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eb Art. 6.-SIXTY YEARS OF CANADIAN PROGRESS,

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1867-1927.

THE life of a nation can least of all be estimated in cal terms of time. Were such a criterion valid sixty years would form a poor enough standard. When, however, we survey the Dominion of Canada, with the flush of youth still on its face, it can, I think, be said without fear of contradiction that its constructive accomplishments tare, if not quite exceptional, at least remarkable and outstanding. Within sixty years, we have built up a satisfied and prosperous community, and that in spite of difficult geographical and economic differences within and the compelling pressure of the wealthiest country in the world as our only neighbour. We have satisfactorily solved political problems of a domestic and imperial nature which once were the nightmare of statesmen and of political philosophers alike. We have established a high standard of individual and public virtue. We have taken our place in a gigantic struggle for freedom and paid such a price as youth never before paid in history for the preservation of liberty. Of course, no foolish claim is made that we have not made mistakes. We have had our share of broken public faith, of errors in economic policy, of interpreting 'booms' as normal developments. We have often left undone those things which we ought to have done and have done those things which we ought not to have done.' All this, however, is merely to state the historical commonplace that we have been human as other nations. The remarkable thing, however, is that, with many shortcomings crowded into comparatively few years, there remain such achievements as to leave plenty of virile health within us. I shall attempt to survey these sixty years from various selected points of view: (a) population; (b) economic developments and potentialities; (c) our 'spiritual' life; (d) our political outlook, connecting each subject with some of the problems and issues which lie ahead.

The first Dominion census took place in 1871, the last in 1921. In the former year the population was 3,689,257, in the latter 8,788,483, representing an increase of over 138 per cent. It is important to view the census of 1921

from a comparative angle. The population of Canada in 1921 represented an increase of over 21.95 per cent. in ten years. When we compare this percentage with that for the United States, for England and Wales, for Scotland, for Australia, and for New Zealand during the years 1911 to 1921, we find that Australia alone grew more rapidly with an increase of 22.04 per cent. Our estimated population to-day is over 9,250,000. We must acknowledge that the figures are a disappointment compared with our remarkable progress from 1901-11 when the population increased 34·17 per cent. On the other hand, as we look back we may well be thankful that the extraordinary 'boom-days' before the war did not last—indeed, they could not last. In addition, the war itself severely curtailed population developments, while it cost us 60,000 dead and a casualty list of over 220,000 out of an estimated adult male population of 2,150,000, of whom almost half were married. Our war casualties must be taken into careful consideration in forming any judgment in connexion with our population.

Perhaps the next most interesting question is the racial origin of our people which can best be illustrated by a diagram.

Now, it is impossible to view these figures casually and to say that we are in a dangerous position with only 55.40 per cent. of our population of British stock. It is always necessary to remember that Canada is made up of two great stocks, French and British, and that from every cultural point of view our only danger lies with the 16.69 per cent. of foreign origins. Of that percentage we are not afraid. I shall return to this point later.

Another interesting and illuminating point of view is the matter of birthplace of the population.

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When it is remembered that we are a young country in rapid processes of development, I think the percentage of our foreign born is remarkably small. More interesthing still are the figures for naturalisation. Of the total foreign born resident in Canada in 1921, 57.75 per cent. had become naturalised. Of this group we had 374,024 from the United States, and of these 63.63 per cent. had become naturalised. On the whole question of citizenti ship Canada compares more than favourably with the United States. It is a remarkable achievement to find tit at the end of sixty years that, in a country of almost dazzling economic possibilities, we have such a small percentage of foreign born who have not taken out naturalisation papers. The figure 57.75 per cent. should be compared with the figure in 1901 and in 1911. In the former year the percentage of naturalised foreign born was 55.27 per cent. and in the latter year 45.77 per cent. In addition another fact must be remembered in studying the 1921 figures. To-day the percentage would be much higher had we available records for a large group during a recent five years-five years being the time allowed for changing allegiance.

Before leaving this question of assimilation it may be well to give some figures illustrating literacy among the population. The figures from the 1921 census are important.

Total population, 10
years and over.

British-born population, Foreign-born population, 10 years and over. 10 years and over.

Unable to speak English. Unable to speak English. Unable to speak English.

15.21 per cent.

15.71 per cent.

11.79 per cent.

In other words, 84.79 per cent. of the total population in 1921 over ten years of age could speak English. These figures are all the more impressive when it is recalled that Canada is a federation based on a bilingual system, that French is with English the official federal language, and that 27.91 per cent. of the population is of French origin. Other figures tell their own tale.

This figure-5.10 per cent.-includes Indians; and if they were excluded the total percentage over ten years of age totally illiterate is 4.49 per cent. If it were necessary, the above 'nativity' groups could be broken up into 'age' groups, and such a process would disclose, according to the Dominion statistician, that the 'practical extinction of illiteracy in Canada is in sight.' He also points out that 50 per cent. of the illiterate persons in Canada reside in areas containing only 18 per cent. of the population, while 11 per cent. of the illiterates are residents of areas containing 1 per cent. of the population.' It would be superfluous further to analyse the situation. I venture to think that the figures, etc., which I have quoted in relation to the population speak for themselves. We do not resent criticism, provided we receive credit for achievements in this connexion which will bear extraordinarily favourable comparisons with the United States, with which comparison is alone possible and valid.

The transition at this point from population to the whole question of immigration is natural. Once more I wish to present some figures, prefacing them, however, with the sound words of our statistician :

'Immigration to Canada, as to other new countries, is generally greatest in "boom" periods when capital as well as labour is leaving the older countries for the newer in order to secure the more remunerative investments generally to be

found in virgin territories where the natural resources are still unexploited. In periods of depression, however, the sending abroad of both capital and labour is diminished, both preferring at such times to endure the evils which they know at home rather than take the risks of a new departure at a distance. This proposition is aptly illustrated by the statistics which show that during the past 25 years immigration was at its minimum in the year of deepest depression, 1897, that it steadily increased from that time forward to 1908, that a decline took place in the fiscal year ended March 31, 1909, on account of the short depression of 1908, that thereafter immigration steadily increased till 1913, while the fiscal year ended March 31, 1914, showed a decline due to the depression which occurred in the year preceding the war. In the fiscal years 1915 to 1919, political rather than economic conditions restricted immigration, but with the expansion of business at the end of the war our immigration was more than doubled, while the depression which characterised 1921 and 1922 is reflected in declining immigration of the fiscal years ending March 31, 1922, and 1923. The improvement in business conditions in 1923 has been reflected in an increase of immigration during the fiscal year ending March 31, 1924.' With this preface it is possible to examine some of the immigration statistics for certain interesting years.