Focus Canada Fall 2025: What Canadians Are Saying About Immigration

A new Focus Canada survey—funded by Century Initiative and TMU’s Diversity Institute—finds concern about immigration levels has stabilized, views of the economic benefits remain positive and are rebounding, and opinions are polarized across party lines.

Summary

Canadians continue to see immigration as an economic strength even as pressure on housing and services remains top of mind. The latest Focus Canada (Fall 2025) results show a majority still says Canada accepts “too many” immigrants, with critiques focusing increasingly on government management and delivery. Perceptions of immigration’s economic benefits—positive but slipping in recent years—have begun to recover. Skepticism around integration and refugee claims edged up, and partisan divides widened.

Key findings (at a glance)

• Levels concern stabilizing. A majority still says Canada accepts “too many” immigrants, with critiques focusing more on government management and delivery.
• Economy lens still positive—now rebounding. After two years of slippage, more Canadians again say immigration benefits the economy.
• Integration & refugee skepticism up. More Canadians say newcomers aren’t adopting Canadian values (60%), and skepticism about refugee claims inched up (+3 pts).
• Persistent minority stereotypes. A sizeable minority associates immigration with higher crime and says Canada admits too many racial minorities (largely unchanged from 2024).
• Local impacts net neutral/positive. Despite concerns, Canadians continue to see benefits. Most say immigration helps the national economy and their communities; 8 in 10 believe immigrants are as likely as the native-born to be good citizens.
• Partisan divide widened. Conservative supporters are markedly more negative than Liberal/NDP supporters across most measures.

Century Initiative’s perspective

Public confidence improves when leaders show visible progress on practical levers: homes built, services expanded, and skills matched to jobs. That’s how we move the debate from anxiety to delivery.

You don’t build a stronger economy, more housing, or the capacity to invest in infrastructure, social services, and health care by focusing on blunt immigration caps. Canada needs smart, capacity-aware growth on two parallel tracks:

1. Maintain an ambitious, rules-based immigration system responsive to long-term demographics and labour needs; and
2. Accelerate capacity delivery—faster approvals, more purpose-built rentals, higher construction productivity, and targeted investments in health, education, and settlement.

Reading the survey results as a mandate for further immigration cuts risks undercutting growth just as aging demographics, skills gaps, and global competition intensify. The responsible path is a transparent delivery plan with measurable milestones Canadians can see.

Please review the full report for more information and details on the methodology and sample size of the survey.