Haitian Canadians

Haitian Canadians are Canadian citizens of Haitian descent or Haiti-born people who reside in Canada.

Haitian Canadians
Haïtiano-Canadienne

Total population
165,095 (by ancestry, 2016 Census)[1]
Regions with significant populations
Mostly Quebec, with smaller populations in Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia
Languages
Canadian French, Canadian English, Haitian Creole
Religion
Predominantly Roman Catholicism and Protestantism
Related ethnic groups
Haitians, French Canadians, Black Canadians, Haitian Americans

Citizens from the Francophone Caribbean island nation of Haiti began immigrating to Canada in the 1960s, settling predominantly in Montreal, Laval, Ottawa and smaller cities in Quebec. Their choice to settle in Quebec is mainly due to their fluency in French. The Canada 2016 Census showed a total population of 165,095 Haitian-Canadians residing in Canada.

Haitian Migration to Canada

Immigration

1960-1980

Immigration from Haiti to Quebec started in 1963.[2] Haitian settlement in the Quebec municipality Montreal increased about 40% between the late 1960s and the early 1970s. Immigration data from 1968 shows that Haiti placed fifteenth in overall origin countries outputting migrants to Quebec; in addition, Haiti had 1.6% of the total immigration percentage of Quebec in 1968. In the span of five years, Haiti became the 2nd overall source country for Quebec immigration, possessing 8.4% of the total immigration percentage of Quebec in 1973.[2]

The impact of Nationalism and Political Tension in Haiti on Immigration

The migration of Haitian immigrants between 1969 and 1974 can be understood through the political institutions in place within Haiti at the time. Haiti was governed by way of a dictatorship, led by Francois Duvalier.[2] Duvalier had been contested by the left-leaning Unified Party of Haitian Communists, who failed in resisting Duvalier's authoritarian regime.[2] Duvalier's death and the subsequent succession of his son Jean-Claude Duvalier led to the notion of “patriotic action”, a declaration of nationalism directed towards Haitian Canadian and Haitian American immigrants, as well as a call to action in assisting their Haitian brethren.[2] Haitian Canadians joined forces with their home country brethren in some cases to assist in the "“resolution of the Haitian crisis” and to attempt to establish greater leftist political power.[3] The idea of “patriotic action” finalized with the potential deportation faced by around 700 Haitian Canadians from 1972 to 1973.[2] These Haitian Québécois joined forces under a protest movement in regards to their rights as citizens; these protests were organized by the Christian community of Haitians of Montreal.[2]

Demographics

Number of Haitian nationals granted permanent residence in Canada by year[4]
Year	Number of Haitian nationals admitted	Total number of permanent residents admitted	Proportion of permanent residents admitted
2002	2,217	229,048	1%
2003	1,945	221,349	0.9%
2004	1,657	235,823	0.7%
2005	1,719	262,242	0.7%
2006	1,650	251,640	0.7%
2007	1,614	236,753	0.7%
2008	2,509	247,246	1%
2009	2,085	252,174	0.8%
2010	4,552	280,691	1.6%
2011	6,208	248,748	2.5%

Notable Haitian Canadians

Further information: List of Haitian Canadians

See also

• Canada–Haiti relations
• Haitian diaspora
• Haitian Americans
• List of Haitians
• List of Haitian Americans
• Black Canadians in Montreal

References

1. Statistics Canada. "Census Profile, 2016 Census (Canada [Country])". Retrieved 28 July 2019.
2. Jadotte, Herard (June 1977). "Haitian Immigration to Quebec". Journal of Black Studies. 7 (4): 485–500. doi:10.1177/002193477700700407. JSTOR 2783949.
3. Thérien, Jean-Phillipe; Mace, Gordon (Summer 2013). "Identity and Foreign Polity: Canada as a Nation of the Americas". Latin American Politics and Society. 55 (2): 150–168. doi:10.1111/j.1548-2456.2013.00197.x. JSTOR 43286320.
4. "Facts and figures 2011 – Immigration overview: Permanent and temporary residents". Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Archived from the original on December 30, 2012.

External links

• The Haitian Community in Canada
• Multicultural Canada: Haitians
• Haitian Consulate General in Montreal
• Montreal International Haitian Film Festival
• Quebec Government Portal: Relations with Haiti
• Article on Haitian immigration to Quebec