More than half of Canadians want the country to admit fewer permanent and temporary residents next year, a new survey suggests.
A recent Nanos Research poll found that 52.3 percent of those surveyed want Ottawa to accept fewer immigrants and temporary residents in 2027, while 33.5 percent favour keeping admissions at the current level.
Only 8.4 percent said Canada should accept more, and 5.9 percent were uncertain.
The survey of 1,058 Canadians was conducted from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2.
The majority of respondents from the Prairies, Ontario, and Quebec said they would like to see immigration numbers cut.
A total of 58.3 percent of people polled in the Prairies said they wanted immigration numbers reduced, while 30.6 percent supported maintaining current levels, 4.8 percent wanted an increase and 6.2 percent were unsure.
A majority of Ontario respondents—53.5 percent—said immigration numbers should be cut, while 33.8 percent supported maintaining current levels, 8.2 percent backed an increase, and 4.5 percent were unsure.
The poll found that 53.1 percent of those surveyed in Quebec favoured fewer immigrants while 30 percent wanted current immigration levels preserved. Seven percent were unsure, and 9.9 percent called for an increase.
The poll found that 44.2 percent of respondents in Atlantic Canada wanted lower immigration levels. Another 35.5 percent preferred to maintain current immigration levels, 15.7 percent supported an increase, and 4.5 percent were unsure.
British Columbians were more evenly divided, with 43.7 percent favouring fewer arrivals and 41.2 percent wanting current levels maintained. Another 7.2 percent supported an increase, and 7.9 percent were unsure.
Gender and Age
Men and respondents younger than 55 were more likely to support an immigration reduction than women or older Canadians.
Among males surveyed, 56.7 percent wanted immigration numbers to decrease, 31.2 percent preferred no change, 8.3 percent supported an increase, and 3.8 percent were unsure.
Forty-eight percent of women said they would like immigration reduced. Another 35.7 percent favoured keeping it at the same level, while 8.5 percent wanted an increase, and 7.9 percent were unsure.
Respondents aged 35 to 54 were most likely to favour reductions, at 56.4 percent, closely followed by those aged 18 to 34, at 56 percent. Among respondents aged 55 and older, 46.6 percent wanted fewer arrivals.
Older Canadians were most likely to favour maintaining current levels, at 38.9 percent, compared with 30.3 percent of those aged 18 to 34 and 29.3 percent of those aged 35 to 54.
The survey results mirror a similar poll from March 2026 that found 52 percent of respondents favoured immigration cuts. Public debate over immigration levels has focused on housing affordability, health-care capacity and pressure on infrastructure.
The federal government has been reducing its immigration targets in an effort to slow population growth under Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan.
Ottawa’s targets for permanent resident admissions are 380,000 annually from 2026 to 2028. Its targets for new temporary resident arrivals are 385,000 in 2026 and 370,000 in both 2027 and 2028.
In recent months, Ottawa has signalled it may again increase immigration levels.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said in September that Canada’s immigration system was “back under control” and suggested the government was considering when to pursue a “controlled increase” in population growth.
