Canadians Losing Faith in Immigration System

By Mata Press Service

Despite a sharp decline in immigration levels and a slowing economy, more Canadians now believe the country is admitting too many newcomers, and a growing number say they don’t trust them either.

That’s the unsettling takeaway from a new survey by Leger for the Association for Canadian Studies, which found 62 percent of respondents think Canada is accepting too many immigrants. The data reflects a four-point jump since March and more than doubles the number who held that view in 2019.

But while most conversations around immigration have focused on economic pressures and the housing crunch, the survey shows something deeper is taking hold: a crisis of trust. Just 42 percent of Canadians believe immigrants can be trusted. When it comes to refugees, that number drops to 36 percent.

“This goes beyond inflation and rent,” said Jack Jedwab, head of the Association for Canadian Studies. “We’re seeing a growing perception that newcomers are not just putting pressure on services but may pose a social or even security risk. That perception, regardless of its accuracy, is driving attitudes,” he told the National Post.

The results land as Canada continues to recalibrate its immigration strategy amid a cooling labour market and public frustration over housing affordability. Ottawa’s promise to cut immigration by 25 percent this year has not eased public concern. The poll suggests the opposite: that reductions in numbers are doing little to rebuild trust in the system.

The mistrust cuts across demographics. Fifty-seven percent of immigrants surveyed said there are too many immigrants coming to Canada, along with 60 percent of non-immigrants. Among non-white respondents, the number was even higher at 61 percent.

Jedwab says this finding challenges simplistic narratives that pit “immigrant” against “non-immigrant” or “white” versus “racialized” Canadians. “The actual trust issue transcends those categories,” he said. “It’s a lot more complex than most people assume.”

This complexity is echoed across the provinces.

In Atlantic Canada, 71 percent of respondents said immigration levels are too high — the highest in the country. British Columbia was the most tolerant, but even there, 52 percent of respondents agreed with the statement.

In urban centers like Vancouver and Toronto, where international students and temporary workers make up a growing share of the population, concerns are not just about how many are coming — but who they are, how long they stay, and what impact they have.

According to the survey, 39 percent of Canadians want to see fewer foreign students admitted to the country, and 34 percent would reduce the number of temporary workers. Just 12 percent of respondents supported increases in either category.

“These numbers suggest we’re approaching a breaking point in the public narrative,” said a policy researcher who has tracked South Asian diaspora trends in Canada. “What we’re seeing is not just discontent — it’s a reframing of the immigration question as one about cultural cohesion, identity and trust,” he told the National Post.

Nowhere is this clearer than in attitudes toward refugees.

Among Canadians who believe too many immigrants are entering the country, trust in refugees drops to just 24 percent. By contrast, only 9 percent of those who trust immigrants say refugees cannot be trusted — a sign that once people’s views turn negative, they harden quickly.

In Vancouver’s South Asian communities, this shift is already playing out in quiet conversations.

“There’s growing anxiety about the legitimacy of refugee claims, especially among people who came here through regular processes,” said M. Singh, an immigration consultant based in Surrey. “People ask, ‘Why are they getting it easier?’ And that builds resentment.”

Even immigrants themselves aren’t immune to suspicion. While 53 percent of immigrants say they trust other immigrants, only 33 percent say they trust refugees — a lower number than among non-immigrants.

“These are nuanced tensions,” said Singh. “But they’re getting lost in the political noise.”

On the streets of Richmond, B.C., where newcomers from China, Hong Kong, and Southeast Asia form a majority, trust remains fragile. “People came here for stability,” said Andy Wong, a real estate advisor. “Now they’re seeing that it’s hard to get a doctor, rent is crazy, and the job market is flat. So they start looking for someone to blame.”

Some politicians have capitalized on this frustration, framing immigration as a threat to national cohesion. But Jedwab cautions against that kind of rhetoric.

“It is important that we properly understand what the factors are underlying the reticence about immigration,” he said. “Then, on that basis, we can determine how best to address them — rather than dismissing them.”

In the wake of the survey, experts are calling on Ottawa to launch a broad public education effort that reaffirms the value of immigration, while acknowledging the need for better planning around housing, jobs, and integration.

“This is not just about cutting numbers,” said Singh. “This is about restoring confidence in the system.”

Survey Highlights
From Leger/Association for Canadian Studies

• 62% of Canadians believe there are too many immigrants coming to Canada, up from 58% in March 2025 and just 35% in 2019.
• 42% trust immigrants; 36% trust refugees.
• Among those who think immigration levels are too high, trust in immigrants drops to 32%, and trust in refugees falls to 24%.
• Trust in refugees is lower among immigrants (33%) than among non-immigrants (38%).
• 39% of Canadians want fewer international students admitted; 34% want a decrease in temporary foreign workers.
• In B.C., 52% of people say there are too many immigrants, the lowest level among provinces. In Atlantic Canada, it’s 71% — the highest.