These immigrants say Canada failed to plan for a population explosion. Now it's their top election issue

Joana Valamootoo felt Canada was a welcoming place when she immigrated here from Mauritius in 2012, but that sense has faded in recent years as immigration numbers have gone up and up.

"I came here in 2012 on a francophone initiative program, an immigration program, and I was welcome, but I was also provided what I needed to succeed here," she said. 

She believes that's no longer the case for newcomers to the country.

CBC has been asking people across the country about the issues that matter most to them in the April 28, 2025, federal election.

While immigration has taken a backseat to concerns like national unity and tariffs Valamootoo said it's top of mind for her. She wants to hear leaders talk about how they will integrate newcomers into the country.

"I think the past three years there has been a lot of mistakes by the federal government with regard to how many people they were letting in."

She feels that's led to a rise in racism and a backlash against immigrants and international students, who've been blamed for crises in housing and education.

"I think we need a leader that can bring people together, instead of creating division," she said.

As Canada's population has pushed past 41 million people, Canadians and immigrants alike have expressed concern about whether the country has planned enough to incorporate new immigrants into workspaces, schools and homes. The Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association recently commissioned a poll, which found 68 per cent of Saskatchewan people surveyed online supported reducing immigration.

Sanjeev Kumar came to Canada on a work permit in 2008 to work in Alberta's restaurant industry and recently opened his own restaurant in northeast Calgary.

He's also seen a rise in anti-immigrant sentiment, which he believes is intensified by immigrants being willing to work in minimum wage jobs and creating intense competition for work.

"Nobody has a job right now. People are struggling. Everyone is struggling. Groceries are so expensive," he said.

Kumar said the problem hits international students and other newcomers particularly badly. He has students coming to him, asking for work.

"They are in college, about to finish, but they don't have money … they don't have food to eat."