Although economic immigration favors the fact that many people move .
between countries, a large number of immigrants around the world are .
refugees. Refugees come to get out of a situation tat is dangerous to .
themselves or their families. Refugees relocate to avoid religious or political .
persecution, suffered because of their beliefs so they try to seek safety .
outside of their countries. Wars, political turmoil, and natural disasters are .
other factors that drive others away from their homeland. Leaving home is .
not always the first choice for them and both groups tend to leave their .
families behind.
Immigrants make up about 16 percent of the population, and .
immigration has been a key factor in Canada's growth. For most of past .
Canadian history, people of European descent were favored. This practice was .
replaced in the 1960's by new rules classifying immigrants into three groups: .
refugees fleeing political persecution, family members of Canadian citizens, .
and independent immigrants. The last group is admitted under a point .
system, where they are allot points for level of education, experience in the .
work force, ability to speak one or both of the official languages and so on. .
Those with enough points are allowed to become permanent residents and, .
three years later become Canadian citizens. 49 percent of the immigrants .
arriving in 1994 were in the independent category, while 42 percent were joining .
family members and 9 percent were fleeing political persecution.
Each year, Ottawa consult the provinces on the immigration policy. .
Ottawa is also required to set an annual target for immigration, although it .
has been common in recent years to plan in five-year stages. In the late .
1980's and early 1990's, targets were set at 250,000, or nearly 1 percent of .
the Canadian population, per year. In the early 1990's, however, these targets .
were lowered to 210,000 per year.
When immigrants arrive, they need settlement services.
