Canadians want fewer refugees, while Liberals want more

Lorrie GoldsteinMore from Lorrie Goldstein

A slew of recent public opinion polls on Canadian attitudes toward immigrants and refugees — the latest one commissioned by the CBC — suggest our views toward immigrants and refugees are hardening.

The CBC poll by Public Square Research and Maru/Blue released Wednesday found 57% of the 4,500 adults participating in an online panel said Canada should not be accepting more refugees.

The survey also found 64% said illegal immigration is becoming a serious problem, 56% believe that accepting too many immigrants will change Canada and 24% say too many immigrants are visible minorities.

Recent polls by Ipsos, Ekos, Leger and Angus Reid have produced similar findings.

Reaction to these polls by Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen, who wants to increase Canada’s intake of both immigrants and refugees, and by other immigration advocates, has been similar.

It’s that first, Canadians don’t understand that a steady flow of immigrants is necessary for our economic well-being, in order to provide present and future workers, given our low birth rates.

And second, that growing opposition to refugees is part of a rising global trend of intolerance prompted by the millions of displaced people fleeing wars in the Mideast over the past four years, with many ending up in Europe.

To be sure, not every poll has mirrored these findings, indicating, as if we didn’t already know, that the answers to any poll depend on what questions are asked.

For example, an Environics Institute poll of 2,000 Canadians released in April, found 59% disagreed with the statement, “overall there is too much immigration in Canada” while 77% agreed, “overall, immigration has a positive impact on the economy of Canada.”

Over half, 53%, agreed immigrants tend to work harder than people born in Canada, while 45% said immigration is making Canada a better place compared to only 15% who said it is making Canada worse, with 33% saying it has made no difference, while 7% have no opinion.

full story at https://torontosun.com/opinion/columnists/goldstein-canadians-want-fewer-refugees-while-liberals-want-more