Trump Influences Canada’s Immigration Discourse

As reported by EFE.

Here are the details.

The unprecedented rise in immigration in Canada—one of the country’s main concerns after the pandemic—has taken a back seat to the economic and political threats posed by President Donald Trump.

However, according to experts and social sectors, this debate will inevitably resurface in the near future.

Canada, traditionally known for its openness toward migrants, has seen record numbers in recent years.

The number of temporary workers rose from 356,000 in 2011 to 845,000 in 2021, while in 2023 alone the country welcomed 430,000 new permanent residents.

Additionally, it is estimated that one million international students resided in the country that same year.

Trump Influences Canada’s Immigration Discourse

Draft Trump executive order on reorganization of the State Dept would eliminate Iran envoy, bureau of democracy human rights and labor, policy planning office, Africa bureau, the office of public diplomacy, the bureau on population and migration, downsize US embassy in Canada, … pic.twitter.com/wc1j3mlc6m
— Laura Rozen (@lrozen) April 20, 2025

Professor Chedly Belkhodja, an expert on migration movements at Concordia University in Montreal, told EFE that the toughened migration rhetoric promoted by Trump has influenced political debates even in Canada.

“Trump has contaminated the discourse of all political parties, in Canada and around the world,” he said.

A reflection of this pressure is the Canadian government’s decision, since mid-2024, to adjust its immigration policy by reducing the number of temporary residents.

This could force up to 2 million people to leave the country in 2025.

Controversial Statements and Tensions in Quebec

Reverse Migration ~ ~ Trump-fearing Haitian migrants fleeing across Border from US to Canada https://t.co/sy3MCuQb1Q – NY Post pic.twitter.com/aeiijhpx7s
— Mary (@matjendav4) April 20, 2025

On April 9, Jean-François Roberge, Quebec’s Minister of Education, voiced concern, saying the province “cannot take in all the miseries of the world.”

These comments sparked strong backlash in a diverse society like Montreal’s, where large Haitian, North African, and Asian communities coexist.

Although the intention was to address the rise in asylum seekers—particularly those crossing from the U.S. via Roxham Road—his remarks reignited debate about the kind of immigration Canada, and Quebec specifically, should be fostering.

In practical terms, key sectors such as technology, healthcare, engineering, and tourism continue to depend on foreign labor, especially in Quebec, the country’s second-largest economic hub after Ontario.

The Cultural and Linguistic Issue

Meanwhile, concerns persist about the cultural impact of immigration. Many newcomers do not speak French, which some sovereigntist sectors claim threatens Quebec’s linguistic identity.

For this reason, the Bloc Québécois advocates for full control over immigration, prioritizing applicants who speak French.

However, Belkhodja warns that most migrants prioritize their personal prosperity and will adopt whichever language offers them better opportunities.

Whether English or French, many are even willing to move to other regions of Canada if necessary.

Immigration, a Lingering Concern in Canada

Although the immigration debate has lost prominence amid the economic uncertainty stirred by Trump’s threats, it remains on voters’ minds.

Patricia, a Peruvian-Canadian working in Quebec’s dental industry, told EFE she plans to vote for the Conservative Party for its stance on “strict border control.”

“Yes, I’m an immigrant, but we should only open the door to legal ones,” she stated.

The immigration issue, though quiet for now, is set to return to the forefront of Canada’s political debate as the next elections approach.

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