1,000,000 Immigrants

Canada last week admitted its 1,000,000th immigrant since World War II. No other country except the U.S. has received as many new settlers in the past seven years.

Before World War II Canadian immigration had almost completely dried up; many Canadians doubted that their economy could ever handle more than the natural population increase. But when 1,000,000 ex-servicemen were reabsorbed without any dislocation at war's end, the government decided to experiment with a freer immigration policy.

Canadian immigration teams roamed the free countries of Europe lining up desirable candidates. Transportation loans were given to those who needed them. Of the first million, about 30% came from Britain. Germany, The Netherlands and Italy each sent about 100,000 more. Others were refugees from Communism.

The heavy immigration flow has paid off handsomely. In their wallets or in transferred bank accounts, the newcomers brought $415 million into the country. One of every three newly arrived families bought a car. Besides creating trade, many of the immigrants launched businesses and opened up new jobs. Early fears that immigration would glut the labor market proved groundless.

The immigrants themselves are happy. Last year fewer than 600 had to be shipped back home. Among those who stayed there is a common experience of success, and each national group provides its own striking examples of how its members have prospered. A Czech family has built a lumber business employing 4,000. Two Britons opened a garage in Ottawa and are grossing more than $100,000 a year. The Dutch are especially proud of one family that emigrated to a Manitoba farm in 1948. Two years later, they had saved enough to buy and move into the former home of Manitoba's lieutenant governor.

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