Canadians Say Immigration Boosts Economy, But Distrust Government Management

On this page you will find

• Key findings from the 2025 Environics Focus Canada survey
• Why “too much immigration” sentiment has stabilised
• How partisan polarisation has become the central story
• Views on refugees, values and crime
• Local impacts and what still makes Canada unique
• What Ottawa must fix to rebuild trust

Overview – a nuanced public that likes immigration, but not the way it’s run

The 2025 Environics Institute Focus Canada survey paints a complex picture of public opinion on immigration. Conducted in September 2025, it finds that most Canadians continue to recognise the value of immigration for the economy but remain frustrated with how the federal government manages the system.

Despite global instability and economic pressure at home, Canadians’ fundamental support for immigration’s role in building the economy and maintaining population growth remains strong. Yet trust in Ottawa’s ability to administer it fairly and efficiently has eroded.

Immigration levels – attitudes have stabilised but remain elevated

A majority of Canadians – 56 per cent – continue to say there is too much immigration. This figure has stabilised after two years of sharp increases. The concern is now less about newcomers themselves and more about government performance.

More Canadians than ever now cite “poor government management” as their main reason for believing immigration levels are too high. People worry about inefficiency, lack of housing coordination, and pressure on public services.

Regional differences are striking. The perception of excessive immigration has grown in Alberta and Quebec but declined sharply in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Ontario and Atlantic Canada also show modest declines. Across the country, men are more critical than women, while views among immigrants and Canadian-born residents are now nearly identical.

Polarisation – immigration as a political dividing line

Immigration has become one of the sharpest fault lines in Canadian politics. Eighty-two per cent of Conservative supporters say there is too much immigration, compared with 40 per cent of Liberals and 30 per cent of New Democrats. This partisan gap is now the widest recorded since the late 1970s and shows no sign of narrowing.

This political split extends to almost every aspect of the immigration debate – from refugees and integration to perceptions of crime. Supporters of the governing Liberals tend to see immigration as an economic and cultural strength, while Conservative supporters increasingly view it as a strain on resources and national identity.

Economic perceptions – support for immigration’s benefits remains strong

Seven in ten Canadians believe immigration positively impacts the economy. This marks a small rebound after two years of decline. Canadians largely accept that immigration fills key labour shortages, supports economic growth, and keeps communities vibrant.

Support is highest among university-educated Canadians, first-generation immigrants, and those who support the Liberal or New Democratic parties. In contrast, nearly half of Conservative supporters disagree that immigration helps the economy, underscoring deep political divisions.

Canadians’ growing pessimism about the broader economy – with a majority believing it is getting weaker – helps explain their ambivalence. People still value immigration but increasingly question whether the government can balance intake levels with housing, healthcare, and job availability.

Refugees – questions of legitimacy and oversight

Public concern about refugees has grown. Forty-three per cent of Canadians now believe that “many claiming to be refugees are not real refugees,” continuing an upward trend that began in 2021. The increase is strongest in Atlantic Canada, Quebec, and British Columbia, and most pronounced among older Canadians.

Refugees make up a small proportion of all newcomers, yet doubts about the legitimacy of claims show how much immigration issues have become tied to broader concerns about system integrity and fairness. These doubts also mirror frustration with processing delays and communication from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Among Conservative voters, more than seven in ten now share the view that many refugee claimants are not genuine. Among Liberal and NDP supporters, fewer than one in three agree.

Integration and values – a growing cultural unease

Canadians are becoming more anxious about social cohesion. Sixty per cent now say too many immigrants are not adopting Canadian values, up three points from last year and continuing a three-year upward trend.

This concern has risen most among young adults, first-generation Canadians, and residents of Quebec and British Columbia. Alberta remains the province where this view is most widespread.

A third of Canadians agree that immigration increases crime, while four in ten believe the country accepts too many immigrants from racial minority groups. These proportions are unchanged from 2024 but remain higher than a decade ago. While these sentiments represent a minority view, they show how cultural anxiety and economic uncertainty can intersect.

Despite these concerns, eight in ten Canadians still believe that someone born outside Canada can be just as good a citizen as someone born here. This enduring belief in equality and civic participation distinguishes Canadian public opinion from the more polarised immigration debates seen in other Western countries.

