Recent polling data reveals a significant shift in Canadian public opinion toward immigration, with more than half of the population now believing current immigration levels are too high. This figure has doubled over the past three years, indicating growing concern about the country's approach to welcoming newcomers.
Public Confidence Eroding
The survey results show deepening apprehension among Canadians about their immigration system. Approximately one-third of respondents associate increased immigration with higher crime rates, while six in ten express concern that too many newcomers fail to adopt Canadian values. These views don't signal a sudden intolerance but rather reflect declining public confidence in a system that appears to no longer ensure safety or protect the integrity of Canadian citizenship.
Systemic Failures and Security Gaps
Canada's immigration framework faces critical challenges beyond mere strain. A combination of bureaucratic neglect, problematic court rulings, and political hesitation has created a compromised system that admits individuals faster than it can properly vet, monitor, or remove them when necessary.
Nearly half a million temporary residents have overstayed their visas without any record of departure, while tens of thousands of international students have simply vanished from official tracking systems. In one concerning case, prosecutors sought a reduced sentence for a convicted child abductor specifically to keep his conviction below the threshold for deportation under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
Government Spending and Transparency Concerns
The federal government has allocated $120.4 million to expedite hundreds of thousands of asylum claimants into permanent residency through a process lacking transparency. Critical questions remain unanswered about who qualifies as an "eligible protected person," what security screening these individuals underwent during the Trudeau-era surge when acceptance rates exceeded 85 percent, and whether compromised vetting protocols will be fixed before granting permanent status and citizenship pathways to thousands.
Proposed Solutions to Restore Trust
While Canadians maintain their reputation for generosity, this characteristic must be balanced with accountability and order. Parliament faces urgent calls to implement specific measures to regain public confidence.
The authors recommend ending "program-switching," the practice that allows individuals to enter Canada as students, workers, or visitors and then file asylum claims midstream or when their permits expire. This loophole has transformed temporary visas into back-door immigration channels, overwhelming the asylum system with what are often claims of convenience rather than genuine need for refugee protection.
Simultaneously, Canada should return to a security-first approach by processing most immigration and refugee applications overseas, where proper vetting can occur before arrival. This would ensure the system maintains control over who enters the country and prevent years-long appeals that further undermine public trust. In-Canada processing should be reserved exclusively for genuine emergencies.
