50% Canadians Say Too Many Immigrants: Economic Worries | Poll Reveals

Key Takeaways

• Canada lowered permanent resident targets from 500,000 in 2024 to 395,000 in 2025, with stricter temporary resident caps.
• Over half of Canadians (52%) now believe immigration levels are too high, largely due to economic and housing concerns.
• Immigration policy now favors skilled workers, healthcare, and francophones, with new restrictions for spousal open work permits.

Over half of Canadians now believe there are too many immigrants in Canada 🇨🇦, a marked shift from just two years ago. This change is mostly being driven by economic anxiety, with mounting worries about housing costs and job opportunities. In 2025, the federal government has responded to these feelings by lowering the number of permanent residents allowed into the country over the next three years and, for the first time, setting strict caps on the number of temporary residents as well. The conversation across Canada 🇨🇦 is increasingly shaped by these concerns, as people from different regions and backgrounds see the effects of immigration in different ways.

Public Attitudes: A Historic Change

Polling in early 2025 shows that Canadians’ attitudes toward immigration have shifted strongly. In a recent survey, 52% of respondents said the country is letting in too many immigrants—an increase from 21% just two years earlier. Even after learning that the government will only admit 395,000 new permanent residents in 2025 (down from past years), the same percentage still said it was “too many.” Only 37% said the number was “about right.” Just 5% thought it was too low.

Jack Jedwab from the Association for Canadian Studies explained the significance, saying: “This concern about immigration has traction… It constitutes a challenge to this consensus… It’s a departure from what we’ve seen in the previous decade.” This means that the long-standing broad support for high levels of immigration is now facing real skepticism. The underlying reasons are much more about money and resources than about culture or identity.

Why Economic Anxiety Is Influencing Policy

Canadians who want fewer newcomers point to three main reasons:

• Housing affordability: About 39% worry that high immigration makes homes harder and more expensive to find.
• Pressure on social services: Roughly 21% say newcomers are straining resources such as health care or education.
• Job competition: Around 40% of those with economic anxiety, especially people with lower incomes, think immigrants are making it tougher to get or keep jobs.

Far fewer respondents focus on cultural changes when explaining their worries. Only about a third said they were concerned about changes to the “Canadian way of life.” This new pattern moves the debate away from earlier arguments about identity and places the spotlight squarely on everyday living costs and job security.

Immigration Policy Response: Lowering the Numbers

Faced with these clear signals of economic anxiety, the government has acted quickly and firmly. In the fall 2024 Immigration Levels Plan, the number of allowed permanent residents was cut by more than 100,000 for 2025, with even deeper cuts for the following two years. In 2024, the target was about 500,000. For 2025, it drops to 395,000; by 2026, it falls to 380,000; and by 2027, it will be 365,000. This is the largest drop in decades.

Historically, the country was a global leader in accepting newcomers, with almost one million migrants (both permanent and temporary) arriving during peak years like 2022. But now, the trend has reversed as Canadians’ economic anxiety has taken center stage.

Caps on Temporary Residents: A New Era

In a first for Canada 🇨🇦, the government has also set limits for temporary residents—including foreign workers and international students. These caps will be set each year, as announced by Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada (IRCC), to better balance the needs of the economy and the ability of communities to provide services like housing, health care, and schools.

The result? Many new permanent residents will now come from people who are already in the country holding temporary permits. By 2027, more than 40% of people granted permanent residency will have already lived in Canada 🇨🇦 as students or workers. Officials hope this will help smooth the transition, make it easier for communities to handle growth, and reduce shocks to the housing market.

Changing Priorities: Filling Labor Needs and Focusing on Skills

With fewer spaces available, the rules about who gets in have changed. Prospective immigrants are now being chosen more for their skills and their ability to fill high-demand jobs. The majority—nearly two-thirds by the end of the decade—will be selected through economic class programs. These focus on health care workers, skilled tradespeople, and people with prior Canadian work or study experience, such as those from the Canadian Experience Class or special regional pilot programs.

There are several new programs for 2025, including:

• Immediate permanent residency for in-demand caregivers.
• “Rural Community Pilots” aimed at attracting skilled workers to smaller towns facing labor shortages.
• “Francophone Community Pilots” outside Quebec, encouraging more French-speaking newcomers to settle in various parts of Canada 🇨🇦.
• A Manitoba West Central Initiative to attract skilled migrants and boost local economies.

Special attention is being given to sectors with shortages. So, if you’re a health care provider, construction worker, or skilled tradesperson with Canadian experience, your chances of qualifying are better under the updated system.

Stricter Rules on Spousal Open Work Permits

One important rule change affects spouses of international students and workers. As of January 21st, only spouses or partners of students enrolled in certain high-demand programs—or people filling specific job shortages—can get open work permits. This step is meant to slow the rapid growth in numbers of newcomers who arrive as family members of students, to keep better control over housing and job market impacts.

Regional and Demographic Differences Shape the Conversation

Attitudes about immigration in Canada 🇨🇦 aren’t the same everywhere. While a slim majority across the whole country agrees that the numbers are too high, the feeling is stronger in some regions. Alberta, Nova Scotia, and Saskatchewan show the most opposition. Quebec, Prince Edward Island, and the northern territories are less worried. Generally, lower-income Canadians and those earning less than $40,000 a year are much more likely to see current levels as excessive compared to higher-earning Canadians.

