A recent survey conducted by Leger for the Association for Canadian Studies and the Metropolis Institute indicates a notable shift in public sentiment towards immigration. Contrary to the traditional multi-partisan support for high immigration levels, the poll reveals that 50% of Canadians now express concerns about an excessive influx of newcomers, marking a significant increase from January 2023.
According to Jack Jedwab, president of the Association for Canadian Studies and the Metropolis Institute, this shift poses a challenge to the established consensus on immigration. He notes, “This concern about immigration has traction and certainly it constitutes a challenge to this consensus…. This suggests it’s a departure from what we’ve seen in the previous decade.”
The survey highlights a doubling of the percentage of Canadians who believe there are too many immigrants, reaching 50% in the recent poll, compared to only 21% in January 2023. Notably, this sentiment has remained consistent over the past six months.
This shift coincides with widespread concerns about the impact of high immigration on housing costs. In 2022, Canada welcomed over one million new temporary and permanent immigrants, pushing the population beyond 40 million. Responding to these concerns, the Liberal government announced in November 2023 that it would cap Canada’s annual immigrant intake at 500,000 starting in 2026.
Of those who feel there is excessive immigration, 39% believe immigrants are exacerbating the housing situation, while 21% perceive immigrants as “draining the system.” Jedwab explains, “They’re all rooted in this idea that our economy is challenged at supporting this number of immigrants, whether it’s housing or services, or so forth.”
While 7% of the population advocates for increased immigration, citing the need to fill job vacancies (37%) and prevent population decline (27%), concerns about immigrants changing the social fabric of Canada are not widely shared. Only 10% express concerns about becoming a minority, 8% believe new immigrants don’t adhere to Canadian values, and 4% think immigration is bringing criminals to the country.
The survey reveals similar levels of concern among white and non-white Canadians, with 51% of white Canadians and a slightly lower proportion of non-white individuals (47%) agreeing that there is too much immigration.
Maritimers emerge as the most immigration-averse, with 59% of New Brunswickers and 56% of Nova Scotians believing there are too many immigrants. This sentiment is echoed in British Columbia, Ontario, and Saskatchewan, where over 50% of residents share this view.
Income and gender disparities also play a role in shaping opinions on immigration. Canadians earning less than $40,000 per year are more likely (57%) to believe immigration levels are too high, while individuals with an income exceeding $100,000 are less concerned (46%).
Regarding Canada’s immigration strategy, 59% of those who think there are too many immigrants prioritize importing skilled workers over refugees. In contrast, those who believe immigration levels are appropriate favor family reunification (40%) and refugees (22%), while still acknowledging the importance of skilled workers (38%).
Support for temporary foreign workers and international students is generally low, with only 9-10% advocating for their prioritization across various demographic groups.
The poll, conducted between Feb. 23 and 26 with a sample of 1,590 Canadians, provides insights into the evolving perspectives on immigration, emphasizing the need for nuanced policy considerations in response to changing public sentiments.
Parvasi Weekly Inc.