakers and shapers of public opinion figure prominently in this colourful story, as does the role played by racism."--Publisher's description.

Introduction -- 1. The Beginnings -- 2. Canada's First Large Influx of Refugees -- 3. British Immigration Transforms the Colonies -- 4. Immigration in the Macdonald Era -- 5. The Sifton Years -- 6. Forging a New Immigration Policy -- 7. Immigration Doldrums -- 8. Immigration's Post-War Boom (1947-1957) -- 9. Major New Initiatives --10. A New Era in Immigration -- 11. The Turbulent 1980s and Beyond -- 12. Immigration Grabs Attention, 1996-2006 -- 13. Developments 2006-2015: Pruning the Queue -- 14. Issues in the Twenty-First Century -- Appendix: Tables and Figures.