According to the Nanos Poll, a majority of Canadians support the influx of temporary foreign workers. The survey of 1,006 people, conducted online & offline, revealed that over 80% of Canadians feel that temporary foreign workers are important to Canada’s economy.
Well, this revelation comes around the same time as another Nanos Poll last September revealed growing numbers opposed to increased immigration.
Growing General Opposition Against Immigration Across Canada
A majority of Canadians support the influx of temporary foreign workers. However, in contrast with the results of this most recent poll, the Nanos Research poll from September 2023 revealed that over half of Canadians surveyed expressed a desire for Canada to welcome fewer immigrants than the number targeted by the federal government.
Up from 34% in March last year, over 53% of survey respondents in September insinuated that they wish to witness Canada accept fewer immigrants than the federal plan. This desire also extended particularly to Canada’s international student population. The September poll revealed the same, i.e., 55% of Canadians want Canada to accept fewer international students than the 900,000 expected by the government.
Temporary Resident Population Growth In Canada
In light of a declining level of national support for immigration, it is worth understanding where much of Canada’s recent immigration growth has come from.
As per the data released by Statistics Canada in December, Canada’s population grew by more than 430,000 during the third quarter of 2023. This increase was driven largely by immigration.
Canadians Support The Influx Of Temporary Foreign Workers For Specific Employment
Despite a growing sentiment against increased immigration, the Nanos poll indicated that Canadians are more supportive of migrants coming to do specific jobs. According to the poll, when it comes to individuals arriving in Canada for a purpose, there are pretty good levels of support & acceptance.
On one hand, general support for welcoming more temporary foreign workers for jobs was expressed by 57% of Canadians who took part in the poll. If we look closely at the details, we will find that this support is the highest among people older than 55 years in Canada’s Atlantic provinces. Moreover, the poll notes that 49% of respondents in the Prairie provinces indicated support for an increase.
In addition, over 35% of Canadians asserted that they oppose allowing more temporary foreign workers to come to Canada for jobs. Among all provinces & territories across Canada, Nanos found that this opposition was the strongest in Ontario, the Prairies, & BC.
However, the Nanos poll, which took place in January, found that 79% of Canadians support employers bringing temporary foreign workers into Canada to help fill jobs they can’t find Canadians to do. This kind of support for TFWs was considered to be strongest in Atlantic Canada as well as Quebec. Moreover, the weakest was found in Ontario & Prairie Provinces.
Government Response To The Shifting Sentiment Around Immigration In Canada
Acknowledging that there is a correlation between how Canadians support the influx of temporary foreign workers, the national housing shortage & international students, the immigration minister asserted that he plans to rein in the number of temporary foreign workers coming to Canada.
Marc Miller quoted that the federal government might need to look into controlling the volume of temporary residents coming to Canada. In order to accomplish this, the minister suggested that reforms might be coming to both Canada’s Post Graduation Work Permit & temporary foreign workers program.
According to Miller, both these programs demonstrated the increased volume that has been witnessed astronomically in the last few years. He further stated that it is something that has created some unanticipated effects & something they need to rein in.