Why Canadians Are Growing More Divided on Immigration

If you’re planning a move to Canada, already living here, or trying to make sense of the noise around immigration levels, these changing attitudes might feel unsettling. Totally understandable. So, let’s walk through what’s happening, why it matters, and what it actually means for your future in Canada. 

What the Latest Data Shows About Canada’s Growing Immigration Divide 

Several major polls from late 2024 and 2025 point toward the same trend, Canadians are more divided about immigration than they’ve been in decades. 

The Environics Institute for Survey Research, 2025 

Here are the big numbers that keep coming up: 

• 56% of Canadians now say immigration levels are “too high.”

• Only 38% disagree that there is too much immigration to Canada

• Conservative voters are far more likely to want lower numbers (82%).

• Liberal and NDP supporters remain more positive, often highlighting economic and cultural benefits (30-40%). 

This isn’t just a small wobble in public opinion. Researchers say it’s the widest political gap on immigration recorded in more than 25 years. 

That might sound dramatic, but it doesn’t mean Canada is becoming hostile. It means the conversation is changing. And many of the concerns that Canadians raise – housing, healthcare access, cost of living are things newcomers feel too. 

Provincial Differences 

Public sentiment isn’t changing evenly across Canada. The Focus Canada 2025 survey shows some striking regional patterns in how people view immigration levels: 

• Alberta saw one of the biggest increases, with two-thirds of residents now saying Canada takes in too many immigrants.

• Quebec also moved upward, with more residents agreeing immigration levels are too high compared to last year.

• Ontario, however, went in the opposite direction with the share of people who feel there’s too much immigration declining.

• Manitoba and Saskatchewan recorded some of the largest reversals in the country; this sentiment is now “much less evident than a year ago,” according to the report. 

In short, while the national mood has intensified in some places, it has actually softened in others – a reminder that immigration debates look very different depending on where you live, the local economy, and the pressure people feel on housing or public services. 

What’s Driving Canada’s Shift in Immigration Attitudes 

Immigration attitudes tend to reflect what people are experiencing in their daily lives. 

Lately, Canadians have been feeling squeezed: 

• Housing costs remain high. When rent climbs or bidding wars make headlines, people instinctively ask what’s affecting demand.

• Healthcare wait times are longer. So when someone can’t find a family doctor, they question capacity.

• Groceries, gas, utilities – everything feels heavier on the wallet. Economic anxiety shapes how people interpret population growth. 

Newcomers are also feeling the strain. 

An OMNI–Leger poll of recent immigrants found that 67% want Canada to admit fewer than 300,000 newcomers a year, and four in ten prefer fewer than 100,000. Many say rising costs, long processing times, and shifting policies make the system feel harder to navigate than before. 

These frustrations create the backdrop. But the data shows something more specific: 

What Canadians Think About Immigrants Overall 

• 36% of Canadians believe immigration increases crime – unchanged from 2024 but higher than at any point in the last decade.

• 39% say Canada accepts too many immigrants from racial minority groups, also steady year-over-year but still elevated compared to the 2010s.

• 80% believe someone born outside Canada is just as likely to be a good citizen as someone born here.

• 70% agree immigration has a positive impact on the national economy – a small rebound after a two-year decline.

• 75% say immigrants make their communities better or have no effect, while just 15% believe newcomers make their community worse.

Why Canadians Think Immigration Levels Are Too High 

• Government mismanagement is now the top concern. One-third of Canadians who believe immigration levels are too high say the problem is poor government management – a sharp rise over the last two years.

• Economic worries remain strong. About 31% say immigration hurts the economy or takes jobs from Canadians.

• Housing pressure is still a concern, but less than before. The share citing housing dropped to 27%, down from a peak in 2023.

• Concerns about overpopulation and public finances are steady. 20% mention these factors, same as last year.

• Cultural, health, and security concerns are relatively low. Only 13% cite cultural threats, and just 5% mention health or security risks.

• “Too many foreign students” is a very minor reason. Only 4% raise it as a concern. 

So while Canadians feel the pressure of affordability, infrastructure, and cost-of-living challenges, the data shows the core frustration isn’t newcomers themselves – it’s how the system is being run. 

Political narratives amplify this. Parties portray immigration as either essential for future growth or as a strain on resources, and those messages shape public opinion. Over time, views on immigration become less about personal experience and more about political identity. 

How Does Today Compare to a Few Years Ago? 

Not too long ago, Canada stood out for its cross-party agreement on immigration. In 2002, 58% of respondents agreed that immigrants from many different cultures make Canada stronger. 

Back then: 

• Fewer people said levels were too high. 

• Cultural concerns were much lower. 

• Immigration wasn’t a clear political identity marker. 

Now it’s almost the opposite. Opinions are more intense and clearly tied to political affiliation. It doesn’t mean Canadians are closing their doors; it just means they’re focusing more on how immigration interacts with housing, services, and planning. 

But it’s also important to note that opinions have stabilized since 2024 (the share saying immigration levels are “too high” is actually down 2%), and support for immigration’s economic value remains strong. 

What Does This Mean for You as a Newcomer or Applicant? 

Here’s where things get practical. First, your pathway to Canada isn’t disappearing. Programs like Express Entry, the PNPs, work permits, and pathways for international students are still active, and the government continues to frame immigration as essential. 

But you might notice a few changes in the coming months or years: 

• More adjustments to temporary programs. Conversations and changes to policies about international student numbers or temporary worker programs – not because Canada doesn’t want newcomers, but because it’s trying to balance capacity.

• Closer attention to settlement supports. Housing and healthcare planning may be tied more directly to immigration policy.

• More public debate. Louder, more emotional, and more intertwined with politics. 

The takeaway is to stay informed, stay flexible, and don’t let headlines shake your confidence. Canada still needs immigrants, and Canadians still recognize the value newcomers bring even when they disagree on the numbers. 

The Bigger Picture 

Political debates come and go. Housing markets rise and fall. But immigration and the people behind it remain a core part of Canada’s story. 

If you’re planning to move, or you’re already here navigating the system, this moment of debate doesn’t change your worth or your prospects. Understanding public sentiment simply helps you read the landscape with clearer eyes. 

And if you want to stay ahead of policy changes or find the best pathway for your situation, stick with trusted resources and guides.