Men are a bit more likely than women to worry about economic impacts, while women are more supportive on the humanitarian side, such as welcoming refugees. These differences underline the way immigration is seen through different lenses, depending on where people live, how much they make, and what opportunities they see in their own communities.

If You’re Thinking About Immigrating to Canada 🇨🇦

So, how do these changes affect you if you want to move to Canada 🇨🇦? Or, if you’re already here as a temporary resident or hoping to sponsor family members?

Here are some important things to keep in mind:

• There’s more competition for permanent residency than before.
• Having Canadian work or study experience, or being trained for jobs that are in short supply, will make your application stronger.
• Program requirements are changing often, so always check the latest criteria before you apply. This is especially important if you need a spousal open work permit, as the rules now depend on studying and working in fields that are on the government’s “in demand” list.
• Francophone (French-speaking) immigrants are welcome, especially outside Quebec, and there are special streams for them.

Why These Changes Matter for the Future

The government faces a tough task: how to keep the country’s economy strong by bringing in new workers and families, while not overwhelming local communities, housing markets, and social services. As the Canadian population gets older and the birth rate stays low, the need for skilled newcomers is clear. Still, Canadians’ growing economic anxiety—a real worry about whether young people can afford a home, find a steady job, or get timely health care—is shaping every policy decision.

Official reports and Minister Marc Miller’s statements make it clear that future adjustments are on the way. The government has promised to continue updating policies each fall, using public input and the most current data about the economy, the job market, and how well newcomers are adjusting. The goal is to find the right balance so that immigration keeps supporting growth without making life harder for people already living in Canada 🇨🇦.

Summary Table: What’s Changed in 2025

Source: IRCC Immigration Levels Plan October 24th / Sultan Lawyers

A Closer Look at What Drives the Debate

For many Canadians, economic anxiety is not just about numbers—it’s personal. People want to know that schools, clinics, and housing are ready for newcomers, and that wages and job opportunities will not be squeezed. At the same time, business groups and some policymakers argue that fewer immigrants could mean more serious labor shortages, slower growth, and trouble caring for a large aging population.

There are also regional needs. Rural towns and some smaller provinces are eager to welcome more immigrants, especially French speakers and skilled workers, to keep schools open and local businesses running. Manitoba and parts of Atlantic Canada 🇨🇦 are leading on these new pilot projects.

Meanwhile, Francophone communities outside Quebec are getting more support, with annual targets aiming to increase the number of French-speaking immigrants all across the country. Pilot projects promise incentives and special pathways for these applicants, as part of a bigger plan to make sure French heritage and culture remain alive in every province.

Real-Life Impact for Canadians and Newcomers

For the average Canadian family, these policy changes may bring some relief, especially if housing prices slow down or job market competition becomes less intense. If you’re a newcomer, especially one already in Canada 🇨🇦 on a temporary permit, these new policies could make it easier to settle permanently—if you fit the current priority areas such as health care, skilled trades, or rural community programs.

But for those outside Canada 🇨🇦 hoping to bring family members, or for international students from fields not currently facing big shortages, things may get harder.

What Should You Do Next?

• Always look up the latest rules and eligibility criteria on the government’s official immigration site before deciding on your next steps.
• If you’re thinking about Canada 🇨🇦 as a long-term home, consider which parts of the country have the most demand for your skills.
• For families, check if your field of study or your partner’s job is on the updated list for spousal work permit eligibility.

VisaVerge.com’s investigation reveals that the new Canadian 🇨🇦 approach is both a response to public economic anxiety and a careful effort to keep the country open to skilled workers and families in need, despite growing pressures on housing and health care. This balance will likely be at the center of all future policy moves for the rest of the decade.

Looking Toward the Future

In the coming years, Canadians’ debates about immigration will keep focusing on the economy. The government’s steady policy reviews and new experimental programs show that more changes could come, especially as both public opinion and the nation’s needs keep shifting. For anyone interested in immigration, staying informed and paying attention to official updates is more important than ever.

As Canada 🇨🇦 works to find the right way forward, both Canadians and newcomers will be watching closely for how the country balances growth, economic anxiety, and its tradition of welcoming people from around the world. For the most up-to-date guidance on rules and programs, always check the official government website or talk to immigration professionals before making any big decisions.

Learn Today

Permanent Resident → A person allowed to live and work in Canada indefinitely, but not a Canadian citizen. May apply for citizenship later.
Economic Class Programs → Immigration programs selecting applicants mainly for their skills, education, and work experience, often in high-demand occupations.
Spousal Open Work Permit → A permit allowing spouses or partners of certain international students or workers to work in Canada for any employer.
Temporary Resident Cap → A government-imposed annual limit on the number of foreign workers, international students, or visitors allowed in Canada.
Francophone Community Pilots → Special immigration programs targeting French-speaking newcomers to settle in communities outside Quebec, supporting French language and culture.

This Article in a Nutshell

Canada has sharply reduced its immigration targets for 2025, reflecting rising economic anxieties and housing concerns. New policies now prioritize skilled workers and restrict temporary resident numbers, while most newcomers will come from within Canada. Anyone considering immigration should regularly check for updates, as program rules are rapidly evolving.
— By VisaVerge.com