Anti-immigrant sentiment is growing in Canada

 

Nearly half of Canadians are dissatisfied with increasing immigration, the report said. The study was conducted by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship of Canada. Most people believe that more immigrants are coming to the country than they need.

The IRCC online tracking survey was conducted over a two-week period in November 2023. This was during the height of Hamas’s Israeli attack and the subsequent protests. The survey recorded the highest anti-immigration sentiment in Saskatchewan. About 58% of people here expressed an anti-immigration stance. Opposition to immigration was highest in Prince Edward Island, 56% in Ontario, 52% in Alberta, and 48% in Canada. The study covered Canadians’ perceptions of immigration levels, the impact of immigration, Canada’s immigration system and priorities, and the settlement and integration of immigrants. While the government has proposed allowing 485,000 immigrants to Canada in 2024, 56 per cent of respondents said this was too much. 58 per cent of respondents said that instead of looking for skilled immigrants to strengthen the workforce, unemployed Canadians should be empowered to do so.