SE LEC TE D V IEW S ON D IV E RS ITY IN C A NA DA

T H E A S S O C I AT I O N F O R C A N A D I A N S T U D I E S
M A RC H , 2 0 1 7
 METHODOLOGY

The fi ndings were collected from a

survey of over 2559 Canadians which
included an oversample of 500
respondents born outside of Canada. It
was conducted by the fi rm Leger
Marketing for the Canadian Race
Relations Foundation and the Association
for Canadian Studies during the week of
March 13-24, 2017. Done via web panel,
the probabilistic margin of error is 2.9
percent 19 times out of 20
 POSITIVE VIEWS OF GROUPS RISE
BETWEEN 2013 AND 2017
Net Positive OPINION OF Selected Groups 2013-2017

Aboriginals 2013 60%

2017 73%
Muslims 2013 50%
2017 55%
Jews 2013 70%
2017 74%
Immigrants 2013 75%
2017 72%
Atheists 2013
60%
2017 63%
AM ON GS T SE VE RAL GRO UP S C AN AD IAN S L E AST LIK E LY
T O RE P ORT C ON TAC T W IT H ABO RIGIN ALS ;
IM M IGRAN TS L E AS T L IK E LY TO RE P ORT H AVIN G SU C H
C O N TAC T

Have Contact
often and Total
occasionally in
percentage
2013 74
Immigrants 2017 73
2013 45
Jews 2017
53
2013 48
Muslims 2017
59
 VARIATION IN POSITIVE OPINION ACROSS
GROUPS BUT GAP CLOSES SOMEWHAT
COMPARED WITH PREVIOUS YEARS
March Immigra Refugee Muslims Aboriginal Atheists Jews
2017 nts s s
TOTAL 72% 63% 55% 73% 63% 74%
POSITIVE
Very 22% 21% 18% 28% 23% 27%
positive
Somewha 50% 43% 37% 45% 40% 47%
t positive
TOTAL 20% 27% 34% 19% 21% 13%
NEGATIVE
Somewha 16% 19% 21% 15% 15% 10%
t negative
Very 5% 9% 13% 4% 6% 3%
negative
I dont 5% 7% 8% 6% 13% 10%
know
I prefer 2% 2% 3% 2% 3% 3%
not to
answer
TRENDS: TOTAL POSITIVE
OPINION OF MUSLIMS UP

55%

46% 46% 46%

43%

35%
 P O SITIVE VIE W OF RE L AT IO N SH IP S ON T H E RIS E
W H E N IT C OM E S TO ABORIGIN AL S AN D N ON -
ABORIGIN AL S AN D M USL IM S AN D N ON -M U SL IM S

Total Positive 2013 2017

The relations between Aboriginals
and non-Aboriginals 44% 53%

The relations Between Muslims

and non-Muslims 37% 47%

The relations between Immigrants

and non-Immigrants 65% 61%

 ISLAM VIEWED MORE NEGATIVELY

THAN JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY
The Christian
Islam Judaism
Religion
TOTAL
43% 62% 70%
POSITIVE
Very positive 14% 20% 27%
Somewhat
29% 42% 43%
positive
TOTAL
43% 18% 21%
NEGATIVE
Somewhat
25% 13% 15%
negative
Very negative 18% 5% 5%
I dont know 11% 18% 7%
I prefer not to
3% 3% 2%
answer
 D E C L I N E I N A G R E E M E N T T H AT T H E R E I S A N
IRRECONCILABLE CONFLICT BETWEEN WESTERN
SOCIETIES AND ISLAM

58% 57% 58% 58%

55% 56% 56%
54%

47%
 I D E O LO GY A N D F U N DA M E N TA L I S M M O S T O FT E N C I T E D BY
THOSE WHO BELIEVE THERE IS AN IRRECONCILABLE
CONFLICT BETWEEN ISLAM AND THE WEST

