At the same time however, there were certain jobs which white citizens considered to be below their social standards and therefore refused to accepts, especially in the precarious conditions offered by employers. By comparison, taking into consideration the fact that immigrants usually left their countries precisely given the terrible conditions experienced there, were more willing to accept low paid jobs and endure severe conditions rather than go back. This feeling was exploited to the full by employers who rarely treated immigrants as employees with equal rights. This was seen as expensive, especially in the construction industry and the railroad and road building because it would have implied certain protection equipment and particular interest for the working hours and rest time, which in turn would have determined a lower productivity rate. Overall, it can be concluded that Canada, soon after its emergence as a new young nation, was in great need of labor force and of population. In this sense, the government encouraged immigration from parts of the world such as China, Eastern Europe, as well as black immigrants. However, most of the times, they came lacking high expectations and were often exploited and discriminated by white citizens and employers. Indeed, due to the certain disequilibrium their presence created on the labor market, the competition between white employees and immigrant workers became a social issue and thus an attitude of exclusion was built. Driven by the need to improve their working conditions and their remuneration, by the turn of the century, immigrant workers were among the first to voice their demands for social equality and responsibility, as well as other work related rights, which had an important contribution to the establishment of a fair and representative working environment.

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Idem, 25.

Terry Morley, Dangerous foreigners: European immigrant workers and labor radicalism in Canada, 1896-1932. (Toronto: McCLelland and Stewart, 1979)

Idem, 29.

Gillian Greece. Exclusion or solidarity? Vancouver workers confront the 'Oriental Problem'. BC Studies, no80, 1988-89, 24-25.

P. Jenkins, a history of the United States. (New York: Palgrave, 1997).

Idem.