A poll by Nanos and the Globe and Mail shows Canadians no longer support ambitious immigration goals due to unaffordable housing costs. .The data shows support for immigration in Canada has wavered substantially even within a year’s time. Whereas in March 2023, 34% of Canadians surveyed wanted the country to accept fewer immigrants than the 2023 target, which is 465,000 people, now 53% want fewer immigrants than the target. .The study also finds Canadians want to admit less international students. .In October 2022, a poll by the Environics Institutes found Canada was at an all-time high in its desire for immigrants and refugees. .The poll showed seven out of 10 Canadians supported the current immigration targets, which were higher than ever before in 45 years of the institute's research. .Now, Canada has a new immigration plan, and is pursuing even higher immigration levels for permanent resident status. .As per the Liberal government’s 2023-2025 Immigration Levels Plan, Canadians can expect 465,000 new residents by the end of 2023, to increase incrementally to 500,000 a year by the end of 2025. .Marc Miller, Immigration Minister, said he does not expect the targets to drop. .“I don’t see a world in which we lower [immigration targets],” Miller said. “The need is too great. .“Whether we revise them upwards or not is something that I have to look at but certainly, I don’t think [we will] lower them.”.Miller asserted immigration helps to “reduce labour shortages” and supplement Canada’s retiring workforce. .Sean Fraser, Canada’s Minister for Housing and Infrastructure denies reducing immigration would not greatly drive down living costs for Canadians. Contrarily, Fraser told CBC in July solving the housing crisis would be based on building the national workforce. .Canadians are beginning to disagree with Miller and Fraser..The 2022 Environics study showed 15% of Canadians attribute the rising cost of homes, now an average of upwards of $650,000, to immigrants. .Desjardins demonstrated in a recent survey that demand for affordable housing is greater than supply, and The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) found through its research Canada will have to meet a quota of 3.5 million homes by 2030, plus the 18.2 CMHC claimed would be available, to bring houses down to an affordable rate.