Age

Total 18-34 35+

I prefer not to answer 38% 43% 41%
Ideological differences 16% 17% 19%
Islamic fundamentalism 9% 2% 12%
Deeply ingrained conflict (in 9% 6% 13%
general)
Inflexibility towards 8% 11% 4%
compromise
Ignorance towards others 7% 11% 6%
Islamic views towards non- 7% 1% 7%
believers/infidels
Islamic jihad/holy war 5% 0% 2%
Islamic extremism 4% 1% 4%
Islam doesn't respect 4% 1% 3%
women's rights
Islamic radicalism 3% 0% 1%
Historical conflicts 3% 4% 2%
(Crusades, Israeli
Palestinian conflict, War on
Terrorism)
Islam doesn't respect civil 3% 2% 4%
rights
 M USL IM S M OR E LIK E LY T O C IT E IGN ORAN C E AN D
B IGO TRY AS F UE LIN G P E RC E P T ION OF
IR RE C ON C IL AB L E C O N FL IC T

Total French English Other Muslims Jewish

I prefer not to answer 38% 35% 38% 36% 49% 26%
Ideological differences 16% 16% 14% 24% 2% 18%
Islamic fundamentalism 9% 8% 9% 18% 2% 13%
Deeply ingrained conflict 9% 12% 7% 8% 0% 4%
(in general)
Inflexibility towards 8% 9% 7% 4% 6% 10%
compromise
Ignorance towards others 7% 4% 7% 6% 23% 7%
Islamic views towards non- 7% 5% 9% 7% 4% 12%
believers/infidels
Islamic jihad/holy war 5% 3% 7% 3% 0% 8%
Islamic extremism 4% 5% 4% 4% 3% 7%
Islam doesn't respect 4% 4% 4% 6% 1% 4%
women's rights
Islamic radicalism 3% 3% 3% 3% 1% 8%
Historical conflicts 3% 3% 2% 2% 1% 3%
(Crusades, Israeli
Palestinian conflict, War on
Terrorism)
 ISLAM VIEWED MORE NEGATIVELY
THAN MUSLIMS
Islam Muslims
Tota Engli Tota Frenc Englis
l French sh Other l h h Other
TOTAL POSITIVE 43% 31% 48% 36% 55% 47% 60% 43%
Very positive 14% 7% 16% 10% 18% 8% 21% 15%
Somewhat positive 29% 23% 32% 26% 37% 39% 39% 28%
TOTAL NEGATIVE 43% 58% 37% 50% 34% 45% 29% 45%
Somewhat negative 25% 32% 23% 24% 21% 28% 19% 25%
Very negative 18% 25% 14% 26% 13% 17% 10% 20%
I dont know 11% 10% 11% 12% 8% 6% 7% 9%
I prefer not to 3% 2% 4% 3% 3% 2% 3% 3%
answer
 CANADIANS CENTERED

Frenc Englis Atlant MB/S

Total h h Other ic QC ON K AB BC
The 9% 7% 10% 9% 8% 8% 9% 17% 12% 7%
Right
The 13% 12% 13% 14% 9% 12% 13% 11% 21% 14%
Cente
r-
Right
The 18% 17% 17% 22% 15% 17% 19% 20% 16% 17%
Cente
r
The 17% 20% 17% 11% 13% 21% 17% 11% 14% 17%
Cente
r-Left
The 10% 8% 12% 10% 12% 9% 11% 12% 6% 13%
Left
I 29% 32% 28% 30% 40% 30% 27% 27% 26% 28%
dont
know
I 3% 4% 3% 4% 3% 4% 3% 2% 3% 5%
prefer
 VIEWS FROM RIGHT TO LEFT

Yes/Agree/Positive The The

The Center- The Center- The
Right Right Center Left Left
Many religious and racial 44.7% 29.3% 21.7% 15.9% 10.5%
stereotypes are accurate
I get upset when I hear a 55.1% 65.1% 70.5% 80.0% 87.6%
racist remark from a friend
or family member
There is an irreconcilable 79.2% 60.0% 49.2% 37.0% 29.2%
Conflict between Western
societies and Islam
The wearing of visible 57.9% 34.0% 30.3% 25.0% 25.2%
religious symbols (hijabs,
kippahs, crosses, etc.) in
public institutions should be
banned in my province
Too many immigrants 63.1% 40.8% 34.8% 20.6% 16.9%
Opinion of Refugees 37.6% 63.6% 67.1% 83.0% 85.1%
Opinion of Canadian 56.2% 70.4% 77.3% 87.4% 82.4%
Multiculturalism
Immigrants should be 58.5% 40.2% 36.3% 20.4% 19.8%
encouraged to give up their
customs and traditions and
 LEVELS OF IMMIGRATION

