CHAPTER VII 
THE NATURALIZATION OF IMMIGRANT PEOPLES 
THE PROPORTION OF FOREIGN BORN NATURALIZED IN CANADA IN 1921 
Naturalization does not mean “Canadianization”. It merely signifies the intention of 
he immigrant to make a more or less permanent home in Canada and the desire to share 
‘n determining the country’s political destiny. Whether the influence of the newly natural- 
ized Immigrant will be to the best interest of Canada and whether he will be able to use 
the franchise wisely, is determined by many forces of far greater importance than the mere 
act of swearing allegiance lo the adopted country and receiving thereupon the full rights 
and responsibilities of citizenship. Indeed it is quite possible for naturalization, when carried 
out prematurely, to be an actual menace to Canada’s democratic ideals as well as to her 
political and social institutions. 
However, the mere fact that an immigrant wishes to become a citizen is an assurance of 
nis permanent interest in the country, and may normally be taken as an indication that the 
assimilative process has proceeded to a moderate extent at least. The fact of naturalization 
is indicative of an. attitude towards the country very different from that of the immigrant 
who shows no desire to take out naturalization papers. Other things being equal, therefore, 
immigrants from those countries and of those stocks which are readily naturalized are to be 
oreferred as settlers to those among whom maturalization is unduly delayed, or among whom 
naturalization is the exception rather than the rule, 
This chapter analyses the extent to which naturalization has progressed among the 
different types of immigrants, examines the causes of the differences and compares the various 
nationalities as to the speed with which naturalization has taken place. The study, of 
sourse, includes only foreign born; those born in Great Britain or in other dominions or 
dependencies of the Empire are not required to “take out papers”. 
It might be well before proceeding with the analysis to mention a few of the general 
provisions of the Canadian naturalization laws which should be kept in mind in reading this 
chapter. First, if the head of the family is naturalized, the children under 21 years of age 
automatically become Canadian citizens. Second, if the husband is naturalized, the wife is 
automatically a citizen. Third, if the head of the family immigrates into Canada unaccom- 
panied and afterwards becomes naturalized, the wife and dependants under 21 become 
naturalized on arrival in Canada. Fourth, if a Canadian woman marries an alien, she 
oecomes an alien. Five years’ residence is required of those applying for naturalization. 
Table 78 shows the percentages naturalized of the foreign born by country of birth. 
The percentages measure the extent to which naturalization had taken place by 1921; and 
on so far as naturalization is an index of political assimilation the percentages, when 
compared one with another, indicate the relative degrees to which that process had 
advanced in the different groups of immigrant peoples up to that date. 
The outstanding fact in Table 78 is the remarkable difference between the various immi- 
grants. At the top stand the Icelanders with 86-4 p.c. naturalized; at the bottom are the 
Chinese with only 4:8 p.c. With percentages varying between such wide limits, the pro- 
portions naturalized of immigrants from 25 other foreign countries are arranged in order. 
Along with the Orientals at the bottom of the list are the Greeks and the Italians. The 
Scandinavians and Germans are at the top, where also are found the Hungarians. 
Lest it be thought that inclusion of women and children who are ipso facto naturalized 
when the husband or father takes out Canadian citizenship has an appreciable effect on the 
rank of the nationalities as shown in Table 78, a second table is presented (Table 79) which 
shows the proportions naturalized of foreign born male immigrants over 21 years of age