POPULATION. In 1703 the French population amounted to about 65,000, confined to the imme diate vicinity of the lower Saint Lawrence' and its tributaries; in 1791 Upper Canada had 50.000 inhabitants and Lower Canada 130,000. In 1861 the total population, exclusive of Indians, was 3,090.561 ; in 1 S71, 3,6:35.024 ; in I SS I , 4,324,810 ; in 1891, 4,533.239; and in 1901, 5,371,315. In 1901 there were 3.065,799 persons of English origin. 1.649.352 of Freneh. and :309,741 of Ger man. The following table shows the distribu tion of the population by divisions in the years 1891 and 1901: It will thus be seen that the Canadian popula tion increases but slowly, the growth for the last decade being less than 10 per cent.. not so great as Avouhl result from the natural increase by birth, the birth-rate being high, as indicated by the average size (5.1 ±) of families. The most marked growth has taken place in the Western region. Much of this is attributed to the in creased interest in mining. According to the census of 1901, the foreign-born were distributed as follows: British Islands, 290,016; British possessions, 15,837; foreign countries, 27S,SO4 ( l'nited States, 127,891) ; not given, 14,5,89. In the eastern provinces large numbers have crossed the international boundary into the States particularly into the; New England States. There is a decided tendency on the part of many Cana dians to pass back and forth across the boundary according to seasonal changes in the labor mar ket. The population of Canada includes a large variety of race elements, and the process of amalgamation has been much less active than in the States. The great expanse of area and the sparseness of the inhabitants admits of isolation, and is largely responsible for the lack of amalgamation. The French, who were the first settlers, located principally along the Saint Lawrence, in what is now the Province of Quebec, and their descendants still constitute a large majority of the inhabitants of that province. In the determination of the policy of the British Government formerly, and of the Dominion to day, the presence of this French element has been and is a main consideration. The French language is still commonly spoken, and is even permitted and often heard in the Dominion Par liament. The French were the hunters and trap pers of the early days, and in this capacity scattered throughout the vast domain, mingling freely and amalgamating with the Indians, which accounts for the population of half-breeds so largely represented in Manitoba and the North west Territories. The French Canadians are well represented also in the recent Western coloniza tion. In the other Eastern provinces people of British descent are in the great majority—the Scotch in Nova Scotia and the English in the other three. The Trish are well represented in the larger cities. The eastern townships of Quebec were settled by loyalists from the revolt ed American colonies, who emigrated there dur ing or following the time of the American Revo lution. Ontario received a large contingent of the New England opponents to the War of 1812.
In 1900 the Indians in Canada were estimated at 99.000, as follows: British Columbia, 24.523; Manitoba and the Northwest Territory within treaty limits, 24,46S ; Ontario, 20,703 ; Northwest Territories outside of treaty limits, 14,566 Que bec, 10,785: Nova Scotia, 20IS ; New Brunswick, 1039; Prince Edward Island, 303. The number seems to be decreasing, hut, owing to the uncer tain accuracy of the early enumerations, it is impossible to ascertain the amount of the de crease. The care of the Indians is in the hands of the Indian Department of the Dominion Gov ernment, which has a superintendent of Indian affairs in each province. Reservations are pro vided for the different tribes, but the Indians are not necessarily confined to them. Special pro visions, such as annuities and financial assist ance, are provided for the Treaty Indians. Others, however, such as those of British Colum bia, successfully support themselves. Acts passed by the chiefs and councilors for the regulation of local affairs may he enforced if approved by the Government. Rights of franchise and full citizenship are given the tribes as they become sufficiently advanced in civilization. Mull prog ress is being made in this direction, especially by the tribes of British Columbia, yet hunting and fishing remain their chief occupations, though they work in many sawmills, fisheries, etc. Inter tribal conflicts are of rare occurrence, nor has their relation with the General Government been characterized by so great a degree of friction as has prevailed the United States.
Religion.—There is no State Church, hut to the Roman Catholic Church in Quebec arc guaranteed the privileges enjoyed previous to British pos session. This Church was the first and for a long time practically the only Church in the Canadian territory, and still includes the great mass of the population of Quebec, and over two fifths of the total church membership of the Dominion. The Catholics are of least relative importance in Ontario and Manitoba. The Metho dists, Presbyterians, and Anglicans rank next in order of importance. While all these are well dis tributed throughout the various provinces except Quebec, the :Methodists are far in the lead in Ontario, but are exceeded by the Presbyterians in some of the other provinces. particularly Nova Scotia. Neither of the two latter de nominations is divided into numerous factions, as in the United States. Of other denomina tions. the Baptists and the Lutherans are the strongest. The leading sects have each one or more divinity schools. The following table gives the membership of the leading denominations: Cities.—The per cent. of urban population is low. Winnipeg, Vancouver, and Sydney had the highest rate of increase during the last decade. The following gives the population of the princi pal cities, as returned by the census of 1901: Slontreal, 266.000; Toronto, 207,000; Quebec, 6S,000; Ottawa. 59.000; Hamilton, 52,000; Win nipeg. 42.000; Halifax, 40,000; Saint John. 40, 000; London, 38,000; Vancouver, 26,000.