Even after Canada slashed its 2025 immigration target from 485,000 to 395,000, most Canadians still feel it’s too high, according to a new IRCC-commissioned survey. About 54% say too many immigrants are coming, and even when told about the cut, 52% believe it’s still excessive.

The shift in public opinion is now less about who immigrants are and more about whether Canada has the capacity, housing, healthcare, and social support to handle them.

With new immigration plans lowering targets further to 380,000 in 2026 and 365,000 in 2027, the government is focusing on turning temporary residents into permanent residents. Still, nearly half of Canadians see immigration as a local positive, just not on a national scale.