REGION

Total Atlantic QC ON MB/SK AB BC

Too 38% 34% 37% 37% 54% 45% 35%
many
Too few 10% 15% 10% 10% 6% 11% 13%

About 41% 39% 46% 44% 30% 33% 36%

the
right
number
I dont 9% 9% 6% 9% 9% 9% 16%
know
I prefer 1% 3% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1%
not to
answer
 T H OS E MO ST C ON C E R N E D ABOU T L E VE LS O F
IM M IGRATION H OL D M O RE N E GATIVE VIE W S O F
M US LIM S

In your opinion, do you feel there are too

many, too few, or about the right number of
immigrants coming to Canada?
About the right
Too many Too few
number
(38%) (10%)
(41%)
Very positive 6.0% 43.8% 23.9%
Somewhat
24.0% 40.1% 47.8%
positive
Somewhat
Opinion of 32.9% 9.7% 15.9%
negative
Muslims
Very negative 27.4% 2.2% 3.1%
I dont know 7.1% 3.4% 6.9%
I prefer not to
2.5% 0.7% 2.4%
answer
Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
 THE WEARING OF VISIBLE RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS (HIJABS,
K I P PA H S , C R O SS E S , E T C . ) I N P U B L I C I N S T I T U T I O N S S H O U L D
B E B A N N E D I N M Y P R OV I N C E : B I G G A P A LO N G L A N G U A G E
LINES

18- 25- 35- 45- 55- 65 Frenc Englis Musli Jewis

Total 24 34 44 54 64 + h h Other m h
TOTAL AGREE 41
34% 19% 29% 34% 36% 42% 63% 24% 34% 15% 10%
%
Strongly agree 23
18% 9% 15% 14% 19% 23% 36% 10% 16% 7% 3%
%
Somewhat agree 17
17% 11% 14% 20% 17% 19% 28% 13% 18% 9% 7%
%
TOTAL DISAGREE 51
56% 72% 61% 52% 55% 51% 28% 66% 54% 77% 86%
%
Somewhat disagree 22
22% 20% 23% 22% 22% 23% 18% 22% 30% 13% 23%
%
Strongly disagree 29
34% 52% 38% 30% 32% 28% 10% 44% 23% 63% 64%
%
I dont know 8% 7% 7% 11% 9% 7% 7% 8% 8% 12% 2% 2%
I prefer not to
answer 2% 2% 3% 2% 1% 1% 2% 1% 2% 0% 1% 1%
 MUSLIMS MOST LIKELY TO SAY THAT THEIR
CULTURE AND RELIGION IS MISREPRESENTED

My culture or religion is misrepresented in Canada

ARRIVED IN
AGE BORN IN CANADA CANADA MUSLIM JEWISH

Total 18-34 35 + Yes No 2000 + >2000 Yes Yes

Total 2559 694 1865 1 835 357 478 311 278
absolu : 724

Yes 22% 24% 21% 22% 21% 26% 17% 56% 24%
No 62% 56% 65% 62% 63% 55% 69% 32% 60%
I dont 15% 19% 13% 15% 14% 16% 12% 10% 14%
know

I prefer 2% 1% 2% 2% 2% 3% 2% 2% 2%
not to
answer
 MOSTLY POSITIVE VIEW OF
MULTICULTURALISM WITH SOME
SOFTNESS IN QUEBEC
Canadian multiculturalism

Total 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+ French English Other
TOTAL 75% 81% 78% 74% 75% 71% 71% 65% 76% 77%
POSITI
VE
Very 34% 44% 40% 35% 30% 33% 26% 16% 38% 41%
positiv
e
Somew 40% 37% 37% 39% 45% 37% 45% 49% 38% 37%
hat
positiv
e
TOTAL 19% 12% 13% 17% 18% 24% 25% 27% 17% 16%
NEGAT
IVE
Somew 13% 8% 10% 12% 12% 15% 18% 19% 12% 9%
hat
negati
ve
Very 6% 4% 4% 5% 6% 8% 7% 8% 5% 7%
negati
ve
I dont 5% 6% 7% 6% 7% 4% 2% 7% 5% 5%
HATE ON THE
INTERNET
 YO U N G PE O PLE H AV E S EE N E X PR E SSIO N S O F
H AT E O N T H E I N T E R N E T MO ST O F T E N

