A new Research Co. survey released 29 January shows a sharp erosion in public support for immigration. Just 34 % of respondents believe newcomers have a “mostly positive” effect on Canada, down nine points since July 2025, while 48 % say the impact is negative. Majorities in Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba hold unfavourable views, whereas British Columbia and Atlantic Canada remain more evenly split.
The findings come only weeks after Ottawa tabled its 2026-28 Immigration Levels Plan, which holds permanent-resident admissions steady at 380,000 but cuts temporary-resident targets by 43 %. Housing shortages, health-care wait times and infrastructure strain were cited by many respondents as reasons for concern.
Organizations and prospective immigrants looking to navigate these shifting targets can turn to VisaHQ. The firm’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) provides up-to-date guidance on Canadian visa categories, document checklists and application timelines, helping both employers and individuals adapt quickly as quotas and rules evolve.
![Poll: only one-third of Canadians now see immigration as positive]()
From a global-mobility standpoint, waning public enthusiasm could translate into tighter provincial nominee quotas, stiffer labour-market tests and stronger enforcement of housing-eligibility rules for foreign workers and students. Multinationals that depend on migrant talent may need to bolster community-engagement efforts and demonstrate the local economic benefits of their mobility programmes.
Mario Canseco, president of Research Co., noted that attitudes continue to vary by age: Boomers are slightly more positive (37 %) than Generation X (29 %). Nevertheless, 42 % of all Canadians want legal immigration levels reduced, signalling political pressure ahead of the 2027 federal election.
Employers should watch for policy signals such as adjusted occupation-in-demand lists or caps on postgraduate work permits, and consider alternative pathways—e.g., intra-company transfers or the CUSMA professional visa—for critical hires.
The findings come only weeks after Ottawa tabled its 2026-28 Immigration Levels Plan, which holds permanent-resident admissions steady at 380,000 but cuts temporary-resident targets by 43 %. Housing shortages, health-care wait times and infrastructure strain were cited by many respondents as reasons for concern.
Organizations and prospective immigrants looking to navigate these shifting targets can turn to VisaHQ. The firm’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) provides up-to-date guidance on Canadian visa categories, document checklists and application timelines, helping both employers and individuals adapt quickly as quotas and rules evolve.
From a global-mobility standpoint, waning public enthusiasm could translate into tighter provincial nominee quotas, stiffer labour-market tests and stronger enforcement of housing-eligibility rules for foreign workers and students. Multinationals that depend on migrant talent may need to bolster community-engagement efforts and demonstrate the local economic benefits of their mobility programmes.
Mario Canseco, president of Research Co., noted that attitudes continue to vary by age: Boomers are slightly more positive (37 %) than Generation X (29 %). Nevertheless, 42 % of all Canadians want legal immigration levels reduced, signalling political pressure ahead of the 2027 federal election.
Employers should watch for policy signals such as adjusted occupation-in-demand lists or caps on postgraduate work permits, and consider alternative pathways—e.g., intra-company transfers or the CUSMA professional visa—for critical hires.
