According to Council On Foreign Relations, “Canada’s approach to immigration has significantly influenced it’s economy, culture, housing, healthcare, and overall affordability. The nation has traditionally embraced multiculturalism, with immigrants constituting nearly one-quarter of its population”.
However, the Environics Institute for Survey Research conducted a national survey done in late 2024 reveals 58% of Canadians think the country has too many immigrants, this shows a significant rise of 39% five years back.
Citizens fear for the the rise in housing cost, longer wait in the healthcare sector and they feel the infrastructure is under pressure.
Conservative party head Pierre Poilievre wants tighter controls, he says “if we don’t check immigration , it might make money problems worse for some people”. This statement was made in 2024 where he argued before the former prime minister Justin Trudeau.
According to Connolly Gamble a student from the University of Regina, he emphasizes on cultural and social advantages of immigration in Canada, particularly through the lens of sports, in his words “immigrants brings their unique cultural backgrounds while integrating into Canadian culture”.
The housing market has become a new angle in the immigration argument, according to Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) the average monthly price for a two bedroom was reported at $1,200CAD per month in Regina.
The immigration rate of international students and temporary workers has made the scarcity of houses worsen, according to the statistics of Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reveals 800,000 international students were studying in Canadian schools in 2024, which is a drastic rise of 35% from 2019.
The healthcare system of Canada is considered a pillar of national pride. However, it is already showing signs of failure. The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) says that in 2024 the average wait time for non-urgent specialist care was 22 weeks, compared to 19 weeks in 2023.
According to the government of Saskatchewan health analysis,86.1% of surgeries in Regina were performed within six months, slightly below the provincial average of 88.8%, there were 7,781 patients on the wait list who had already waited six months by that date.
According to the city’s Comprehensive Housing Strategy, Regina is actively addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by immigration to maintain its reputation as an inclusive and opportunity-rich city.
The city acknowledges that newcomers often face difficulties in securing affordable rental housing, particularly affecting singles and large families.
This is partly due to lower average incomes among recent immigrants and the lack of local references, which can hinder their ability to find suitable accommodations.