Age Religion
Muslim
Total 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+ s Jews
Often 34% 62% 46% 32% 31% 20% 27% 40% 44%
Occasionally 34% 25% 31% 39% 37% 40% 31% 41% 31%
Rarely 18% 6% 13% 17% 21% 23% 23% 12% 16%
Never 9% 5% 5% 7% 9% 13% 14% 4% 8%
I dont know 3% 1% 5% 3% 2% 4% 4% 2% 1%
I prefer not
to answer 1% 1% 1% 2% 1% 0% 1% 1% 1%
 THE MAJORITY HOLD INTERNET AND SOCIAL
N E T W O R K I N G C O M PA N I E S A C C O U N TA B L E F O R T H E
S P R E A D O F E X P R E SS I O N S O F H AT E

18- 25- 35- 45- 55- Frenc Englis Othe Musli

Total 24 34 44 54 64 65+ h h r ms Jews
TOTAL
FAVOU 62% 47% 54% 58% 66% 68% 75% 49% 67% 66% 64% 77%
RABLE

TOTAL
OPPOS 27% 40% 36% 29% 24% 22% 16% 41% 23% 20% 25% 17%
ED

Dont
know/P
refer
not to 10% 13% 11% 13% 10% 9% 9% 11% 11% 15% 11% 6%
answer
CITIES
H A M ILT ON T ON IAN S AN D C ALGARARIAN S MO ST L IK E LY
T O S AY T H E RE ARE T OO M AN Y IM M IGRAN T S

Too many
immigrants
Montreal 115 37.7%
Hamilton -
Niagara
45.2%
Peninsula
135
Greater
Ottawa area 31.2%
128
Greater
Toronto area 35.2%
408
Calgary 133 45.5%
 VANCOUVERITES AND
MONTREALERS MOST ATTACHED TO
THEIR CITY
City of Town
Total Very Somewhat
Attachment attached attached
Montreal 83.3% 34.2% 49.1%
Hamilton -
Niagara 78.3% 31.3% 47.0%
Peninsula
Greater
Ottawa 68.5% 30.7% 37.8%
area
Greater 80.9%
Toronto 38.7% 42.2%
area
Calgary 78.7% 34.8% 43.9%
Edmonton 78.7% 28.0% 50.7%
Metro 86.8%
34.9% 51.9%
Vancouver
OTTAWA IS WHERE ATTACHMENT TO
CANADA IS STRONGEST

Canada

Total Very attached Somewhat

Attachment attached
Montreal 82.5% 43.0% 39.5%
Hamilton - 94.7%
Niagara 69.9% 24.8%
Peninsula
Greater 96.9%
72.7% 24.2%
Ottawa area
Greater 96.4%
65.9% 26.5%
Toronto area
Calgary 90.3% 63.2% 27.1%
Edmonton 96% 66.7% 29.3%
Metro 91%
58.7% 32.3%
Vancouver
HAMILTONIANS AND MONTREALERS
MOST CONCERNED ABOUT RACISM

The degree of racism in society

Very Worried Somewhat Worried

Montreal 36.0% 41.2%

Hamilton - Niagara
37.8% 40.7%
Peninsula
Greater Ottawa
28.1% 43.0%
area
Greater Toronto
32.8% 43.1%
area
Calgary 28.6% 41.4%
Edmonton 32.9% 42.1%
Metro Vancouver 30.7% 42.9%
OTTAWA RESIDENTS MOST LIKELY
TO SEE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR
ALL
Canada is a country of equal
opportunity for all
YES No
Montreal 64.9% 25.4%
Hamilton -
Niagara 65.4% 25.6%
Peninsula
Greater Ottawa
77.2% 16.5%
area
Greater Toronto
70.8% 20.3%
area
Calgary 72.0% 21.2%
Edmonton 62.3% 20.8%
Metro Vancouver 71.2% 16.8%
TORONTO AND HAMILTON MOST
POSITIVE ABOUT
MULTICULTURALISM
Canadian Multiculturalism
Very Positive Somewhat
Positive
Montreal 33.0% 40.9%
Hamilton -
Niagara 43.3% 37.3%
Peninsula
Greater
41.4% 35.2%
Ottawa area
Greater
46.3% 32.8%
Toronto area
Calgary 35.3% 36.8%
Edmonton 44.7% 25.0%
Metro
29.6% 46.6%
Vancouver