Sign in Subscribe
Immigrants

Canadians' Views on Immigration Shift: Majority Say Too Much Coming into the Country

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A new Environics Institute survey reveals a significant increase in Canadians expressing concerns about immigration, with 58% saying there is too much coming into the country, up 14 percentage points from last year. The research also found that while 68% of respondents believe immigration has a positive impact, this number is on the decline for the second consecutive year. The findings come as the federal government prepares to release a three-year plan for immigration levels by November 1.

Key Takeaways:

  • A clear majority of Canadians (58%) say there is too much immigration into the country, up 14 percentage points from last year.
  • The concern is most pronounced in the Prairie provinces, with Manitoba and Saskatchewan showing the most significant shift, up 34 percentage points.
  • The federal government's 2023-2025 immigration levels plan, which set targets of 465,000 new permanent residents in 2023, 485,000 in 2024, and 500,000 in 2025, may need to be revised in light of growing concerns about immigration numbers.
  • The survey also found that 68% of respondents believe immigration has a positive impact, but this number is on the decline for the second consecutive year.
  • Canadians are not rejecting immigration entirely, but rather expressing concerns about the volume of immigrants and the management of the system.
  • The top concerns among those saying there is too much immigration include pressure on the housing market (33%), the weak economy (29%), overpopulation (25%), and immigrants placing a drain on public finances (20%).

Statistics:

  • 58% of respondents say there is too much immigration into the country, up 14 percentage points from last year.
  • 68% of respondents believe immigration has a positive impact, but this number is on the decline for the second consecutive year.
  • The spokesperson for Immigration Minister Marc Miller stated that the government has heard Canadians' concerns about immigration and is committed to a well-managed and sustainable system.
  • The survey was based on interviews with 2,016 respondents aged 18 and over between September 9 and 23, with a margin of error of plus-or-minus 2.2 percentage points in 19 out of 20 samples.

Sources:

  • Environics Institute research
  • Statement from Immigration Minister Marc Miller's office
  • The Diversity Institute at Toronto Metropolitan University
  • The Century Initiative

Read more