S1 E28 | Canada’s Immigration Debate Has Changed, and So Has the Country

Canada’s immigration debate has entered a new phase, and it’s no longer simply about immigration itself.In this episode of The Canadianist, Christopher M. Michaud explores the growing loss of public trust surrounding immigration management, housing pressure, affordability, and political representation in Canada. Starting with the federal government’s new pathway allowing 33,000 temporary workers to transition toward permanent residency, the conversation expands into a deeper examination of why so many Canadians increasingly feel politically disconnected and emotionally exhausted.This episode looks at how overlapping pressures, from housing and healthcare to trade, wages, and institutional trust, are reshaping the country’s political mood. It also explores why traditional left-versus-right politics no longer fully reflects how many Canadians actually think, and why electoral reform and broader representation may become increasingly important in the years ahead.Finally, the episode turns toward a larger idea: Canadianism, and the question of what actually holds a country together during periods of strain, fragmentation, and uncertainty.Featuring reflections from Christopher M. Michaud’s books Canadianism: A Calm Alternative for a Fractured Country and Democracy Renewed: The Case for Electoral Reform in Canada.