Poll Finds Canadians Split on Withholding Programs

A Nanos Research poll shows 46 per cent support and 51 per cent oppose withholding provincially funded programs from temporary foreign workers.

Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Immigration

Poll Finds Canadians Split on Withholding Programs

Live Poll

Should provinces withhold public health care and education from temporary foreign workers?

A Nanos Research poll found 46 per cent of Canadians support or somewhat support withholding provincially funded programs from temporary foreign workers, while 51 per cent somewhat or fully oppose it. The poll follows an Alberta referendum on limiting provincially funded services to certain non-permanent residents.

Why it matters

The findings show a regional divide, with support highest in the Prairies and nearly 40 per cent in British Columbia, as provinces such as Saskatchewan and Newfoundland seek more immigration powers from Ottawa. The results offer a national snapshot of how Canadians view access to provincial programs for temporary workers.

The Nanos Research poll of 1,058 Canadians, conducted October 31 to November 2 with a 3-per-cent margin of error, found 46 per cent support and 51 per cent opposition to withholding provincially funded programs from temporary foreign workers. Support in Atlantic Canada, Ontario and Quebec ranged from 43 to 48 per cent, while the poll does not show how the policy would be implemented.

The players

Nanos Research

Nanos Research is a Canadian public opinion research firm that conducted the poll for The Globe and Mail.

The Globe and Mail

The Globe and Mail is a national Canadian newspaper that commissioned the Nanos Research poll.

The details

The poll question echoes three proposals on Alberta's referendum ballot, and Canadians also backed requiring proof of citizenship to vote in provincial elections, at 61 per cent. Canadians largely rejected abolishing the Senate, an opt-out-with-funding model, provincial control over judicial appointments and provincial precedence over federal law.

October 31 to November 2: Nanos Research surveyed 1,058 Canadians.
October 2026: Alberta voters held a provincial referendum and narrowly endorsed limiting provincially funded services to certain non-permanent residents.
2026: The federal budget plan granted 200,000 temporary residents permanent residency.

Political Context

The poll mirrors three proposals on Alberta's October 2026 referendum ballot, which voters endorsed by a narrow margin just above 50 per cent. Canadians rejected several other referendum proposals, including abolishing the Senate and granting provinces control over judicial appointments, signalling that opposition to structural changes runs deeper than support for restricting temporary worker access.

The poll reflects opinion rather than a change in policy, so temporary workers' access to provincial programs is unchanged. Residents who want to follow how these views translate into legislation should watch provincial debates and any federal immigration announcements.

The takeaway

Public opinion on temporary worker programs is closely divided across Canada, and regional differences are significant. Readers can track how provinces respond as they press Ottawa for greater immigration powers.