May 1, 2025 — A survey has identified the top three issues that matter most to new Canadians.
These are affordability and cost of living, healthcare, and housing.
Jobs and employment, and taxes came fourth and fifth, respectively.
The poll was conducted by the Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC), and the Toronto-based nonprofit has a suggestion for political parties in the country.
“Parties that want to connect with this growing demographic of committed Canadians need to speak credibly on affordability, access to healthcare, and housing if they plan to retain this talent in Canada long term,” Daniel Bernhard, CEO of the ICC, said in a media release.
Based on the group’s definition, a new Canadian is anyone who has been in the country for less than 10 years.
“Immigrants are clearly focused on making ends meet and building a stable future,” Bernhard also stated in the media release.
The ICC issued the release in the leadup to the April 28, 2025 federal election.
The nonprofit noted that survey participants are highly educated, with more than 80 percent holding a university degree.
Also, over 70 percent are employed full-time.
As for household incomes, the largest group earns between $75,000 and $100,000 per year.
“These data are a snapshot of a highly-engaged and talented voting bloc,” Bernhard noted.
Winning the immigrant vote is crucial to elections in Canada.
The 2021 Census by Statistics Canada counted 8,361,505 foreign-born people in the country at the time.
This means that immigrants represent nearly a quarter or 23 percent of the total population.
According to Statistics Canada, among immigrants in 2021, 1,328,240 came between 2016 and 2021.
The federal agency notes that these recent immigrants made up 15.9 percent of the immigrant population in 2021.
Statistics Canada also notes that the top three places of birth among immigrants living in Canada in 2021 were India, Philippines, and China.
Among recent immigrants in Canada or those who came between 2016 and 2021, these top source countries were India, Philippines, and China.
The ICC survey covered 2,397 individuals in its network of new Canadians from April 1 to April 4, 2025.
“Jobs, taxes, and economic growth also ranked highly, reflecting widespread concern over financial pressures and economic security,” the ICC stated in the release.
Moreover, “Unlike most polls of the general population, where Canada-US relations registers as a top priority, it was the eighth most important issue for new Canadians in this poll, with just 27% putting it in the top-five.”–
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