Why Are Public Attitudes towards Immigration in Canada Becoming Increasingly Positive? Exploring the Factors Behind the Changes in Attitudes towards Immigration (1998–2021).

This article analyzes the increasing positivity of public attitudes toward immigration in Canada from 1998 to 2021, focusing on whether these changes arise from shifts in population characteristics or changes in how these characteristics influence opinions. Using data from the Environics Focus Canada Survey and employing logit regression and decomposition analyses, the study finds that higher educational attainment consistently correlates with more positive attitudes, while support for conservative political parties is linked to less favorable views, especially during and after the 2008–2010 financial crisis. The decomposition analysis reveals that changes in the effects of population characteristics (public opinion shifts) rather than changes in the characteristics themselves primarily drive attitude changes across all periods, with the financial crisis notably impacting these dynamics. Additionally, native-born Canadians’ attitudes became more positive over time except during the financial crisis, and economic perceptions and political ideology significantly influenced support for immigration.