It probably has also to do with this:
Most Canadians are in favour of restrictions on the number of qualified immigrants accepted into the country each year, a new poll suggests.
A survey conducted by Forum Research for the National Post found that 70% of the 1,755 Canadian adults polled supported limits, and most Canadians who were born in another country (58%) agreed. Among those whose parents were not born in Canada, 66% were in support of limiting the number of qualified immigrants over admitting all prospective qualified newcomers, the poll showed.
Roderic Beaujot, a professor emeritus of sociology at Western University whose research looked at population and immigration, says he was surprised that there was agreement between the various groups.
“It’s interesting that the attitudes are not too different… To me, this is a very realistic thing.
“Immigrants would know that it would be difficult for Canada to admit all qualified immigrants,” he said.
Support for immigration limits was steady across the provinces and across party lines, with a range of between 64% and 77% among all regions and political affiliations, the Forum Poll showed.
The poll also showed that 60% of Canadians say that immigrants should be able to hold dual nationality, and 81% were in favour of allowing immigrants to bring their spouse and dependent children along with them.
We’re actually more welcoming than we make ourselves out to be
“There is enthusiasm for controlled immigration of immediate families from countries with our values, and Canadians see no reaon why immigrants can’t hold on to their previous nationality,” said Lorne Bozinoff, the president and founder of Forum Research. “We’re actually more welcoming than we make ourselves out to be.”
The survey comes about two weeks after the Canadian government released its preliminary 2012 immigration figures. The latest numbers showed that the country admitted 257,515 immigrants last year, up from 248,751 the year prior.
The statistics are up, but the Harper government has been taking steps in recent years to tighten the criteria of those admitted into the country to better match economic needs and limit abuse of the system. Under Citizenship and Immigration minister Jason Kenney, the government has tightened language requirements for new arrivals, rolled out harsh penalties for those who lie on immigration forms, and focused more on applicants with needed skills in the Canadian labour market.
But Jack Jedwab, the executive director of Montreal-based think-tank Association for Canadian Studies, said most Canadians were satisfied with the number of immigrants coming to Canada.
Source: The National Post