In 1976, Canada passed the Immigration Act, which outlined the criteria for three types of admissible immigrants: independent immigrants selected on the basis of a points system; a family class that included the immediate family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents; and refugees as defined by the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. This formalized new immigration regulations, commonly known as the “points system,” initiated in 1967.
Coming into effect in 1978, the Immigration Act was especially significant for its prioritizing of family reunification, in direct contrast to the family separation initiatives of the Chinese Immigration Acts of 1885 and 1923. In the decade following the Immigration Act came large waves of immigration from Asia, especially from Hong Kong and Punjab, with significant impacts on the changing demographics of the Lower Mainland during that period.
