Public Opinion on Immigration and Refugees: 2026
Canada | 2026
The latest findings of a new national survey from the Environics Institute for Survey Research and the Diversity Institute at Â鶹ÊÓƵ show Canadian show Canadian opposition to immigration levels has shifted, with opinions split on the question "Canada has too much immigration" and strong support for the importance of immigrants to the economy. Between 2022 and 2024, the proportion of Canadians who believed there was too much immigration more than doubled, rising from 27% to 58%.
The findings come as Canada faces ongoing demand for skilled workers, productivity challenges and concerns about housing and infrastructure. They also reinforce the Diversity Institute's longstanding research showing that immigrants are critical to Canada's economy, but barriers to employment, education, credential recognition and entrepreneurship prevent many from contributing to their full potential.
Key Findings
Some of the most important findings of 2026 Focus Canada survey include:
- 75% of Canadians agree immigration has a positive impact on the economy, up from 68% in 2024.
- 48% believe there is too much immigration, down from 58% in 2024 and 56% in 2025. An equal proportion (48%) disagree. In 2022 just
- 27% believed there is too much immigration.
- Among Canadians who believe there is too much immigration: 28% cite poor management of the immigration system, 28% cite concerns about employment or the economy and 26% cite housing prices, down from 38% in 2023.
- However, 68% reject the notion that immigrants take jobs away from other Canadians, up eight percentage points from 2025.
- The vast majority of NDP supporters (80%) and nearly two-thirds of Liberal supporters (64%) do not agree with the notion that Canada accepts too many immigrants, compared with only 20% of Conservative supporters.
- Large majorities of Liberal (87%) and NDP (86%) supporters agree that the economic impact of immigration is positive, while Conservative supporters are divided (50% agree and 45% disagree).
Read the full report to get more details about Canadian opinions on immigration, refugees and their impact on the Canadian economy.
