How Canada’s fractured immigration consensus is starting to show up at ballot boxes

Canada’s once-united stance on immigration policy is now divided. Post-pandemic, the influx of newcomers and mounting affordability issues have caused this consensus to crack. The Parti Québécois, which won a minority mandate in Quebec, ran on a platform advocating for stricter immigration controls, citing the need to safeguard French culture and alleviate pressure on public services and housing.

Meanwhile, Albertans, who will vote on a potential referendum for separation from Canada on Monday, are also being asked to answer five separate questions on immigration. These questions, pushed by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s government, range from concerns about provincial oversight on economic immigration to restrictions on services for non-permanent residents.

Questions like these, pushed by the government of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, are drawing backlash from diaspora communities. Lawyer Avnish Nanda, co-founder of the advocacy group Our Alberta Advantage, is campaigning for a "no" vote on the immigration-related questions, describing them as targeting newcomers and their deep-rooted ties to the province.

Nanda shared that his parents have faced harassment from individuals in a car while out for a walk. The Alberta immigration debates are being fueled by a populist pushback that blames social service shortages on immigrants, while Quebec’s debate centers around identity and culture. The PQ’s immigration platform aimed to reduce annual permanent resident admissions, impose a moratorium on immigration from outside Quebec, and tighten selection criteria for temporary workers.

Political scientist Catherine Xhardez from the University of Montreal notes that Quebec’s debate has become more focused on identity and culture compared to Alberta’s populist approach.