EXTENT OF NATURALIZATION IN THE VARIOUS PROVINCES 153 
than in Canada as a whole, though numerical strength may also be a factor. All the 
influences mentioned above are operative in fixing the percentage for the fourth case 
above the average in the province of Ontario, that of the Germans. 
In Manitoba, the Dutch, Norwegians and United States immigrants, contrary to the 
general rule for the province, show lower percentages naturalized than for Canada as a 
whole No explanation is offered in the case of the immigration from the Netherlands, 
though the fact that the Dutch are much more urban in Manitoba than in Alberta and 
Saskatchewan may have considerable influence. Probably a difference in occupation might 
also help to explain the case, but occupational data by countries of birth are unfortunately 
not available. The same remarks apply to the Norwegians. However, in comparison with such 
large negative deviations in the eastern provinces, the small negative deviation of minus 
0-4 p.c. indicates a situation very much more favourable to naturalization in Manitoba, and 
that is the significant thing. The Japanese in Manitoba are abnormally urban and have a 
relatively small percentage of females as compared with other provinces. These two facts 
seem adequate to explain the behaviour of these immigrants there, though of course other 
{actors may enter in. 
In Saskatchewan only one group fails to run true to type, namely, the Icelanders. For 
them Saskatchewan appears to be slightly unfavourable to naturalization, but that fact may 
be explained on the basis of an unduly large surplus of males in that province. Of the three 
important groups of immigrants for whom Alberta has a smaller percentage naturalized than 
for Canada as a whole, the figures for the Danes and (Germans seem explicable only on the 
grounds of recent arrival, and the figure for the United States may be attributed to recent 
arrival, coupled with a comparatively small percentage of females among the immigrants 
to that province. The exceptions are more difficult to explain in British Columbia, and in 
the absence of occupational data a detailed analysis of the figures for that province is left 
to those who are familiar with the conditions there and in particular with the vocations of 
the various groups of immigrants. 
If the percentage naturalized for each group of foreign born be traced through the 
iprovineial figures, it will be seen that on passing from east to west the percentages fluctuate 
with remarkable uniformity of direction though not as to extent. As will be emphasized 
below, the several immigrant groups show marked differences in the amount of fluctuation, 
but the point of emphasis here is on the fact that in passing from one province to another, 
the direction of fluctuation tends to be the same for virtually all groups of immigrants. 
The exceptions are comparatively few, and in most cases are traceable to very obvious causes. 
If it be true, then, that for most groups of immigrants naturalization has proceeded 
further in the three Prairie Provinces and to an unduly small extent in British Columbia 
and the older provinces of Ontario and Quebec, the question arises as to what underlying 
forces are at work. The following suggestions are made: In the first place, the provinces 
differ as to rural and urban distribution of the foreign born. The people in cities are more 
mobile. A greater percentage might be described as a “ floating population.” In the rural 
districts, on the other hand, and especially in the Prairie Provinces under the homesteading 
system of acquiring land, permanency of residence is more marked, and a much more definite 
interest is to be expected in the local and ultimately in the provincial and Dominion Gov- 
vernments. Besides, the homestead laws have definitely stimulated naturalization. The 
above factors are suggested as the main explanation of the general differences between 
provinces, though length of residence, proportion of men and women, occupational differences 
and many other factors are important in explaining the differing behaviour in respect to 
naturalization of the different sections of a given nativity group in the various parts of the 
Dominion.