Immigration negative effect Canada perceptions are rising sharply, according to a new national survey that shows public opinion turning against one of the country’s most defining policies, with concerns growing across several provinces and influencing federal politics.
A poll released by Vancouver-based Research Co. found that fewer Canadians now believe immigration benefits the country, while nearly half say it is having a mostly negative impact. The findings highlight a significant shift in public mood compared with just a few years ago, as debates around housing, services, and population growth intensify nationwide.
Support for Immigration Falls to One-Third
The online survey, conducted among a representative national sample, found that only 34% of Canadians believe immigration is having a mostly positive effect on the country. That figure is down nine percentage points from a similar poll conducted in July last year.
In contrast, negative views have climbed at an equal pace. The survey shows 48% of respondents now believe immigration is having a mostly negative effect on Canada.
Negative Perceptions Nearly Double Since 2022
Research Co. President Mario Canseco noted the rapid change in attitudes over a short period.
“In February 2022, only 26% of Canadians described immigration in a negative light,” Canseco said in a statement. “The proportion has jumped to 48 per cent in the first month of 2026.”
The data suggest that dissatisfaction has moved beyond concerns about immigration levels and toward broader skepticism about immigration itself.
Provincial Differences Highlight Regional Divides
The poll found that a majority of respondents in Ontario, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta hold unfavourable views on immigration. In British Columbia and Quebec, negative sentiment was present but less pronounced.
These regional differences point to varying pressures and political dynamics across the country, particularly related to housing availability, labour markets, and public services.
Canadians Favor Reducing Immigration Levels
Beyond perceptions of impact, the survey found strong support for lowering immigration intake. About 42% of respondents said they want the number of legal immigrants allowed to relocate to Canada to decrease. This is more than three times the proportion of Canadians who support increasing immigration levels.
Previous surveys from other polling firms had already indicated unease with high immigration targets, but the latest findings suggest a deeper and more widespread shift in opinion.
Also read: India-EU Trade Deal Signed: Why It’s the ‘Mother of All Deal’
Political Reactions and Policy Shifts
Former immigration minister Jason Kenney highlighted the poll results on social media, placing responsibility on the policies of former prime minister Justin Trudeau.
“This is perhaps Justin Trudeau’s single biggest failure: turning the developed world’s strongest pro-immigration consensus on its head by wrecking what was once a model immigration system”.
Responsibility should also be shared by parts of the business community, political groups on the left, and several provincial governments that pushed for higher intake levels while accepting lower standards.
Immigration has become a central political issue under Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government. In November, the federal government announced measures aimed at reducing overall intake, including cuts to the number of international students and temporary foreign workers.
Rising Xenophobia Raises Alarm
The shift in sentiment has also raised concerns about xenophobia. CBC News has reported that far-right groups in Canada are increasingly calling for “remigration,” a term used to advocate mass deportations of ethnic minorities.
Indians, who make up the largest immigrant group in Canada and are a visible minority, have emerged as a primary target of anti-immigrant rhetoric, according to recent reporting.
As immigration continues to shape Canada’s political and social landscape, the survey underscores the growing challenge facing policymakers as public opinion hardens.