Moral panic and governance in public policy: Canadian immigration policy, the city of Edmonton resolution and Blacks, 1906–1911

ABSTRACT

In 1911, the city of Edmonton passed a resolution against the settlement of Negroes (read as Blacks). Given the Canadian federal government’s mandate in immigration policy, the Edmonton resolution is only significant relative to the federal immigration acts of 1906 and 1910. This study, based on archival and other data sources, examines the influence of moral panic and governance in the resolution and immigration policy. The paper argues that state and non-state actors, outlined and pursued official and unofficial policies and practices to regulate the immigration of Blacks into Canada and offers a useful context for understanding Canadian immigration policy.

KEYWORDS:

• Blacks
• Canadian immigration policy
• city of Edmonton resolution
• governance
• moral panic

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).