Immigrants, and immigration have always been central to Canadians' perception of themselves as a country and as a society. In this crisply written history, Valerie Knowles describes the different kinds of immigrants who have settled in Canada, and the immigration policies that have helped to define the character of Canadian immigrants over the centuries. Key policymakers and moulders of public opinion figure prominently in this colourful story, as does the role played by racism. This new and revised edition contains additional material which focuses on significant developments in the immigration and refugee field since 1992. Special attention is paid to Bill C-96 and its significance.