Canada is working to welcome about 1.3 million immigrants over the next three years, and a poll has proven that immigration is popular among Canadians. But does it have the means to keep up with its ambitions in this area?

On February 14, the Canadian immigration department stated that the country "will welcome 431,645 new permanent residents in 2022, 447,055 in 2023, and 451 thousand in 2024."

The closure of visa offices abroad, border closures, quarantine restrictions, and difficulties in booking flights have significantly affected the immigration system. However, this did not hide the federal government's intentions to regularize the status of 500,000 temporary workers already inside Canada.

In contrast, researcher Frédéric Lacroix warned that immigration could exacerbate the "housing crisis, as the increase in the number of immigrants is directly behind the rampant rise in real estate prices in Canada. This creates a housing crisis, of course, which affects the poorest first, and often includes newcomers."

A recent poll showed that the majority of Canadians believe that immigration has a somewhat positive impact on the country. Seventy-five percent of the 1,000 participants "believe that the hard work and talents of immigrants make Canada better." Meanwhile, about 65% believe that "immigrants should only be accepted in Canada if they adopt Canadian values."