Origin, Birthplace, Nationality and Language
of the Canadian People
INTRODUCTION
DATA RELATING TO NATIONALITY, BIRTHPLACE, LANGUAGE AND ORIGIN
AS COLLECTED BY THE CANADIAN CENSUS
The population schedule of the census contains altogether thirty-five questions, of
which ten bear om the related subjects of nationality, birthplace, language and origin.
(1) Nationality —FEach and every person is asked to state his nationality or citizenship.
A person of Canadian citizenship or nationality, whether such by birth. domicile or naturali-
zation, is recorded as * Canadian ”.
(2) Birthplace—The country of birth of each person is recorded, and in the case of
Canadian born, the provinee of birth. Further, the birthplaces of the father and mother
of each person are also recorded for the purpose of distinguishing Canadian families of three
or more generations residence in the country.
} (3) Language—The language spoken is recorded, whether English, French or other
language used in the family.
(4) Origin—The “origin ” of each person is also recorded in order to ascertain from
what basic stocks the Canadian population is being derived.
} The answers to the above questions are not only compiled separately, but in com-
nation and cross-relation with each other, and are drafted with the purpose of throwing
light from as many points of view as possible on the growth and present composition of the
Canadian people.
It is noted from the above, that the census describes everyone of Canadian nationality
13 “Canadian ”; everyone born in Canada, as of “Canadian” birth; and everyone whose
‘amily has been of three generations residence (or more) in Canada. as “Canadian” in a
special sense.
Nationality and Citizenship —At the last three decennial censuses of 1901, 1911 and 1921
nquiry has been made into the nationality of the population. The relevant instructions to
2numerators at the 1921 census were as follows: —
“It is proper to use ‘Canadian’ as descriptive of every person whose home is in the
sountry and who has acquired rights of citizenship in it. A person who was born in the
United States, or France, or Germany or other foreign country, but whose home is in Canada
and who is a naturalized citizen, should be entered as ‘ Canadian’; so also should a person
born in the United Kingdom or any of its colonies whose residence in Canada is not merely
temporary. An alien person will be classed by nationality or citizenship according to the
sountry of birth, or the country to which he or she professes to owe allegiance.
“A married woman is to be reported as of the same citizenship as her husband. . .
“A foreign-born child under 21 years of age is to be reported as of the same citizenship
as the parents.”
The fact that foreign-born persons who have been in Canada less than five years (the
length of residence required to obtain naturalization) are reported as “ Canadian citizens”
$11 virtue of the operation of the Naturalization Act of 1914, which provides that the fol-
vowing persons shall be deemed to be British subjects:—
(a) © Any person born within His Majesty’s dominions and allegiance; and
. (8) Any person born out of His Majesty's dominions, whose father was a British sub-
lect at the time of that person’s birth and either was born within His Majesty's allegiance or
Was a person to whom a certificate of naturalization had been granted; and
opt) Any person born on board a British ship whether in foreign territorial waters or
