World Immigration News

Canada’s population drop reflects souring of attitudes to immigration

Release Date: 2025-12-18
Media: The Guardian
Summary: Canada has sharply shifted its immigration policy as public attitudes toward immigration have soured, turning what was once a broadly supported economic strategy into a divisive political issue. After years of aggressively promoting immigration to address labor shortages and boost growth, the government moved to tighten controls, cutting the number of international students, reducing temporary worker permits, and increasing deportations. These measures have begun to show tangible effects: in the third quarter of 2025, Canada’s population fell by 0.2%, the first non-pandemic population decline in more than 50 years.

The policy reversal reflects growing public concern that rapid population growth has worsened housing shortages, strained infrastructure, and contributed to rising living costs. Polling shows that support for high immigration levels has dropped to its lowest point in decades, with skepticism particularly strong among Conservative voters. Immigration has increasingly become a partisan wedge issue, shifting from debates over cultural integration to anxieties about affordability and economic pressure.

Experts describe the population decline as a policy “correction” after an unsustainably fast increase in non-permanent residents, but warn that weaker population growth could weigh on future economic performance. At the same time, long processing backlogs—such as refugee cases taking up to 10 years—highlight systemic strain. The government argues it is bringing immigration “under control” by aligning intake with national capacity, yet the debate over immigration’s role in Canada’s economy and society continues to deepen political and social divisions.
Tags: Canada

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