Today, the Environics Institute for Survey Research, in partnership with the Diversity Institute at the Toronto Metropolitan University and with ongoing support from Century Initiative, released a new national survey on Canadian public opinion regarding immigration and refugees, as part of its ongoing Focus Canada research program.
Here are the survey’s top takeaways:
1. Canadians continue to be more negative than positive about the direction of the country, and identified the top issues to be inflation and cost of living, unemployment, housing affordability and health care. A majority continues to believe the country’s economy is getting weaker. Notably, only 4% of Canadians noted immigration-related issues as a top priority.
2. For the first time in a quarter century, a majority of Canadians believe there is too much immigration, with these views linked to broader economic challenges. While 58% of Canadians feel current immigration levels are high, this sentiment is closely tied to concerns about housing and economic uncertainty.
3. Quebec has not avoided the broader trend of increasing concern about immigration levels, but it is happening at a slower pace and the gap in perspective with the rest of Canada continues to widen. Fewer than half (46%, up 9 from last year) of Quebecers agree with the statement that there is too much immigration, compared with an equivalent percentage (47%) who disagree.
4. There continues to be strong public recognition of the economic benefits of immigration. A significant majority (68%) of Canadians acknowledge the positive impact immigration has on the economy, though the figure has moderated from a high of 82% in 2022. This indicates ongoing support for immigration’s economic role, even amid challenging times.
5. While a majority of Canadians feel immigrants have a positive or neutral impact on their local communities (78%) there is a growing sentiment linking high immigration levels to broader concerns about integration and social cohesion. For example:
a. Over the past year, an increasing proportion of Canadians agree that many people claiming to be refugees are not real refugees (43%, up 7 points from 2023) and that too many immigrants are not adopting Canadian values (57%, up 9).
b. A majority of Canadians disagreed with the statement that immigration leads to more crime (51%), however, the gap between those who agreed is closing (35%, up 21 points from 2019).
6. Canadians continue to give some priority to newcomers across all categories of permanent and temporary status, while placing the highest value on those who can make economic contributions. They assign the highest priority given to those with specialized skills in high demand (73%) and those with good education and skills (64%), and least so to lower-skilled workers hired for short term jobs (28%) and internationals students (27%). Even Canadians who believe immigration levels are too high say the country should prioritize some categories of newcomers.
“The survey results invite Canadian leaders to rethink the way that we plan for growth, recognizing that critical action is needed to preserve the immigration consensus,” said Lisa Lalande, CEO of Century Initiative. “With one of the lowest fertility rates in the world, shrinking workforce participation, and productivity challenges, Canada’s future prosperity depends on strategic, well-managed immigration. Immigration must not be treated as a short-term lever to address immediate pressures, but rather as part of a smart growth framework that aligns with housing, education, and workforce development.”
Century Initiative continues to advocate for smart, long-term growth planning that contributes to building a resilient economy and inclusive society for generations to come. Together, we must ensure that immigration continues to fuel prosperity, drive innovation, and secure Canada’s future.
Read the report for more details.
Read the Globe and Mail coverage.
