Conservative Voters Lead Surge in Canadians Worried About Immigration

The number of Canadians who believe the federal government is letting in too many immigrants has grown sharply in recent years. A new poll from Environics Institute shows that this concern is especially strong among Conservative voters.

According to the survey, 82 per cent of Conservative voters now say there is too much immigration. That is double the number from five years ago and the highest level recorded in 48 years of polling on this question. Overall, 56 per cent of Canadians say there are too many immigrants, a number that has also risen quickly over the past five years.

Keith Neuman, a senior associate at Environics, said this change in opinion has happened very quickly, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. The recent surge in newcomers, which added about one million people per year for three years, has put pressure on housing, health care, and other public services. Conservatives, in particular, have reacted negatively.

While some Liberal and NDP voters have also grown concerned, their numbers have slightly declined in the past year. Neuman said the gap in opinion between Conservative, Liberal, and NDP voters is now the largest ever recorded.

Frustration with the government’s handling of immigration and concerns about the impact on the economy and housing are the main reasons for this shift. Neuman emphasized that this change is not linked to racial prejudice, and there is little difference between first-generation Canadians and those born in the country.

Former Conservative immigration minister Jason Kenney said that the Trudeau government has damaged Canada’s long-standing support for immigration. He noted that some newcomers are now supporting Conservatives due to the government allowing large numbers of international students and temporary foreign workers.

The Conservative Party is responding with new policies, including caps on newcomers, ending certain temporary worker programs, and tightening rules for birthright citizenship. Party leader Pierre Poilievre and immigration critic Michelle Rempel Garner have called for these changes to restore public trust in the system.

Experts say the Conservatives are trying to balance their stronger stance on immigration with the need to maintain support from new Canadians, which could be important in future elections.