Tracking immigration trends
(Using CANSIM data dating back to 1955)

Throughout Canadian history the number of immigrants entering Canada has risen and fallen. Economic and social pressures, in addition to national policies and improved transportation have contributed to the fluctuating number of immigrants. E-STAT's graphing tools and the CANSIM database allow us to analyze immigration patterns. In this activity, we examine how the number of Italian, European and Asian immigrants have changed since the fifties.

Accessing E-STAT

You can access E-STAT on Statistics Canada's website at http://www.statcan.gc.ca under Learning resources or directly at http://estat.statcan.gc.ca.

Table selection

• From the E-STAT sidebar select Search CANSIM
• In the search field, enter the table number 051-0006 and click Search. (The title of the table is "Immigrants to Canada, by country of last permanent residence, quarterly").

Subset selection

• Under Geography, select Canada.
• Under Last permanent residence, select Italy.
• Under Reference period: select From: 1955.
• Click Retrieve as individual Time Series.

Output specification

• At the Output specification screen, select Line graph, the default selection.
• Click Retrieve now.

Source: Statistics Canada, CANSIM Table 051-0006, using E-STAT (distributor)

Analysis 1

Give two reasons why the pattern of Italian immigration has followed the pattern shown in the graph.

Return to the Last permanent residence screen by clicking the Back button on your browser's toolbar (top left) twice.

Graphing two or more series

• At the Subset selection screen, under Last permanent residence, select Total immigrants, Total Europe and Total Asia.

Hint: With a Windows-based browser, you can select multiple non-adjacent items by holding down the "Ctrl" key while clicking on your selections. With a MAC-based browser, you can do this by holding down the "Command" key while clicking on your selections.

• Click Retrieve as individual Time Series.

Output specification

• At the Output specification screen, select line graph.
• Click Manipulate data.
• At the Output manipulation screen, select Converted to Annual (sum)
• Click Retrieve now.

Source: Statistics Canada, CANSIM Table 051-0006, using E-STAT (distributor)

Graphing one Time Series as a percentage of another
It is useful to track the change in immigration from Asia and Europe as a percentage of total immigration to Canada. We can do that using one of the manipulation options available as shown below.

• Click Back.
• Near the bottom of the screen at The output will contain, select "Data expressed as % of first series".
• Click Retrieve now.

Source: Statistics Canada, CANSIM Table 051-0006, using E-STAT (distributor)

Analysis 2

Give two reasons why the pattern of Asian immigration to Canada has been different from the pattern of Europe immigration, as shown in the graph.

How much has the percent of total immigrants who come from Europe changed over the last 45 years? _________________________

At what point in time, did immigration from Asia first exceed immigration from Europe? _________________________

What was happening in the world that could explain this? ________________________________________

Analysis 3

Choose another country. Repeat the procedure for graphing two or more series, make a line chart, comparing the country or region you have chosen with European immigration. Give two reasons why the two immigration patterns have been different.

100 years of immigration to Canada (1901-2001)