(1,1) -1- fc64 report-cover.indd 3/1/2007 1:57:18 PM
Report 2006-4
FOCUS CANADA
The Pulse of Canadian Public Opinion
FOCUS C ANADA
The Pulse of Canadian Public Opinion
Report 2006-4
FOCUS CANADA is confidential and is provided solely
for the benefit and use of clients in their business.
Clients agree to respect and maintain the confidential
nature of this report and agree that it will not be
released to any third party or to the public or media,
nor will it be reproduced in whole or in part without
the express written consent of Environics. Any such
request shall be made in writing to:
OTTAWA
Environics Research Group Limited
336 MacLaren Street
Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0M6
or
TORONTO
Environics Research Group Limited
33 Bloor Street East, Suite 900
Toronto, Ontario M4W 3H1
Cover design by Stephen Otto
C O N T E N T S
INTRODUCTION TO THE 2006-4 EDITION .......................................................................
7
BIRD’S-EYE VIEW .................................................................................................................. 11
SECTION ONE
THE FEDERAL SCENE ........................................................................................................... 15
INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 17
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE .......................................................
Federal government satisfaction...............................................................................
Federal government report card...............................................................................
Approval of the prime minister ...............................................................................
19
19
20
28
SECTION TWO
TRENDS AND ISSUES............................................................................................................. 29
MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE FACING CANADA .................................................... 31
ECONOMIC MOOD ..................................................................................................... 33
Strength of the Canadian economy ......................................................................... 34
Consumer confidence ............................................................................................. 36
SATISFACTION WITH DIRECTION OF THE COUNTRY ................................... 37
PRIDE IN BEING CANADIAN ................................................................................... 38
CONFIDENCE IN LEADERS, PROFESSIONALS AND INSTITUTIONS .........
Confidence in leaders .............................................................................................
Confidence in professions .......................................................................................
Confidence in institutions .......................................................................................
41
42
44
45
BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT .............................................................................
Government regulation of business ..........................................................................
Influence of business on government ........................................................................
Corporate profits ...................................................................................................
47
47
50
52
C O N T E N T S
QUEBEC AND CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE ..................................................... 55
Constitutional options for Quebec........................................................................... 56
Quebec as a “nation”............................................................................................. 57
SECTION THREE
SPECIAL THEME; MUSLIMS AND MULTICULTURALISM IN CANADA .................. 59
OVERVIEW ................................................................................................................... 61
CONTACT WITH AND IMPRESSIONS OF MINORITY GROUPS ....................
Contact with ethnic groups .....................................................................................
General impressions of religious groups ...................................................................
Attitudes about immigration ...................................................................................
Relations between specific groups ...........................................................................
Discrimination against ethnic groups .......................................................................
62
62
65
67
73
76
TREATMENT OF MUSLIMS IN CANADA .............................................................
Treatment of Muslims in Canada relative to other countries ......................................
Quality of life for Muslim women ...........................................................................
Hostility toward Muslims among Canadians ...........................................................
Muslim experience of discrimination .......................................................................
