Majority of Canadians Have Positive View of Immigration

In October 2016, the Canadian Race Relations Foundation and the Environics Institute surveyed 2,000 people who live in Canada regarding their attitudes toward Canadian immigration and immigrants.

A key goal of this research was to find out whether increased immigration to Canada has had a negative impact on the views that Canadians have toward immigrants and Canadian immigration, as has occurred lately with increased immigration to Europe and the United States.

The results of the survey indicate that most people who live in Canada continue to hold a positive view of Canadian immigration and of immigrants, even though immigration to Canada has increased significantly in recent years.

This survey also discovered that 80 percent of Canadians think that people who immigrate to Canada contribute to the country’s economy.

Furthermore, the survey found that the majority of people who live in Canada do not believe that Canadian immigration levels are too high, while 90 percent think that a person who is foreign-born “is just as likely to be a good citizen” as a person born in Canada.

Not only do most people who live in Canada hold positive attitudes toward Canadian immigration and immigrants, but Canada’s government also thinks that immigration is important for the country.

The Canadian government, led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, has declared support for increased immigration to Canada.

In fact, 320,932 people were approved for Canadian immigration between June 2015 and June 2016, which was the highest level of immigration to Canada on record.

Although skilled foreign workers are seen as an asset for the Canadian economy, the Liberal government of Prime Minister Trudeau also considers it important to allow more families and refugees to immigrate to Canada.

Under the current Canadian government, approximately 31,000 refugees fleeing the Syrian Civil War have already been able to immigrate to Canada and the government has been discussing allowing even more refugees to live in Canada as permanent residents.

Nonetheless, the largest numbers of Canadian visas are issued to skilled foreign workers who are needed to fill thousands of high-demand jobs in Canada.

The Canadian government is expected to maintain high levels of immigration to Canada to meet a growing labor shortage as more Canadians retire from the labor force.

Thus, while many countries and governments have taken a negative view toward immigration and immigrants, this survey reveals that Canada continues to be one of the most immigrant-friendly countries in the world.

Consequently, with Canada’s government, businesses and the majority of its population strongly supporting immigration and immigrants, now is a good time to apply for a Canadian visa.

To receive a personalized, professional assessment of your eligibility to apply for a Canadian visa to live in Canada as a permanent resident, click here!