Canada: Still the safe haven of old?

Is Canada the Canary in the Coal Mine? Welcome to the Ipsos Almanac – our annual review of how the events, trends and surprises of the last 12 months will shape what happens next.

The author(s)
  • Cynthia Pachovski CEO, Canada
  • Mike Colledge President, ESG Canada
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Our politicians like to tell us that Canada is a beacon of aspiration for other countries. Average Canadians, being more realistic than our politicians, have in the past been more likely to be thankful that Canada’s geography, history, and natural wealth provides us with a haven from the challenges facing much of the world. Is this changing?

Think about immigration and thoughts of the US/Mexico border or overloaded refugee camps across the developing world and across war-affected Europe come to mind. Canada, it appears, has been able to reap the benefits of immigration while avoiding most of the possible pitfalls.

Think about climate change and one worries about low lying, ocean fronting, developing countries who are bound to see displacement due to rising sea levels or the scorching temperatures being recorded in more southern jurisdictions. Canada seems like a country that could use a 1.5-degree bump to make its winters a bit more bearable.

Is Canada the Canary in the Coal Mine?

While Canadians value the diversity brought by immigration (78% say it’s a good thing) another issue has started to challenge the idea that more immigration is good for Canada. 73% of Canadians say that owning a home is only for the rich and the same proportion now agree that Canada should limit immigration levels until the housing shortage is addressed – 57% cite immigration as one of the main reasons for the housing affordability crisis.

On the environmental front, Canada suffered its worst forest fire season in history in 2023. As of early September, more than 6,100 fires had destroyed a staggering 16.5 million hectares of land. Much of this occurred in the North and had an impact on indigenous peoples but no region was spared. Tens of thousands of Canadians were displaced from their homes as entire cities were evacuated for months. As a result, September also saw climate change move from fourth to third on the list of Canada’s top concerns, with 31% (+4pp vs August) of Canadians listing it among their top three concerns.

The pressure on business will rise

The polycrises of economics, climate, housing, and immigration have Canadians questioning just how safe and prosperous our haven is. With confidence in government’s ability to manage complex issues declining, Canadians are increasingly worried about their futures and are increasingly looking to business leaders to show that they can be part of the solution.

Click here to access the full 2024 Ipsos Almanac – our annual review of how the events, trends and surprises of the last 12 months will shape what happens next.

Cynthia Pachovski
Country Manager
Ipsos in Canada

Mike Colledge
President of Public Affairs
Ipsos in Canada

The author(s)
  • Cynthia Pachovski CEO, Canada
  • Mike Colledge President, ESG Canada

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