Immigrants to Canada

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Immigration Report of 1855

The following information was extracted from the British Parliamentary Papers 1856.

• The number of emigrants who sailed for Canada in 1855 was 20,207, to which are to be added 36 births on the passage, making a total of 20,243. The deaths on the passage were 97, and in quarantine 36; in all 133; equal on the whole number to a mortality of .65 per cent.

  The number of immigrants into Canada in 1854 having been 52,365, the decrease was 32,122.

  	1854	1855
  England	7,353	4,310
  Ireland	20,269	5,691
  Scotland	7,186	5,348
  Germany	11,034	3,815
  Norway	5,811	1,288

  Showing a decrease in the Irish Emigration of 72 per cent, in the German of 65.43, and in the Norwegian of 77.84 per cent.

• Including cabin passengers, and passengers from the lower provinces, the whole number landed at Quebec was 21,274. It is calculated that of these there went to the United States 5,500; but, on the other hand, that there entered Canada from the States not less than 10,000, making the addition to the population of Canada during the year 25,774, of whom, it is supposed, that nine-tenths, or about 23,000, proceeded to Western or Upper Canada.
• The progress of railroads and other means of internal communication is continually adding to the advantages offered by the St. Lawrence route to emigrants proceeding to the west. The Ontario and Simcoe railroad, opened last spring, affords, in connection with a line of steamers on lake Huron, an easy means of transit to the principal towns on lake Michigan, while the journey in the lower part of the province has been facilitated by the opening of the Grand Trunk railway from Montreal to Brockville. It is calculated that in the course of the present season emigrants will reach Toronto or Hamilton from Quebec (which formerly occupied three or four days) in from 36 to 40 hours.
• In respect to the prospect for emigrants to Canada during the present year the account given by the Immigration Agent at Quebec is not encouraging. "With reference to the prospects of 1856," he says, "I regret to say that many of the causes to which I had occasion to allude in my report of last year continue to exist, more particularly in this section of the province, where the labour market has not only been extremely depressed, but the immigrants had great difficulty throughout the summer in procuring suitable employment. In the western section of the province, to which nin-tenths of our emigrants proceed, prospects and appearances are, on the whole, much more favourable." In confirmation of this opinion, Mr. Buchanan annexes the following report from Mr. Hawke, the Immigration agent for Western Canada. "With reference to the prospects of employment for unskilled labourers during the ensuing year," says Mr. Hawke, "I would beg to observe that they are not so promising as I could desire. Many of our railroads are nearly completed, and the labourers that have been employed in their construction will have to seek for employment elsewhere. For a short time this will cause a reduction of wages; but as soon as the surplus labourers scatter themselves throughout our wide-spread and prosperous districts in the interior, they will assume their former state. As I do not anticipate any considerable addition to this class from emigration, I do not apprehend any difficulty in disposing of all emigrants in search of work who may come to this section of Canada.
• "As to skilled labourers, in which class I include good farm servants, male and female, there is every prospect of their finding employment at good wages."
• "Houses are being erected in almost every town, city, and village in Upper Canada; and as the farmers have enjoyed a very unusual degree of prosperity for several years past, farm improvements, and extended as well as superior cultivation, have become almost universal. I am therefore of opinion that all mechanics, such as blacksmiths, wheelwrights, tailors, carpenters, masons, bricklayers, shoemakers &c., as well as agricultural servants, who are likely to seek employment in Upper Canada in 1856, will be able to obtain it, and that farmers who know how to cultivate their own land will find farms suitable to their means, and, if prudent and industrious, will be sure to succeed."

New Brunswick:

• The immigration into New Brunswick in 1855 amounted to only 1,405, being a decrease as compared with 1854 of 2,213, or more than 61 per cent. Only three deaths occurred on the voayage or in quarantine, equal to .21 per cent, and of these deaths one was from an accident, one of a child from measles, and the remaining one was that of an old and infirm person. It is stated, and the almost absence of mortality proves the fact, that on board the line of vessels in which this emigration is carried on the emigrants are treated with great care and kindness.

  Even of the small number of immigrants who reached New Brunswick in 1855, a large proportion, ist is said, proceeded to the United States, and the emigration agent expresses his belief that during the whole of the year there was a continuous stream of emigration fromt eh province. The depression which had prevailed in the ship building business, and the suspension of all work on the railroads, may be considered as the most efficient causes of this emigration from the province.

  In respect to the future, Mr. Perley says, "under present circumstances it appears to me that the existing population is sufficient for the amount of labour to be performed, and until material changes take place in the business and affairs of the province I can hold out little or no encouragement to emigrant of the labouring class."

Nova Scotia and Prince Edward's Island:

• From Nova Scotia and Prince Edward's Island there have been no reports connected with immigaration, and we therefore infer that in 1855, as in former years, there was either no immigration at all, or so little as not to call for any notice. Neither have we any information as to any immigration into Newfoundland.

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Last updated: February 17, 2007 and maintained by Marj Kohli