1. Until June 1955 prospective immigrants from the West Indies could come to Canada provided:

(a) they had already secured employment here beforehand;

(b) they were sponsored by a close relative already in Canada;

(c) they were considered to be "exceptional merit" cases.

Attached is a table? showing, by ethnic origin, the number of immigrants from the West Indies for the years 1938-1955 inclusive. It would appear that during this period a total of 6,971 were admitted as immigrants through the above-mentioned criteria. The ethnic origin of these persons was as follows:

No statistical records are maintained of persons departing from Canada, and we cannot ascertain, therefore, how many West Indians have left this country after having been landed as immigrants.

2. As can be seen from the above breakdown and from the table, immigration from the West Indies is overwhelmingly white, and this white exodus from the West Indies has been particularly heavy since 1946-47. This fact would tend to corroborate reports that since practical steps were taken at the Montego Bay Conference of 1947 to implement the proposal of federation, the white population in the smaller islands of the West Indies, and especially in the so-called "plantation" islands, has been gradually falling off. Through sheer weight of numbers, the Negroes are naturally bound to keep control of the leadership of the larger political entity now coming into being.

3. Regulations concerning the admission to Canada of coloured, or partly coloured, persons have been slightly relaxed in recent years, which accounts for the increase in Negro entries since 1950 (see table). For instance, some of the Canadian nursing associations have signified their willingness to grant registration to qualified nurses from the West Indies, and many of our hospitals are now accepting student nurses from that area. When there is reasonable evidence that their services are acceptable in Canada, entry is authorized of the qualified nurses for permanent landing, and of the student nurses with the prospect of permanent landing if they should desire to remain after the completion of their training.

4. But the most noteworthy alteration concerning coloured immigration from the West Indies, has been the decision made by Cabinet on June 8, 1955 to admit, on an experimental basis, 100 domestics during that year.⁹⁵ Seventy- five were to be selected from Jamaica and 25 from Barbados. These domestics were to be admitted as immigrants and required to sign an undertaking to remain at domestic work for at least one year. Selection was to be confined to single women in the age group 21 [cad 177] 35 years. This scheme met with such success that on March 29, 1956, Cabinet approved a recommendation that it be extended for one year and that the number of West Indians admissible as domestics be increased to 200, to be selected as follows: 100 from Jamaica, 40 from Barbados, 30 from Trinidad and 30 from British Guiana. While these persons are living up to their agreement to engage in domestic work for at least one year after arrival, many of them are said to be of a superior type with other qualifications and are expected eventually to establish themselves in other occupations. Persons who have entered Canada under this new arrangement will, of course, after a certain lapse of time, be allowed to sponsor their close relatives as immigrants to Canada. Although no discussions have been held concerning further continuation or extension of the scheme, the probabilities are that it will be retained for at least another year, although whether the number of admissible persons will be increased or the areas from which they are now selected added to, is not known.⁹⁶

5. Over 1,000 West Indians were landed as immigrants during 1956, more than during any one year since 1938. Although this figure has not yet been compiled by ethnic origin, the liberalization, as outlined in the foregoing paragraphs, of the regulations concerning the entry of coloured people, is believed to be largely responsible for this increase. Whether this liberalization will continue would, however, seem to be doubtful. The Department of Citizenship and Immigration has this to say:

"It has been the long standing policy of this Department to restrict the admission to Canada of coloured or partly coloured persons. As you no doubt are aware, the Canadian public, apart from certain minority groups, is not favourably disposed towards any significant increase in the coloured population. This is partly due to the fact that Canadians are not accustomed to seeing coloured people occupying positions which would place them on a social and economic level with their white neighbours. ... It is fully appreciated that the various West Indian Governments would welcome any change in our immigration policy which would ease restrictions on the admission to Canada of citizens of West Indian countries. However, our immigration policy is based on the principle that Canada desires to foster the growth of the population by the encouragement of immigration through legislation and vigorous administration to ensure the careful selection and permanent settlement of such numbers of immigrants as can be advantageously absorbed into the national economy. On the other hand, immigration must not have the effect of altering the fundamental character of the population and Canada is perfectly within her rights in selecting persons whom we regard as desirable future citizens".