A recent poll by The Association for Canadian Studies found that 63% of non-immigrant Canadians disagree with the statement "Canada needs new immigrants." This trend has been steadily growing since the pandemic, according to Chedly Belkhodja, a professor at Concordia University's School of Community and Public Affairs.
Belkhodja attributes this rise to globalization, stating:
"We had a certain stability in the way the system was working in many societies. With globalization, a lot of things happened."Experts believe this trend reflects wider economic anxieties and the growing influence of populist narratives.
Author's summary: Canada sees a rise in anti-immigration sentiment.