Poll Shows Canadians Favor Setting Immigration Levels

A recent poll has confirmed that Canadians favor responsibility in immigration, including measures such as setting limits on intake of immigrants. When asked the question “should Canada accept all qualified immigrants who want to enter the country, or should we limit the number of immigrants allowed each year?” a majority voted for the latter. This majority was somewhat greater amongst respondents born in Canada (73 percent) than respondents born outside of Canada (58 percent).

The poll asked a number of additional immigration-related questions. An overwhelming majority favored immigrants accepted to Canada being allowed to bring their immediate family with them, but most did not support these same immigrants bringing in extended family. Sixty percent of respondents believed that Canadians should be allowed to hold dual nationality, but 62 percent agreed that immigrants should abandon cultural values when they conflict with Canadian values and practices.

One surprise revealed by the poll was the similarity between responses made by Canadian-born respondents and those born outside of the country. Speaking to The National Post on the subject, Professor Roderic Beaujot, an immigration researcher, stated that “it is 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.”

Support for setting limits was also roughly equivalent across provincial and political party lines. It is important to note that such support does not equate to a fear of or antipathy towards immigrants. Indeed, another recent poll has revealed that a majority (60 percent) of Canadians are not particularly concerned about immigration levels.