Culture is emerging as a critically important dimension in Canadian politics. INNOVATIVE’s tracking shows a significant decline in openness to immigration while concern about crime is growing.
These are the results of an online survey conducted between November 20th to 26th, 2025, sponsored and conducted by INNOVATIVE RESEARCH GROUP. This survey interviewed n=1,424 Canadian citizens, 18 years or older. Because of regional oversamples, the results are nationally weighted to n=1,000. Results are weighted by age, gender, region, education, and self-reported federal past vote to ensure that the overall sample’s composition reflects that of the actual population according to Census data.
Immigration
The data reveals a 16-point increase over the past 5 years in hostile views of immigrants. A clear majority (54%) now believe that immigration threatens traditional Canadian customs and values, up from just 38% in 2020, with a small 4-point NET score increase occurring in the past year (from +15 to +19). This isn’t a blip, but a trend with momentum.
The partisan dimension is striking, with those who self-identify with Conservatives (73%) and Bloc (75%) leading this concern in contrast to Liberals (37%) and NDP (33%) Even more telling, attitudes toward legal immigration have soured considerably, with only 39% now viewing it positively, down a stunning 15 points since 2018. Meanwhile, 61% favour making immigration more difficult, up 16 points from 2018’s 45%.
Concern about illegal immigration remains statistically unchanged at 75% viewing it as serious since 2018, but the intensity has shifted. 42% now rate it “very serious,” up from 37% in 2018. Those who self-identify with Conservatives drive this at 88%, but half of the NDP identifiers and almost three-in-four (71%) Liberals also agree.
Canadians aren’t just worried; they are assigning blame. A striking 72% believe the federal government has failed to manage immigration, with 72% saying too many immigrants have been admitted, and 71% linking excessive immigration to housing pressures and declining services. Nearly 3-in-5 Canadians (58%) report that their views on immigration have changed over the past five years, with Conservatives (70%) and Bloc supporters (75%) most likely to acknowledge this shift.
Crime
Community safety perceptions have deteriorated over the past two years. There has been a 14-point decline in the NET safety score since July 2023 (from +64 to +50 in 2025). While only 17% of Canadians now feel unsafe in their communities, that is an increase from 11% in 2023. The partisan and gender gaps are pronounced: Conservatives feel unsafe at almost twice the rate of Liberals (23% vs. 12%), while women report feeling unsafe nearly twice as often as men (21% vs. 13%).
Nearly half of Canadians (49%) now view crime as one of the most important problems facing the country (7-point increase in Net importance score since 2023), with those who self-identify as voting Conservative at 62%, a 21-point gap over the 41% average among Liberals, NDP, and Bloc self-identifying voters. Those who feel unsafe are especially likely to elevate crime’s importance (63% vs. 37% among those feeling safe).
The data reveals something more profound: 78% believe crime threatens social order, with 43% saying it’s both a societal and personal threat. Among those feeling unsafe, a remarkable 64% see crime as both a personal and societal danger.
Rising anxieties about immigration and community safety change the political dynamics in Canada. It is not just Conservatives that share these views. Bloc supporters in particular strongly share concerns about immigration while women are more concerned about crime. This creates an opportunity for the Conservative Party to grow its support among voters that were previously out of reach.
Our upcoming report on cultural alienation will examine how these cultural currents intersect with economic priorities and brand/leader perceptions and what these intersections mean for Canada’s political present and future.
Click here to read the full report!
