Public Opinion on Immigration in Canada: Shifting Sentiments and Influencing Factors (June 2025)
- Kanwarjit Singh Lall
- Jun 23
- 2 min read
The Tide Turns: Public Concern Rises
After decades of broad support, support for higher immigration levels has flipped in recent years. By late 2024, almost 58% of Canadians believed “too much immigration” was entering the country – making the highest levels since the late 1990s and the steepest change since tracking began in 1977. Ledger polls found three in four Canadians blamed immigration to worsening housing and health care pressure. For many people, housing affordability and Health-care and public services remains the main concern while there is a category of people who believe system mismanagement topped growing concerns.
Despite rising concerns over levels, Canadians continue to see immigrants themselves as benefit – especially those with high-demand skills. Survey shows a strong preference for “quality over quantity,” favouring skilled immigrants from labour-market needs while deprioritizing temporary workers and international students. Notably, even those who say “immigration is too high” still support giving high priority to skilled permanent residents.
Rising public unease has influenced policy. The Trudeau government reduced permanent residency targets-from 485,000 in 2024 to 395,000 in 2025, then to 365,000 by 2027-citing housing and service stress.
This newly introduced Strong Borders Act in June 2025-tightened asylum access, increasing enforcement, and granting new inspection powers-is viewed by advocates as a reaction to growing public pressure. Support for scaling back immigration is strongest in Ontario and B.C., particularly across the Prairies, while Quebec remains comparatively moderate.
Canadians broadly recognize immigration’s economic and cultural value—but no longer at any cost. The consensus now asks for strategic, needs-based, and well-managed immigration—prioritizing skilled newcomers, aligned with housing availability and social infrastructure capacity.
Policymakers face a key challenge: driving immigration to support population aging and labor needs, while winning back public trust through housing expansion, integration investments, and clear, sustainable targets.
Conclusion: A Call for Balance and Vision
As Canada continues to welcome newcomers, the conversation around immigration is no longer just about numbers—it’s about readiness, fairness, and long-term vision. Public concerns over housing, healthcare, and system capacity highlight the need for smarter immigration policies that match growth with infrastructure and opportunity.
The road ahead isn’t about closing doors—it’s about ensuring that when we open them, we’re truly ready to support those who walk through. For immigration to remain Canada’s strength, it must also be Canada’s shared responsibility.
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