OTTAWA — Anti-immigration sentiment, which had been growing stronger in Canada over recent years, is beginning to ease, according to the results of a new survey. Jack Jedwab, head of the Association for Canadian Studies, noted that when compared with data from the past three years, Canadians’ concerns regarding immigration levels have shown signs of softening. The findings were revealed in a poll conducted earlier this month by EKOS on behalf of the Association for Canadian Studies.
Opinions vary across provinces regarding whether immigration levels in the country are too high, appropriate, or insufficient. Overall, 45 per cent of surveyed Canadians expressed the view that there are “too many” immigrants in Canada, while 31 per cent felt the current numbers are “just right.” Only 13 per cent of respondents stated that there are “too few” immigrants in the country.
Regional Breakdown Across Provinces
A look at the provincial data shows that respondents in the Atlantic region and the Prairie provinces were most likely to hold the view that immigration levels are too high:
- Manitoba and Saskatchewan: 52 per cent believe there are too many immigrants.
- Atlantic Canada: 50 per cent feel immigration levels are too high.
- Alberta and Ontario: 46 per cent share this view.
- British Columbia and Quebec: Recorded the lowest agreement with this sentiment, at 39 per cent and 40 per cent respectively.
Conversely, British Columbia led the country in feeling that current immigration levels are appropriate, with 34 per cent stating the number is “just right,” followed closely by Alberta and Quebec at 32 per cent each (compared to 26 per cent in Manitoba and Saskatchewan).
British Columbia also had the highest proportion of respondents (18 per cent) stating that there are “too few” immigrants in the country, followed by Quebec at 16 per cent, Atlantic Canada at 13 per cent, and Ontario at 12 per cent.
