'A brake upon the wheel': Frank Oliver and the Creation of the Immigration Act of 1906

Authors

  • K Tony Hollihan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21971/P7F59G

Abstract

As Minister of the Interior from 1905 to 1911, Frank Oliver held a fundamentally different philosophy of immigration to that of his predecessor. While previous immigration legislation had been open door, and focused on economic criteria, Oliver believed in the effectiveness of a closed door policy based primarily on cultural criteria. The Immigration Act of 1906, resting on the twin pillars of selection and restriction, was designed to establish and implement that criteria. The immigration bill was well received by the public, engendered minimal legislative debate, and was passed substantially as it had first been introduced. Oliver had responded to what Canadians perceived was a national need.

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Author Biography

K Tony Hollihan

K. Tony Hollihan has a B.A. (Honors) from Memorial University and a B.Ed. and M.A. in history from the University of Alberta. He is presently a Ph.D. candidate in Educational Foundations at the University of Alberta. He has taught in the Edmonton Public and Catholic school systems and at the University of Alberta (Education in Canada). His one previous publication, in the Canadian Encyclopedia (2nd ed.), is entitled "Henry David Wilton." His thesis topic is teacher education in Alberta, as it evolved from a normal school environment to the Faculty of Education.

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Published

2008-02-21

How to Cite

Hollihan, K. T. (2008). ’A brake upon the wheel’: Frank Oliver and the Creation of the Immigration Act of 1906. Past Imperfect, 1. https://doi.org/10.21971/P7F59G

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Section

Articles