1931 - Annual Convention

              S E V E N T E E N T H A N N U A L C O N V E N T I ON 49
The solicitation, encouragement and assistance of immigration from Great
B r i t a i n are abandoned for the present, and the same applies to immigration
f r om the United States. In explaining the action taken, the Department of
I m m i g r a t i o n makes it clear that this is a temporary measure impelled by the
unemployment situation, and that it is the future intention of the government
to control i m m i g r a t i o n so that it may no't in any way be a c o n t r i b u t i n g factor
to unemployment conditions.
Therefore it may be seen that the immigration situation in Canada has
changed from that of a country a n t i c i p a t i n g and encouraging a large influx
of newcomers, to that of a c o u n t r y which declines t o accept immigrants unless
they have the means to establish themselves and can so establish themselves
without in any way c o n t r i b u t i n g to unemployment in this country.
In considering our I m m i g r a t i o n for the future, there are some fundamentals
we should strive to keep in mind. As l o n g as we have our great open spaces
and our tremendous undeveloped resources, we shall require immigrants. W i th
a small population development comes too costly. We need more contributory
settlements to lower our freight rates, our cities need a greater citizenship
to support their development. ' No matter which way we people of Canada
turn, except for the present aggravated conditions of unemployment, we need
more people.
The basis of successful immigration is that the people who come shall be
able to make a living. Here in Canada we have our tremendous natural
wealth a w a k i n g successful development. Our natural resources form the basis
of our industries, as the development of our industries w i l l he the foundation
of our resumed prosperity. A n d I beseech you, let us one and a l l , consider
seriously how best we can assist in the development and b u i l d i n g up of our
own Canadian industries.
We have our tremendous resources awaiting development, we have abun­dant
raw materials, we have'fuel and power; our universities are every year
t u r n i n g out scholars w i t h degrees a n d so supplying the necessary b r a i n power;
we have everything right here in our country for the development of our
industries. Let us pledge ourselves to the support of our industries that so
we may hasten the return of prosperity.
L e t us remember that i n supporting Canadian industries, we are helping
ourselves. That every time we insist upon receiving a Canadian- made or an
Alberta- made a r t i c l e we are helping ourselves by keeping o u r r n o n e y in the
country, b y assisting i n the development of our resources, by g i v i n g our Can­adians
work, and by a s s u r i n g those who are coming to Canada that they shall
be able to make a l i v i n g when they come here.
A n d I ask you, has not the time come when we Canadians must make an
aggressive campaign in support of our own Canadian interests? Have we not
been letting things just drift along as best they might? The governments,
federal and provincial, have been holding up to view a l l u r i n g pictures of
" what- is- to- be," hoping to attract people to Canada. We Canadians know
absolutely that those prophesies w i l l be fulfilled, but there remains something
for us to do besides, and that is our loyal and devoted s u p p o r t . t o our own
Canadian industries.
I am glad to hear from Institutes on a l l sides, of the great pleasure and
profitable entertainment they are r e c e i v i n g through" their correspondence with
the L i n k s of E m p i r e . What a sense of warmth and f e l l o w s h i p these letters
b r i n g ust Many of the Constituency Conveners report that a l l the Institutes
i n their Constituencies have become " l i n k s " in this great E m p i r e Club. They