A majority of Canadians believe the federal government’s planned 16% reduction in immigration quotas does not go far enough, according to a government survey first reported by Blacklock’s Reporter.
The Department of Immigration survey found 54% of Canadians think current immigration levels are too high, with 52% saying the planned reduction to 395,000 annual immigrants by 2025 remains excessive.
Housing emerged as the primary concern, with 40% of respondents citing shelter costs and availability. Western provinces showed the strongest opposition to current immigration levels, led by Alberta at 61% and Saskatchewan at 59%.
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended recent immigration reductions, saying: “We are pausing population growth by reducing immigration numbers for the next two years so we can get back to a place where Canada can grow sustainably.”
The survey of 2,500 Canadians, conducted by Phoenix Strategic Perspectives at a cost of $74,956, comes as the government implements broader restrictions, including a cap of 606,250 international students and plans to reduce temporary foreign workers by 65,000 from 765,262.
Another U-Turn from Freeland
Liberal leadership candidate Chrystia Freeland announced Monday last week she would tie immigration numbers to housing availability. As finance minister, Freeland had called record immigration “essential to our economy,” but now says “As prime minister, I will fight to end the housing crisis.”
Freeland also made similar reversals on her stance on carbon tax and the capital gains tax increase.
The government estimates Canada needs 3.9 million new homes by 2031 to restore affordability — a target that housing experts call unrealistic.
“It is going to be difficult to attain. I don’t see how we will attain it with the current environment,” Bob Dugan, chief economist for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, told the Commons Finance Committee in 2023.
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