Nearly Half of Canadians Say Immigration Levels Are Too High, Survey Finds
A recent government-commissioned survey indicates that a significant portion of Canadians believe the country is admitting too many immigrants, although overall concern has slightly decreased compared to previous years.
The survey found that 47 percent of respondents said Canada is currently accepting “too many” immigrants, while 38 percent felt the intake level is “about right.” This reflects a decline from a similar survey conducted in late 2024, when 54 percent expressed concern about high immigration levels.
Public views shift with added context
The results showed that opinions varied depending on how information was presented. When participants were informed that Canada’s immigration target is approximately 380,000 permanent residents annually, views remained largely unchanged.
However, when respondents were told this figure represents about one percent of the country’s total population, the number of people who believed immigration levels were too high dropped to 39 percent, while 43 percent considered the intake appropriate.
Key concerns highlighted
Among respondents who felt immigration levels are too high, the most commonly cited issues included:
- Housing affordability and availability
- Pressure on the job market
- Strain on social services
Approximately one-third of this group identified housing-related challenges as a major concern.
Economic and cultural perspectives
Despite concerns, many Canadians continue to view immigration as beneficial for the economy. The survey found that:
- 52 percent believe immigration helps address labour shortages
- 61 percent say immigration supports long-term economic growth, particularly as the population ages
- 58 percent agree that cultural diversity strengthens Canadian society
Temporary immigration in focus
Temporary immigration, including foreign workers and international students, has become an increasing topic of public discussion in recent years.
The federal government has set a goal to reduce the proportion of temporary residents to five percent of the total population by 2027.
When asked about this target:
- 41 percent expected a positive impact
- 29 percent expected a negative impact
- 23 percent remained neutral
- 7 percent did not respond
Survey details
The survey was conducted by Phoenix Strategic Perspective between November 12 and December 4, 2025, using telephone interviews with 2,500 participants. The margin of error is approximately ±1.96 percent, 19 times out of 20.
The findings were submitted to the federal government in February and later published on a public opinion research portal.
