A grassroots movement, Take Back Canada, is organizing rallies across the country slated for Canada Day to protest against “uncontrolled” and “reckless” immigration. 

On July 1, Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, and Charlottetown will engage in a “non-partisan” protest against mass immigration, which Take Back Canada states is raising the cost of living, creating job scarcity, and compromising safety. 

“For decades we have nobly and generously accepted as our own those who wish to escape the shackles of repressive governments and cultures by offering them a place in our society, so long as they indeed showed to be noble in intention and sincere in their belief of the core values that make our society a safe and loving place for all,” their website reads. 

“In even some of the world’s most impoverished countries, it is taken for granted that if you are willing to work, you may afford a roof over your head and enough space to raise a family…” 

“However, in our supposedly rich and prosperous nation, this basic human necessity seems only attainable for the highest achievers in our society, while the majority of us wallow in silence, too defeated to believe that a brighter future is possible,” their statement reads. 

The organizers have announced that additional cities partaking in the July 1 protest will soon be featured on their website. They are urging protestors to gather as long as daylight lasts.

Take Back Canada’s website also states that the protest is not anti-immigration, noting that Canadians from diverse backgrounds and ideologies are wholeheartedly invited to unite in solidarity.

When advertising their protest on a social media platform called Reddit, the site banned Take Back Canada for allegedly violating Reddit’s community guidelines and “promoting hate.” 

Canadians now believe legal immigration is a net negative

According to a new poll from Research Co., 44% of Canadians say immigration has a mostly negative effect on the country.

Additionally, the poll found that 46% of Canadians (up 7 points from October last year) now say that the number of legal immigrants allowed to enter Canada must decrease. Only 31% (down 6 points from last year) say that current immigration levels are fine, and just 15% (down 2 points) want to see an increase in immigration).

The number of Canadians who believe immigrants should only be allowed into Canada if they adopt Canadian values remains unchanged at 65%.