Absolutely. It would be interesting to know what information was in this database. It doesn't make sense that it was just a list of people. Did it include known connections? Other medical information? Travel history? And why/how was it being used?
Giving the user clear feedback about where they are in a page and how to modify their location should not "increase cognitive noise". It should in fact offload cognitive load from the user onto the interface leaving more room, so to speak, for the user to use for themselves.
The number of immigrants admitted to Canada per year is very stable and only slowing rising. On average it has been between 200-300 thousand per year for at least the past 20 years. This is not the driving force of lack of housing, and is a driving force of a stronger economy with the introduction of skilled labour.