In a high-stakes federal election year, marked by issues of national sovereignty, trade relationships, and changes in migration policy, immigration is one of many issues that has taken centre stage in public and political discourse.
To dig deeper into Canada’s views on immigration, we partnered with the Broadbent Institute and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. The result is a research report that brings nuance and new insights to the conversation.
Here’s a quick look at what we found:
Canadians value immigration but are watching the system closely.
Support for immigration remains high – but after decades of relatively open immigration, opinions are shifting, and many are expressing concern.
- 45% say immigration generally has had a positive impact on Canada, while 22% say the impact is neutral.
- 38% say their opinion on immigration has changed recently – and they now think Canada show allow fewer immigrants.
People are worried about housing and public services – and see immigration as both part of the problem and the solution.
Immigration is often tied to concerns about affordability, access to healthcare and education, and economic sustainability.
- 69% believe that immigration makes housing harder to find and more expensive.
- 65% believe that immigration puts a strain on services like healthcare, education, and social programs.
- But 66% support immigration policies that focus on welcoming more doctors, nurses, and home-building professionals.
- 50% say that immigration helps to grow Canada’s workforce and keeps our social programs sustainable.
People support immigration policies that prioritize skills and fairness.
There’s clear support for immigration policies that meet labour market needs. But there’s also concern about fairness, particularly when it comes to temporary worker programs.
- The most prioritized type of immigration is workers with specialized skills in high-demand fields, with 47% citing this as the top priority.
- 61% think the Temporary Foreign Worker Program should be stopped or significantly concerned, given concerns about exploitation.
- 53% think that immigration pushes wages lower and increases competition for jobs.
The Takeaway
This research uncovers the mix of economic concerns and values shaping Canadians’ views on immigration. People want a system that addresses affordability, ensures fairness, and works for everyone.
If you’re interested in learning more about this research and want to dive deeper into the findings and the methodology, you can read the full report here.
At Viewpoints, we go beyond top-line numbers to help clients understand how people are really thinking and feeling – and what that means for their strategies.
Connect with us if you’re looking for research to inform public conversations and drive change.