Perspective: 1976-1999 Immigration Act

The composition of annual immigration totals became more controversial in the 1980s, when a fourth "business" class of immigrant, bringing entrepreneurial talent or investor funds, was created. These individuals were to spark economic activity within the country through their business initiatives or investment funds. Although some of these business class immigrants chose Toronto, most settled in Vancouver; indeed, Vancouver's business community was transformed by this

class of immigration in the 1980s and 1990s.Mostly arriving from Asian countries, these newcomers brought a significant amount of capital investment, estimated at $480 million in 1994. Some 70,000 Chinese entrepreneurs immigrated as "business" immigrants between 1983 and 1996.3 Between 1981 and 1983 alone, some 3,291 "entrepreneurial and self-employed" businessmen brought some $1.1 billion of investment with them.4

Top Ten Birthplaces for Recent Immigrants, Select Cities and Provinces, 1996.

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