Backlash Against Immigrants Challenges Canada’s Welcoming Image

By Anna Mehler Paperny

TORONTO – A growing sentiment in Canada suggests that immigration is being blamed for some of the nation’s economic challenges, leading to a rise in reported hate crimes against visible minorities, according to advocates and community members.

Canada has long prided itself on being a welcoming country for newcomers, but it is now grappling with the implications of a significant increase in temporary residents, including international students and workers. Opinion polls indicate that an increasing portion of the population believes that Canada is accepting too many immigrants, attributing the worsening housing crisis and soaring cost of living to their presence.

This shift in public sentiment appears to have affected the popularity of Justin Trudeau’s minority Liberal government. While a national election is required by October 2025, it may occur sooner following the New Democratic Party’s recent withdrawal of its automatic support for the government.

Recent data from Statistics Canada shows that reported hate crimes have more than doubled from 2019 to 2023, with 44.5% of incidents in 2023 motivated by race or ethnicity. Hate crimes can encompass a range of offenses from homicide and assault to vandalism and incitement of hatred.

The apparent uptick in anti-immigrant sentiment contradicts a longstanding belief in Canada that the country welcomes newcomers for both humanitarian and economic reasons. However, rising concerns over housing shortages and affordability appear to have undermined that consensus, giving new life to age-old anti-immigrant narratives, according to Peter Smith, a researcher with the Canadian Anti-Hate Network.

“People are looking for something to change, and they are seeking someone to blame,” he stated. “Unfortunately, immigrants are often the easy target.”

In 2023, Canada welcomed over 470,000 new permanent residents, amounting to roughly 1% of its population. The most significant increases in immigration are among temporary residents, particularly students and workers, whose numbers have surged from 1.4 million in the second quarter of 2022 to 2.8 million in the second quarter of 2024, as per Statistics Canada.

A recent poll indicated that 65% of Canadians believe the government’s current immigration plan is admitting too many newcomers. Many respondents expressed the view that these immigration rates exacerbate the housing crisis and strain healthcare services, labeling the country’s immigration policy as “too generous.”

Balpreet Singh, legal counsel for the World Sikh Organization of Canada, argues that the perception of newcomers as responsible for economic difficulties has incited a xenophobic backlash. He noted that Sikhs are often specifically targeted in this climate of hate.

“When a Sikh is used as a symbol for all the alleged problems of immigration, it’s no surprise that Sikh men, who are easily identifiable due to their turbans and beards, become frequent victims,” he explained.

In a notable incident in July, a Sikh man reported having his turban yanked from his head while returning from a temple in Toronto’s Scarborough region. Authorities said they investigated, but no arrests had been made as of mid-August. The victim, Rupinder Singh, expressed feelings of fear and insecurity stemming from this experience.

Online platforms have also seen a rise in racist and xenophobic rhetoric targeting immigrants and visible minorities, according to Christian Leuprecht, a political scientist at Queen’s University. He pointed out that the internet accelerates the dissemination of these sentiments, fostering a sense of community among those who share them.

In an interview, Immigration Minister Marc Miller acknowledged that Canada is not immune to anti-immigrant sentiment but insisted that the longstanding consensus around immigration remains a core aspect of the national identity. He emphasized the need for politicians to choose their words carefully.

“I won’t deny that there are racists in Canada. However, I don’t believe it has reached the level seen in other countries. Vigilance is essential,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has labeled Canada’s immigration system as “out of control,” “shattered,” and in “chaos.” The Liberals, while acknowledging the complexities surrounding housing and affordability, have conceded that immigration contributes to the housing shortage.

Facing declining support in polls, Trudeau’s government has committed to reducing temporary residents to 5% of the overall population over three years, down from 6.8% in April. To facilitate this change, Canada is implementing stricter regulations for temporary foreign workers and international students, with Miller promising further measures to limit temporary residents. Trudeau has also suggested the possibility of reducing the number of new permanent residents.

Stephanie Carvin, a professor at Carleton University who studies national security and extremism, warned that tensions surrounding immigration are likely to intensify as the country approaches the election period.

“I fear that this situation may worsen before it improves,” Carvin cautioned.

University of Ottawa law professor Jamie Chai Yun Liew believes that political leaders share some responsibility for shaping public sentiment towards immigration.

“Leadership should exemplify greater responsibility and mindfulness in their language,” she remarked, citing comments made by Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who insinuated without evidence that immigrants were linked to a shooting at a Jewish school. Ford later clarified that his remarks were intended to highlight unity over division.