(CANADA) Anxiety is rising among people who have recently moved to Canada as political debate hardens and economic signals turn mixed, with many newcomers now openly worried about declining job opportunities and the country drifting toward U.S.-style immigration crackdowns and deportations. A new Leger Marketing survey of about 2,000 temporary residents, permanent residents, and new citizens found that nearly half fear shrinking job prospects as politicians talk about cutting immigration, while about 40% think Canada could tighten enforcement in ways that echo the United States 🇺🇸.
Policy shifts and official planning targets
These worries have grown louder since Ottawa reset its planning targets, announcing a sharp pullback in future intake. After aiming for 673,650 arrivals in 2025, the federal government now plans to welcome 385,000 newcomers in 2026 and 370,000 in 2027, a reduction that has quickly become a symbol of a tougher mood.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the new numbers are being read by some migrants as a signal that they may face more competition for work and less political support if conditions worsen.
Quick reference: recent intake targets
| Year | Planned arrivals |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 673,650 |
| 2026 | 385,000 |
| 2027 | 370,000 |
Who feels most anxious — students and temporary workers
The survey points to especially deep concern among those who are not yet firmly settled. About 76% of foreign students and workers told researchers they are worried about jobs, far higher than among new citizens.
Many came expecting a clear path from study or temporary work permits to stable careers, only to discover that high housing costs, regional slowdowns, and growing anger about affordability are reshaping the national conversation around immigration.
For students investing tens of thousands of dollars in tuition, the idea that job prospects could weaken just as work permits and permanent residence pathways open is creating intense pressure.
The labor market: mixed signals
At the same time, the labor market story is far from simple. Official data still show strong demand for many skilled roles, especially in hospitals, construction sites, and technology hubs.
- In July 2025, the federal government invited 4,000 candidates to apply for permanent residence in an Express Entry draw focused on healthcare jobs, setting a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 475.
- That targeted draw underlined that Canada continues to need registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and medical laboratory technologists, even as political debate focuses on overall numbers rather than on specific shortages.
Similar strains are evident in the trades and technology.
- Employers report ongoing difficulty hiring carpenters, electricians, and software engineers.
- Several of the country’s biggest brands continued recruiting abroad in 2025: Maple Leaf Foods, Tim Hortons, Loblaw Companies Ltd., CGI Inc., and Amazon Canada — hiring foreign workers for roles in food processing, coffee shops, supermarkets, IT consulting, and logistics warehouses.
For many newcomers, that gap between headlines about cutbacks and the day‑to‑day reality of job ads and recruitment fairs is confusing, feeding a sense that policy and politics may not match local labor needs.
Financial shocks and everyday barriers
Beyond the labor market, the survey highlights financial shocks that add to the unease.
- Around 30% of respondents said they were surprised by Canadian banking fees.
- Roughly 15–17% reported trouble getting credit cards and mortgages.
Those obstacles make it harder to build the stable life many had imagined and can push people into high‑interest borrowing or crowded housing.
When those daily struggles are combined with talk of lower immigration targets and fears of tougher enforcement, the result is a growing sense of insecurity among households that only recently arrived.
Key takeaway: Daily financial pressures plus political signals about reduced intake and enforcement are intensifying insecurity among recent arrivals.
Fears of “U.S.-style” enforcement — perception vs. current law
Concerns about U.S.-style immigration crackdowns and deportations are largely rooted in perception rather than current Canadian law, but they are still powerful.
- About 40% of newcomers in the Leger poll said they worry Canada could copy U.S. approaches to raids, removals, and political rhetoric that paints migrants as a problem.
- While immigration enforcement in Canada 🇨🇦 remains far less aggressive than in the United States, newcomers say they are sensitive to “ripples from the south,” especially when Canadian politicians echo U.S. talking points about borders and crime during campaign seasons.
Policy specialists point out that major changes to enforcement would require clear legal steps, not just speeches. The federal immigration department, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, continues to run programs such as Provincial Nominee Programs, which are built to match skilled migrants with employers facing long‑term shortages.
Official information on current rules and targets is posted on the government’s website at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, and there have been no announcements of mass‑deportation drives or sweeping status checks comparable to recent measures in parts of the United States.
Day-to-day realities and community sentiment
Still, numbers and reassurances do not fully calm the nerves of people juggling rent, tuition, remittance obligations, and an uncertain future. Many temporary residents fear that if the economy slows, they could be among the first to feel the impact through reduced hiring, shorter contracts, or fewer chances to move into permanent roles.
The phrase declining job opportunities appears often in newcomer forums, where foreign students swap stories about unpaid internships, long job searches, or entry‑level offers that do not cover high living costs in cities like Toronto and Vancouver.
Competition between immigrant streams and uncertainty about priorities
The cut in intake plans to 385,000 newcomers in 2026 and 370,000 in 2027 is also raising questions about competition between different immigrant streams.
- Some worry that family-class applications could be squeezed if more spaces go to workers in priority occupations.
- Others fear that temporary residents already in Canada might be preferred over applicants abroad.
While officials have not laid out detailed breakdowns beyond existing planning levels, advocates say clear communication will be key to prevent rumors from spreading among people who have already uprooted their lives to move north.
Outlook: reasons for hope, but a fragile mood
For now, Canada remains a country where many employers actively seek international talent and where permanent residence is still possible through programs that reward skills and work experience.
- The same survey that revealed deep anxiety also shows that most newcomers still see long‑term hope in the Canadian project.
But the combination of political calls to reduce numbers, public anger about housing and services, and rising talk of enforcement has created a more fragile mood. How Ottawa balances those pressures in the next few years may decide whether today’s concerns about jobs and deportations stay as worries—or harden into decisions to leave.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Leger survey of about 2,000 newcomers finds rising anxiety as Ottawa cuts intake targets to 385,000 in 2026 and 370,000 in 2027. Students and temporary workers express the most concern about declining job opportunities amid high housing costs and mixed labor-market signals. Although targeted draws for healthcare and ongoing employer recruitment show continued demand, financial barriers and fears of tougher enforcement are increasing insecurity among recent arrivals.
