As the New Year begins, the main concerns of Canadians for 2024 are the cost of living and immigration, according to a recent survey by Nanos Research.
The survey found that half of Canadians who have a mortgage are concerned or somewhat concerned about making payments, 35 per cent of respondents want the House of Commons to prioritize the cost of living and up to 61 per cent of those surveyed want Canada to accept less immigrants.
MORTGAGE PAYMENTS
Nanos found that one in two Canadians with a mortgage say they are concerned (24 per cent) or somewhat concerned (28 per cent) about the capability to make their mortgage payments when their mortgage renews.
The data states that younger Canadians between 18 and 35 years old are more likely to be concerned (29 per cent) or somewhat concerned (34 per cent) about mortgage payments.
Canadians who are 55 and older demonstrated notably less worry, with only 16 per cent sharing they are concerned and 20 per cent saying they are somewhat concerned about mortgage bills.
Accordingly, the research shows that men and women have different concerns. Of the women surveyed, 26% expressed concern and 33% indicated some level of concern over mortgage payments. Conversely, 22% of males indicated they were worried, and 33% said they were only little concerned.
HOUSE OF COMMONS PRIORITY HOPE
When Canadians were asked what issues should be prioritized by the House of Commons in 2024, 35.4 per cent of respondents said the increase of cost of living.
From these respondents 38 per cent were female and 32 per cent were men.
Almost half (44.5 per cent) of younger Canadians aged 18 to 34 said addressing the increase of cost of living was a priority for them. Forty-one per cent of adults aged 35 to 54 stood by the same priority, and 25 per cent of adults 55 and older also stated that the cost of living should be a major focus.
Other top priorities included health care, with 13.8 per cent of respondents indicating it was a priority for them, housing (13.1 per cent), and the environment (10.9 per cent).
IMMIGRATION
Nanos also found that an increasing proportion of Canadians want the country to accept less immigrants in 2024 compared to 2023. Sixty-one per cent of respondents shared this view, an eight per cent rise from September 2023.
The data found that the proportion of Canadians who want to accept more immigrants continues to reduce, from 17 per cent in 2020 to five per cent in the survey.
Most of the Canadians who were surveyed hoped that Canada will accept less immigrants live in the Prairies (68.1 per cent) and Ontario (67.1 per cent).
The top reason attributed to this opinion is the housing crisis, with 31 per cent saying it’s because there’s no other place to live.
About 24 per cent said Canada should accept less immigrants because the country doesn’t have the infrastructure, social services and resources to support them.
METHODOLOGY
1,006 Canadians who are 18 years or older, the Nanos conducted a hybrid telephone and online random survey between December 27th to the 29th 2023, as a part of an omnibus survey.
  Members were randomly employed by telephone using live agents and administered a survey online. Across Canada the sample included both cell and land lines. The results were checked statistically and weighted by age and gender by using the latest census information and the sample is geographically stratified to be representative of Canada.Â