78
78
80
81
82
MUSLIM IDENTITY AND INTEGRATION ............................................................. 84
Integration versus separation from Canadian society ................................................. 84
Strength of Muslim identity .................................................................................... 93
Legal issues related to religious pluralism ................................................................ 100
Future of Muslims in Canada ................................................................................. 103
Constitutional options for Quebec........................................................................... 107
EXTREMISM AND DOMESTIC TERRORISM....................................................... 108
Struggle between extreme and moderate Islam ......................................................... 108
Muslim-initiated terrorism in Canada...................................................................... 113
Muslims’ responsibility to be vigilant about extremism .............................................. 115
Anti-terrorism legislation ........................................................................................ 117
C O N T E N T S
CANADIAN FOREIGN POLICY ................................................................................ 119
Peacekeeping versus peacemaking role in the world .................................................. 119
Canada’s mission in Afghanistan ............................................................................ 120
Canada’s policy in the Middle East ........................................................................ 121
SECTION FOUR
PROVINCIAL SCENE .............................................................................................................. 123
PROVINCIAL OVERVIEW ........................................................................................ 125
Most important issue.............................................................................................. 126
Government satisfaction ......................................................................................... 127
Provincial report card ............................................................................................. 128
Approval of the premier ......................................................................................... 129
ONTARIO ...................................................................................................................... 130
Most important issue.............................................................................................. 131
Government satisfaction ......................................................................................... 132
Provincial report card ............................................................................................. 132
Approval of the premier ......................................................................................... 134
QUEBEC ........................................................................................................................ 135
Most important issue.............................................................................................. 136
Government satisfaction ......................................................................................... 137
Provincial report card ............................................................................................. 138
Approval of the premier ......................................................................................... 139
BRITISH COLUMBIA .................................................................................................. 140
Most important issue.............................................................................................. 141
Government satisfaction ......................................................................................... 142
Provincial report card ............................................................................................. 142
Approval of the premier ......................................................................................... 144
ALBERTA ...................................................................................................................... 145
Most important issue.............................................................................................. 146
Government satisfaction ......................................................................................... 147
Provincial report card ............................................................................................. 148
Approval of the premier ......................................................................................... 149
C O N T E N T S
MANITOBA .................................................................................................................. 150
Most important issue.............................................................................................. 151
Government satisfaction ......................................................................................... 152
Provincial report card ............................................................................................. 152
Approval of the premier ......................................................................................... 154
SASKATCHEWAN ....................................................................................................... 155
Most important issue.............................................................................................. 156
Government satisfaction ......................................................................................... 157
Provincial report card ............................................................................................. 158
Approval of the premier ......................................................................................... 159
ATLANTIC CANADA .................................................................................................. 160
Newfoundland/Labrador ....................................................................................... 160
New Brunswick ..................................................................................................... 162
Nova Scotia .......................................................................................................... 164
METHDOLOGY ........................................................................................................................ 167
Main survey .......................................................................................................... 169
Survey of Canadian Muslims ................................................................................. 173
Introduction
2006-4 Edition
TO THE
I N T R O D U C T I O N
E
public confidence in leaders, professions and institutions, as well as public perception of government
regulation of business, the influence of business on
government and corporate profits. This edition also
updates Quebecers’ preferences regarding constitutional options for their province.
nvironics Research Group Limited is pleased
to present the 2006-4 Edition of the FOCUS
CANADA Report on trends in Canadian public
opinion.
FOCUS CANADA is Canada’s leading survey of
public opinion on public affairs, public policy and
social trends. Established in 1976, this research
draws on the country’s most extensive public opinion database.
Section Three: Special Theme on Muslims and
Multiculturalism in Canada. This section updates
previous tracking on public attitudes toward immigration and multiculturalism in the country. And,
for the first time ever, FOCUS CANADA examines
public perceptions of Muslims in Canada, including
data from an oversample survey of Canadian Muslims, as well as custom data from a study conducted
by Environics for the Pierre Trudeau Foundation
and comparisons with international data from the
Pew Research Center. Topics covered include: impressions of Islam, the strength of Islamic identity
held by Canadian Muslims – and whether this identity is growing and what impact this has on public
perception; and whether there is a struggle between
moderate and extremist Muslims – and how Muslims identify with these two sides. We also look at
the perceived treatment of and level of hostility toward Muslims, examine attitudes on the wearing of
head scarves by Muslim women and the recognition
of Sharia law, and gauge perception of Muslims’
desire to adopt Canadian values and customs.
The 2006-4 Edition is based on a national survey
conducted by telephone with a representative sample of 2,045 adult Canadians, between December
8 and 30, 2006. A sample of this size drawn from
the population will provide results accurate to within
plus or minus 2.2 percentage points in 19 out of 20
samples.
This report contains three main sections:
Section One: The Federal Scene. This section
includes the latest public assessment of the federal
government’s performance and the approval ratings of Stephen Harper’s performance as prime
minister.
Section Two: Focus on Trends and Issues.
