A recent national poll indicates that a significant number of Canadians express distrust toward refugees, with only 36% of respondents stating they trust them. The survey, conducted by Leger Marketing for the Association for Canadian Studies, highlights a growing divide in perceptions of different types of newcomers to Canada. Among the 1,537 adults surveyed from October 24 to 26, 43% reported distrust in refugees, while 21% were uncertain or declined to answer.

In contrast, the poll found that 46% of respondents trusted immigrants, with only 37% expressing distrust. This suggests that Canadians differentiate between refugees and other immigrants, reflecting broader trends in immigration policy and public sentiment.

The findings come amid recent changes in federal immigration policies aimed at reducing new arrivals, which appear to be impacting refugee claimants the most. According to an analysis of data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the number of refugee claimants dropped by 32.7% in the first eight months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. Economic immigrants and family sponsorship immigrants also saw declines of 18.6% and 8.1%, respectively.

Jack Jedwab, president of the Association for Canadian Studies, noted a correlation between the decrease in refugee claims and the poll's findings. "There was considerable asymmetry to the cuts to overall immigration that saw much larger percentages in reductions to refugees over the 2024 to 2025 period," he said. He added that many Canadians perceive a significant number of asylum claims as illegitimate, which contributes to the growing distrust.

The analysis also revealed that asylum claims from various countries have decreased, with notable drops from Bangladesh (82%), Sri Lanka (79%), Ghana (68%), and India (59%). However, claims from Haiti surged by 130%, attributed to ongoing gang violence and civil unrest.

Demographic trends in the poll showed that trust in refugees was lower among immigrants (28%) compared to non-immigrants (38%). Non-white respondents also exhibited lower trust levels (26%) than white respondents (39%). Men were more likely to distrust refugees than women, with 49% of men expressing distrust compared to 36% of women.

Geographically, trust in refugees was lowest in Manitoba and Saskatchewan (31%) and Ontario (33%), while Quebec and Alberta reported the highest trust levels at 42%. Trust in immigrants followed similar patterns, with Atlantic Canada showing the highest levels of trust at 53%.

Refugee advocates caution against interpreting polling data without context. Gauri Sreenivasan, co-executive director of the Canadian Council for Refugees, emphasized that public opinion can be influenced by media narratives and political rhetoric. "Canadians consistently place a high value on welcoming newcomers and a culture of inclusion," she stated.

Adam Sadinsky, an advocacy co-chair for the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers, stressed the importance of a robust refugee determination system to uphold Canada’s international obligations. He noted that misleading rhetoric surrounding immigration can create division among the public.

The online poll's methodology does not apply traditional margins of error due to its non-probability sampling approach. However, a probability sample of the same size would typically have a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5%, 19 times out of 20.