2022-23 IRCC Annual Tracking Survey

Executive Summary

Prepared for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Supplier Name: Phoenix SPI
Contract Number: CW2269250
Contract Value: $138,128.28 (including applicable taxes)
Award Date: 2023-01-19
Delivery Date: 2023-03-31

Registration Number: POR #118-22

For more information, please contact IRCC at:
IRCC.COMMPOR-ROPCOMM.IRCC@cic.gc.ca

Ce rapport est aussi disponible en français.

Copyright

This public opinion research report presents the results of a 15-minute telephone survey of 3,400 Canadians conducted by Phoenix SPI on behalf of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada between January 31 and March 17, 2023.

Cette publication est aussi disponible en français sous le titre : 2022-23 Étude de suivi annuelle d’IRCC.

This publication may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes only. Prior written permission must be obtained from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. For more information on this report, please contact Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada at IRCC.COMMPOR-ROPCOMM.IRCC@cic.gc.ca or at:

Communications Branch
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Jean Edmonds Tower South
365 Laurier Ave W
Ottawa ON K1A 1L1

Catalogue number: CI4-183/1-2023E-PDF
International Standard Book Number (ISBN): 978-0-660-49548-4

Related Publication(Registration Number: POR # 118-22):
Catalogue number: C4-183/1-2023F-PDF
ISBN: 978-0-660-49549-1

© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, 2023

Political Neutrality Statement

I hereby certify as a Senior Officer of Phoenix SPI that the deliverables fully comply with the Government of Canada political neutrality requirements outlined in the Communications Policy of the Government of Canada and Procedures for Planning and Contracting Public Opinion Research. Specifically, the deliverables do not contain any reference to electoral voting intentions, political party preferences, standings with the electorate, or ratings of the performance of a political party or its leader.

Alethea Woods, President, Phoenix SPI

Executive Summary

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) commissioned Phoenix Strategic Perspectives (Phoenix SPI) to conduct a telephone survey of Canadians to assess the public’s perceptions of immigration and related issues. Phoenix SPI is pleased to present this report to IRCC.

Background and Objectives

IRCC is the department of the Government of Canada with responsibility for matters dealing with immigration to Canada, refugees, and Canadian citizenship. IRCC conducts an ongoing research program to help the Department develop a better understanding of Canadian attitudes toward the issues surrounding citizenship and immigration. As part of this research program, IRCC has been conducting annual telephone tracking surveys since 1996.

The Annual Tracking Survey provides the Department with comparable tracking data about public attitudes toward immigration and related issues, which is of key importance to IRCC’s policies, programs, and services. The specific objectives of this year’s survey are to assess Canadians’ perceptions of the following:

• Immigration levels.
• The impact of immigration on Canada generally.
• Canada’s immigration system and priorities.
• The settlement and integration of newcomers.

By gauging Canadian attitudes about key elements of the Department’s mandate, this research supported IRCC by:

• ensuring high quality policy options, program design and advice;
• encouraging and effectively managing citizen-focused services;
• managing organizational and strategic risks proactively; and
• gathering and using relevant information on program results.

Methodology

A 15-minute random digit dialling (RDD) telephone survey was conducted with a sample of 3,400 Canadians, 18 years of age or older, between January 31 and March 17, 2023. An overlapping dual-frame (cellphone and landline) probability sample was used to minimize coverage error: 65 percent of the sample frame was cellphone numbers and 35 percent was landline telephone numbers. The sample frame was geographically disproportionate to improve the accuracy of specific regional results. Based on a sample of this size, the overall results can be considered accurate within ±1.7%, 19 times out of 20 (adjusted to reflect the geographically disproportionate sampling). The margins of error are greater for results pertaining to subgroups of the total sample. The full technical specifications can be found in the Appendix: 1. Technical Specifications.

Key Findings

• Approximately half (52%) of surveyed Canadians feel that the right number of immigrants are coming to Canada. In contrast, roughly two in 10 each said there are too many (22%) or too few (22%) immigrants coming to Canada. Seven in 10 (71%) said that immigration is having a somewhat or very positive effect on Canada.
• More than four in 10 said that about the right number of immigrants are coming into their town or city (45%), as well as to their province or territory (43%), and approximately two-thirds each (64% and 66%, respectively) feel that immigration is having at least a somewhat positive effect on these areas. Seventy-two percent of Canadians feel that it is important for new immigrants to be encouraged to settle outside of Canada’s largest municipalities.
• More than seven in 10 (73%) agreed that immigration is necessary to sustain economic growth in the face of Canada’s aging population. Following this, 69% agreed that Canada’s competitiveness depends on recruiting immigrants to meet the country’s evolving labour needs and exactly two-thirds (66%) agreed that immigration is necessary to fill skill and labour gaps in local economies.
• Almost eight in 10 Canadians are proud of Canada’s reputation as an opening and welcoming society (78%) and believe that most immigrants come to Canada to contribute to society (77%). In addition, seven in 10 (70%) believe that accepting immigrants from different cultures makes Canadian culture stronger and few (21%) think that immigration is causing Canada to change in ways that they don’t like.
• Approximately four in 10 (43%) Canadians feel that about the right number of refugees are coming to Canada and just over half (56%) support the Government of Canada bringing a number of Afghan refugees to Canada.
• Nearly in eight in 10 (78%) Canadians agreed that accepting refugees is part of Canada’s humanitarian traditions, while slightly smaller majorities agreed that Canada has a responsibility to do its part in accepting refugees (73%) and that most refugees that come to Canada want to contribute to society (70%).

Notes to the Reader

• All results are expressed as percentages unless otherwise noted
• Percentages may not always add to 100 due to rounding
• All questions, and all reported percentages, are base: all respondents (n=3,400)
• The tabulated data is available under separate cover
• The contract value was $138,128.38 (including HST)