This quarter’s survey addresses the latest trends
on the public outlook on economic conditions and
the national agenda. It also examines Canadians’
sense of satisfaction with the way things are going in
the country today and their sense of pride in being
Canadian. We also update previous tracking on
Section Four: The Provincial Scene. This section
covers the latest public views on government and
first minister performance across the country.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
9
Bird’s-eye View
B I R D ’ S - E Y E
W
V I E W
In recent years, the integration of Muslim minorities
has increasingly preoccupied Western societies. A
number of highly publicized events have contributed
to this preoccupation: the riots in the suburbs of
Paris, ethnic clashes in Australia, the rise of “homegrown terror” in Great Britain, and the murder of
Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh. These events and
others have led to considerable debate about the current status – and likely futures – of Muslim minority
populations in Western societies. Of course, these
domestic social clashes have unfolded against the
backdrop of international security concerns in the
wake of 9/11 as well as the U.S.-led “war on terror,” which has inspired ire in much of the Muslim
world.
It is clear that terrorism, like so much else in the last
decade or so, has globalized; Canada, like other
countries all over the world, must reckon with the
threats posed by political extremists. But when it
comes to the integration of newcomers and minority
groups, Canada’s experience is unique. Canada has
the highest immigration rates in the world, as well
as the highest naturalization rates. Moreover, Canada’s immigrant population is vastly different from
those in most European countries, since Canada has
nothing like the colonial ties that bind countries such
as France and Great Britain to formerly colonized
countries in Africa and Asia. Canada’s immigration
point system ensures that most newcomers to Canada are highly educated and employable – whereas
the immigrant populations in many European countries often have fewer tools to help them integrate
successfully into a Western information economy
and liberal-democratic society. Because of its unique
position in terms of its history of immigration, the
lessons Canada can draw from other countries’ experiences – particularly those in Western Europe
– are limited.
Canadians, too, find themselves in a period of debate
about the multicultural policies that many have come
to see as a defining element of Canadian national
identity. Recent discussions about multiculturalism
in Canada have been spurred to a great extent by international events. Some commentators have asked:
if there can be ethnic unrest in such affluent and
generally peaceable cities as Paris, London, Madrid
and Melbourne, why should Toronto, Montreal or
Vancouver be immune? Although Canada has thus
far been spared ethnic violence and terrorist attacks
on its own soil, Canadians were also rattled by the
summer 2006 arrests of 18 (mostly Canadian-born)
young men in the Greater Toronto Area on charges
of plotting terrorism.
This issue of FOCUS CANADA seeks to offer a
window into Canadian public opinion on diverse
issues related to immigration, multiculturalism, newcomer integration and the accommodation of religious minority groups, particularly Muslims. Especially interesting in this FOCUS CANADA are the
results of the first ever survey of Canadian Muslims.
In combination, the two surveys featured in this FOCUS CANADA – the survey of Canada’s Muslim
minority and that of the population at large – tell
two parallel stories. One is of a Canadian public
that remains generally optimistic about immigration and multiculturalism but shows signs of anxiety
about newcomer integration. (Symptoms of this
anxiety, such as the code of conduct for hypothetical
ith their numbers rapidly approaching one
million, Muslims are Canada’s fastest-growing religious minority. The Canadian Muslim population is mostly foreign-born; Pakistan and Iran are
their most common nations of origin, but MuslimCanadians hail from dozens of countries all over the
world.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
13
B I R D ’ S - E Y E
V I E W
As Western countries discuss the challenges and opportunities of migration in a shrinking but far from
harmonious world, it is remarkable that one of the
nations that has been quietest, Canada, is arguably
the one for which the stakes are highest. With a low
birth rate and a foreign-born population that constitutes nearly a fifth of its people, Canada has literally bet its future on making a spectacularly diverse
society work. Hearing from ordinary Canadians of
diverse backgrounds about how this project is unfolding from their vantage point is a crucial part of
the process.
newcomers published by the town council of Herouxville, Quebec, have received tremendous publicity in the Canadian media.) Another is of a Muslim
minority that is satisfied with life in Canada and
engaged with the country, but worried about the
future – and especially about discrimination.
Both stories contain anxiety about integration.
Among Canadians at large, there is a sense the
Muslim-Canadians are not enthusiastic about integrating into Canadian society. Among MuslimCanadians, there is worry about unemployment and
discrimination against Muslims – possible signs that
Canadians overall are not holding up their end of
the bargain when it comes to helping newcomers
and minority groups integrate.