Local and community impacts – cautious optimism

When asked about their local communities, Canadians remain more positive than negative. Twenty-nine per cent say immigrants make their communities better places, compared with 15 per cent who say they make them worse. Nearly half say immigration makes no major difference either way.

Residents of British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan are the most likely to say newcomers improve their communities. Liberal and NDP supporters also tend to hold more positive local views than Conservative supporters.

When Canadians describe how immigration improves their community, most point to multiculturalism, diversity, and the energy newcomers bring to local economies through new businesses and jobs. Those who see negative effects mention the erosion of local culture or identity, pressure on housing, and strain on public services.

Overall, these findings show that immigration’s impact is often perceived as neutral or modestly positive – a far cry from the polarised tone sometimes seen in online debates.

What makes Canada unique – multiculturalism still leads

Multiculturalism, diversity, and tolerance remain the defining features of Canadian identity. Thirty-six per cent of Canadians say these qualities make the country unique, well ahead of references to geography, democracy, or natural resources.

However, that figure is down ten points from 2021, suggesting that while diversity remains central to national pride, it now competes with growing concerns about affordability, inequality, and the economy.

Multiculturalism remains most strongly valued by racialised Canadians, university-educated respondents, and supporters of the NDP. Even among those less inclined to support immigration, multiculturalism continues to be mentioned more often than any other national trait.

Regional patterns – a country of contrasts

• Manitoba and Saskatchewan: Attitudes have softened considerably. The number of residents who think there is too much immigration dropped by 20 points, and more now say immigration makes their communities better places to live.
• Alberta: Continues to show the highest share of residents who believe immigration levels are excessive and that newcomers fail to adopt Canadian values. Yet a majority still accept that immigrants can be good citizens.
• Quebec: Concern about immigration levels and crime has risen, while pride in diversity as part of Canadian uniqueness has declined. Refugee scepticism also increased notably.
• British Columbia: Stands out for high confidence in immigration’s economic contribution, though cultural concerns have also grown.

These contrasts underscore how local economies, housing markets, and political cultures shape perceptions.

Political implications – immigration as a new battleground

The widening partisan gap has implications for both major parties. For Conservatives, tough rhetoric on immigration may continue to energise supporters but risks alienating moderate voters who still view immigration as essential to economic growth.

For Liberals and New Democrats, the challenge is to maintain confidence in the system while responding to legitimate public frustrations about housing, processing delays, and integration support. The data suggest that improving administration, not simply adjusting immigration targets, will be key to rebuilding public trust.

The new immigration levels plan for 2026–2029, expected later this month, will test the government’s ability to communicate clearly about how immigration links to housing, labour shortages, and long-term demographic goals.

The underlying story – trust, competence, and communication

What emerges most clearly from the 2025 survey is that the Canadian public is not rejecting immigration itself. Rather, people are calling for competence, planning, and honesty.

The notion that Canada’s immigration system is mismanaged – slow, inconsistent, and uncoordinated with housing and infrastructure – is now the most common concern. Canadians remain pragmatic: they believe immigration is good for the country when managed well.

This pragmatic mindset gives Ottawa a clear path forward. By improving processing times, ensuring better oversight, and linking immigration levels to visible planning in housing and healthcare, the government could stabilise support across party lines.

The survey also shows that Canadians still see diversity and inclusion as central to national identity, even if the intensity of that pride has faded. The challenge for policymakers is to reaffirm that identity in practical, well-managed ways that reflect competence rather than ideology.

A system that works

The 2025 Environics Institute Focus Canada survey reveals a public that remains supportive of immigration’s economic and social benefits but increasingly distrustful of government management.

Immigration has stabilised as an issue of national concern but become more politically polarised than ever. Canadians are not turning against newcomers; they are demanding a system that works.

With a new immigration levels plan on the horizon, the government’s credibility may depend less on the numbers it announces and more on whether Canadians believe it can deliver an efficient, fair, and transparent system that serves both newcomers and the communities that welcome them.

Canadian Attitudes on Immigration and the Economy: Frequently Asked Questions