From the 1870s until the Great Depression, immigration was often "the question of the hour" in Canada. Politicians, the media, and an array of interest groups viewed immigration as essential to nation-building, developing the economy, and shaping Canada"s social and cultural character. Organized labour was one of the groups most determined to influence public debates and government policies on the issue. In "Guarding the Gates", David Goutor provides the first detailed study of Canadian labour leaders" approach to immigration. He explores unionists" hostility toward immigrants from Asia as well as from eastern and southern Europe. Labour leaders were also relentless critics of the agents, promoters, and philanthropic groups involved in recruiting immigrants. Moreover, immigration was often a key battleground in struggles between different political factions within the labour movement, and played a central role in unionists" visions for social reform and developing the Dominion. "Guarding the Gates" provides new insights into labour, immigration, social, and political history. It will be valuable not only to readers interested in the internal politics of social movements, but to everyone concerned with long-standing debates about Canadian national identity, and gender, ethnic, and race relations.