47% of Canadians Say Immigration Levels Are Too High – But It’s More Complicated Than That

The finding has attracted lots of media attention. But – a closer look at the survey suggests Canadians’ views on immigration are more nuanced than the headline suggests.

While 47 percent of respondents said there are too many immigrants coming to Canada, most Canadians continue to see immigration as important to Canada. Canadians view immigration as important for economic growth, labour market needs, and cultural diversity. Plus, Canada’s refugee targets are seen as important humanitarian efforts.

The survey also points to a tension that has shaped Canada’s immigration debate in recent years: many Canadians support the idea of immigration, while expressing concerns that high levels of immigration place pressure on Canada’s housing supply and public services.

Of course, as we’ve written about in the past, immigration is not the main factor behind the cost of housing in Canada.

Key Takeaways:

• Nearly half of Canadians say immigration levels are too high: 47 percent of respondents said Canada admits too many immigrants, while 38 percent said current levels are about right.
• Most Canadians still see value in immigration: Majorities said immigration helps support economic growth, fill labour shortages, strengthen Canadian culture, and meet Canada’s humanitarian commitments.
• Housing remains the biggest concern: Among Canadians who think immigration levels are too high, housing affordability and availability were the most commonly cited reasons.
• Context can change opinions: When respondents learned that Canada’s 2026 permanent resident target represents roughly one percent of the country’s population, opposition to that target dropped significantly.

47 Percent of Canadians Say Immigration Levels Are Too High

When asked whether there are too many, too few, or about the right number of immigrants coming to Canada, 47 percent of Canadians said there are too many. Another 38 percent said immigration levels are about right, while 8 percent said there are too few immigrants.

Views varied across the country. Majorities in Alberta and Ontario were more likely to say immigration levels are too high. Quebec stood out as one of the provinces where respondents were more likely to say current levels are about right. Notably, Quebec’s government has made headlines in recent years for sharply limiting the number of immigrants admitted to the province.

The findings come after several years of historically high population growth and at a time when the federal government has already begun reducing both permanent resident admissions targets and temporary resident levels.

Canadians Still See Immigration as Important

At the same time, the survey found that many Canadians continue to view immigration as an important part of Canada’s future.

61 percent of respondents agreed that immigration is necessary to sustain economic growth in the face of Canada’s aging population. More than half also agreed that immigration is needed to help address skill and labour shortages in their local economy.

Demographic trends help explain why immigration remains a central part of Canada’s long-term economic strategy.

According to IRCC, Canada’s worker-to-retiree ratio has fallen sharply over the past several decades. While there were roughly seven working-age Canadians for every retiree 50 years ago, that ratio is expected to fall to approximately three-to-one by next year.

A smaller working-age population can make it more difficult to support economic growth, fill jobs, and fund public services like healthcare. And, of course, quality healthcare is both incredibly important and incredibly expensive for older individuals. Immigration is widely viewed as one of the tools available to help offset those pressures.

The survey also found that 58 percent of Canadians believe accepting immigrants from different cultures makes Canadian culture stronger, while 53 percent agree that Canada has a responsibility to do its part in accepting refugees.

Taken together, the findings suggest many Canadians continue to support immigration’s broader goals even as concerns about population growth have increased.

Housing and Public Services Remain Top Concerns in Canada

The survey offers some insight into why many Canadians believe immigration levels are too high. Among respondents who said Canada’s 2026 permanent resident target of 380,000 immigrants is too many, housing was the most frequently cited concern. 32 percent pointed to housing affordability, availability, or the broader housing crisis.

Another 31 percent cited concerns related to jobs and the economy, while 21 percent pointed to pressure on social supports.

These findings align with many of the concerns that have shaped recent federal immigration policy changes, including efforts to reduce temporary resident levels and slow overall population growth.

Context Can Change Public Opinion

One of the survey’s most interesting findings came when respondents were given additional context about Canada’s immigration levels. When Canadians were told that Canada plans to admit 380,000 permanent residents in 2026, 48 percent said that number was too high.

However, when respondents were told that 380,000 immigrants represents roughly one percent of Canada’s population, the share who said the number was too high dropped to 39 percent. Meanwhile, the proportion who said the target was about right increased from 37 percent to 43 percent.

The result suggests that how immigration numbers are presented can influence public perceptions. While many Canadians have concerns about immigration levels, providing additional context appears to shift opinions for at least some respondents.

The survey paints a more complex picture of Canadian attitudes toward immigration than headline numbers alone might suggest.

Many Canadians are concerned about the impact of population growth on housing, infrastructure, and public services. At the same time, majorities continue to recognize immigration’s role in supporting economic growth, addressing labour shortages, and helping Canada respond to an aging population.

In other words, the debate may not be about whether immigration is beneficial. For many Canadians, the question is more about how immigration levels can be balanced with the country’s capacity to support a growing population.

For politicians and policymakers, the survey provides an important wakeup call about the importance of informing the public about population levels, factors impacting affordability, and the long-term benefits of immigration. If the population understands the immigration levels and benefits, they’re more likely to be supportive of more robust immigration policy.