Canadians Support Immigration But Not Increase In Immigration Levels

06 Aug 2010

As per the latest Nanos Research poll for Policy Options, the monthly magazine published by the Institute for Research on Public Policy, most Canadians think that immigration is good until the current immigration level is maintained or reduced.

Nik Nanos, president and CEO of Nanos Research, a national public opinion research firm based in Ottawa said,” These conflicting findings might appear counterintuitive, however, they are logically consistent with the current economic cycle,” Adding to this, he said,” In the present economic cycle, coming out of a severe recession, Canadians are more supportive of the status quo. In other words, immigration is a good thing, but we don’t want too much of a good thing.”

As per the polls, four out of five Canadians agree or somewhat agree that immigration is a key positive feature of Canada as a country. One in three (32.4 percent) believes immigration levels should be decreased. Canadians are supportive to the immigrants survival in foreign country, they feel that support through language and labour market has to be provided to help immigrants settle in Canada.

 “Overall the results of this poll are very positive on immigration and related issues, subject only to the caution that, in difficult times, such as those we have recently experienced, Canadians generally do not have an appetite for immigration levels to be increased,” notes Nanos.