Maple News reports that an increasing number of Canadians support prioritizing family reunification in the country’s immigration policies, especially in the wake of COVID-19 disruptions. According to a recent national survey conducted by the Association of Canadian Studies, 36% of respondents believe family members of Canadian residents should be given top immigration priority in 2020 — a notable increase from 30% in 2016.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused a sharp decline in overall immigration numbers, hitting family-class sponsorship and refugee resettlement hardest. In the second quarter of 2020, family sponsorships dropped by 78% compared to the same period the previous year. Refugee intake saw an even steeper fall, down 85%, while economic-class immigration decreased by 52%.
Support for economic-class immigration remained steady at 27% between 2016 and 2020. However, public support for refugee immigration dropped significantly—from 29% to 16% during the same period, reflecting shifting priorities amid global and national uncertainty.
Regionally, Albertans were the most supportive of putting family reunification first, with 44% ranking it as the top priority. Atlantic Canada followed closely at 42%, while Ontario stood at 36%. Manitoba and Saskatchewan combined showed the lowest level of support at 28%, though this figure still outweighed support for other immigration streams there.
The survey, conducted from July 31 to August 2, included responses from 1,531 Canadians aged 18 and over. To ensure accurate national representation, results were weighted based on gender, age, mother tongue, geographic region, education level, and whether children were present in the household.
Despite the growing emphasis on family reunification, critics argue that the federal government has fallen short in addressing urgent backlogs in this category. Thousands of families remain separated due to processing delays. Member of Parliament Jenny Kwan spearheaded a petition, signed by over 6,000 people, calling for the introduction of a Special Temporary Resident Visa to allow spouses and their children to reunite with Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Although the petition reached the threshold for parliamentary review, it won’t be tabled until after the House of Commons resumes on September 23.
The federal government’s 2020–2022 immigration plan, announced just before the pandemic hit, had set annual targets of 91,000 newcomers under the family-class category. Both economic and refugee streams were projected to grow each year, but the execution of the plan has been significantly impacted by the pandemic.
Nonetheless, Canadians continue to view immigration positively. Sixty-one percent of respondents believe it will aid the country’s long-term economic recovery. This sentiment was most prominent in Atlantic Canada (67%). Even in the Prairie Provinces, often more hesitant, 52% agreed immigration would contribute positively to the economy—surpassing the combined 48% who either disagreed or were unsure.
The evolving public opinion underscores a widening recognition of the emotional and social importance of family connections in immigration policy, especially during times of crisis. As Canada prepares for post-pandemic recovery, these perspectives are likely to shape the future direction of its immigration system.