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Haitian Canadians

Haitian Canadians (French: Haïtiano-Canadiens) are Canadians of Haitian descent or Haiti-born people who reside in Canada. As of 2016, more than 86% of Haitian Canadians reside in Quebec.^[2]

Haitian migration to Canada[edit]

Immigration[edit]

1960–1980[edit]

Immigration from Haiti to Quebec started in 1963.^[3] 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 second-largest source country for Quebec immigration, accounting for 8.4% of the total number of immigrants to Quebec in 1973.^[3]

The impact of Nationalism and Political Tension in Haiti on Immigration[edit]

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 François Duvalier.^[3] Duvalier had been contested by the leftist Unified Party of Haitian Communists, who failed in resisting Duvalier's authoritarian regime.^[3] 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.^[3] 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.^[4] The idea of “patriotic action” finalized with the potential deportation faced by around 700 Haitian Canadians from 1972 to 1973.^[3] 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.^[3]

Demographics[edit]

Haitian Canadians by Canadian province or territory (2016)[edit]

Province	Population	Percentage	Source
Quebec	143,165	1.8%	[6]
Ontario	17,715	0.1%	[7]
Alberta	2,235	0.1%	[8]
British Columbia	1,140	0.0%	[9]
Nova Scotia	355	0.0%	[10]
New Brunswick	305	0.0%	[11]
Manitoba	235	0.0%	[12]
Saskatchewan	185	0.0%	[13]
Prince Edward Island	35	0.0%	[14]
Newfoundland and Labrador	25	0.0%	[15]
Northwest Territories	10	0.0%	[16]
Nunavut	0	0.0%	[17]
Yukon	0	0.0%	[18]
Canada	165,095	0.5%	[19]

Notable Haitian Canadians[edit]

See also[edit]

• Canada–Haiti relations
• Haitian Americans
• Haitian diaspora
• Black Canadians in Montreal
• Roxham Road, unofficial border crossing used irregularly by many Haitians temporarily in the U.S. to seek asylum in Canada during 2017

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• 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