In-house research by the Department of Immigration says 47% of Canadians feel there are too many immigrants coming into Canada, according to Blacklock’s Reporter.
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The 2024 IRCC Online Tracking Survey, conducted over a two-week period in November 2023 that coincided with street protests and antisemitic crimes following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, found the anti-immigration stance as high as 58% in Saskatchewan, 56% in Prince Edward Island, 52% in Ontario and 48% in Alberta.
“The research objectives of this study include assessing Canadians’ perceptions of immigration levels, the impact of immigration on Canada, Canada’s immigration system and priorities, and the settlement and integration of newcomers,” said the report.
When told the Immigration Levels Plan at the time proposed to let 485,000 immigrants into Canada in 2024, 56% rated it “too many.”
The report found 59% agreed “immigration has placed too much pressure on public services in Canada” while 58% agreed “Canada should focus on helping unemployed Canadians rather than looking for skilled immigrants for our workforce.”
Another 42% of respondents agreed immigration is causing Canada to change in unlikeable ways while 33% disagreed.
The report also found 63% agreed “that immigrants need to do more to integrate into Canadian society,” while 32% said “refugees take jobs away from Canadians.”
The survey says 38% agreed “refugees pose a risk to the safety and security of Canadians,” while 45% agreed “accepting refugees places too much pressure on public services in Canada.”
Findings were drawn from 2,279 people nationwide with Léger Marketing Inc. paid $49,991 by the Immigration Department for the report dated July 12.
In an Oct. 24 revision to its Immigration Levels Plan, Ottawa proposed to cut the number of landed immigrants to 395,000 next year.