Michael Adams
President
Environics Group of Companies
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
14
SECTION ONE
THE
Federal Scene
T H E
F E D E R A L
S C E N E
INTRODUCTION
O
In December, the Bloc Québécois threatened to
trigger an election in the New Year over Afghanistan, because it felt that the federal government was
too focused on fighting terrorists and not enough
on rebuilding the country. The federal government
acknowledged that the mission was dangerous, but
stated that Canadian soldiers are participating in the
economic development of that country and providing humanitarian assistance.
ver the last months of 2006, the federal government found itself dealing with fresh challenges
on a number of fronts, perhaps the most prominent
being the growing attention and concern being devoted the environment generally, and climate change
in particular. Within a matter of months, this issue
has emerged as one of the country’s central policy
and political issues, and for the first time in more
than 15 years is at the top of the public’s list of
concerns.
Also on the international scene, relations with
China have been on the agenda. Certain tensions
were apparent between Canada and China, evidenced by the following events: the awarding of an
honorary Canadian citizenship to the Dalai Lama,
Canada’s criticism of China’s human rights record,
accusations of commercial espionage, and favourable words about Taiwan. In mid-November, at a
meeting of Pacific Rim leaders in Vietnam, China
backed out of a meeting between Mr. Harper and the
Chinese President. Later that month, China’s top
diplomat in Canada stated at a business luncheon
that pointing fingers would do nothing in achieving
better relations between the two countries. Human
rights advocates have praised the prime minister’s
approach on relations with China, while business
groups worry about the economic consequences of
worsening relations with the country.
The federal government introduced elements of its
environmental plan during the last quarter. In October, the government introduced its Clean Air Act,
which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by
between 45 and 65 percent from 2003 levels by
2050. This is in contrast to the Kyoto Protocol,
under which Canada agreed to cut its emissions to
six percent below 1990 levels between 2008 and
2012. The government has been criticized from
some quarters for stating that the Kyoto targets are
not achievable and for not setting firm reduction
targets until 2050. The government responded by
emphasizing that, under the previous government,
greenhouse gas emissions increased by 25 percent,
even though it ratified the Kyoto accord and insisted
that its targets were achievable.
In early December, the federal government launched
a plan to curb the use of toxic chemicals in Canada.
The $300-million plan will be implemented over
four years, and is focused on chemicals that are
harmful to human health and the environment. The
government will act to prohibit particularly toxic
chemicals and will tightly control the use of others.
Environmental organizations were largely positive
about the government’s plan and felt it was an important step that will bring Canada in line with the
United States and Europe – which have traditionally been better at controlling toxic pollutants.
Another important matter addressed by the federal
government this quarter was the issue of income
trusts. On October 31, the federal government announced its plan to tax income trusts, despite its
promise during the federal election campaign that it
would “preserve income trusts by not imposing any
new taxes on them.” The government defended the
move by stating that, though income trusts benefit
corporations in the short-term, they are creating a
distortion in the Canadian economy that is harming
the country’s long-term economic growth and will
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
17
T H E
F E D E R A L
S C E N E
tional definition of marriage without affecting civil
unions and respecting existing same-sex marriages.
On December 7, the motion was defeated 175 to
123, and ultimately, more MPs supported same-sex
marriage than when it last came to a vote in June
2005. The prime minister stated that the vote was
decisive and that he did not see reopening the issue
in the future.
result in shifting the tax burden from corporations
to individual Canadians. There was mixed response
to the government’s action, with critics stating that
this will impact negatively on seniors, many of whom
have invested in income trusts, and supporters praising the government for removing what they view as a
large tax loophole.
On November 27, the federal Parliament formally
recognized the Québécois as a nation within a united Canada, in a motion supported by 266 MPs.
Supporters of the motion hope that this will subdue
sovereigntist forces in Quebec by providing Quebecers with a symbolic signal that their language, culture
and history are valued by the country. Critics are
concerned about the implications of this recognition
in relation to the federal-provincial division of powers, and the potential repercussions of the motion.
This motion also led to the resignation from cabinet
of Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Sport,
Michael Chong, who was unable to support a motion that, in his view, recognizes ethnic nationalism,
something he does not believe in.
On December 13, Prime Minister Harper announced his initiative on Senate reform, which
would allow voters to choose senators when seats
become vacant, who would then be appointed
by the prime minister to the upper house. Critics believe that the federal government is trying to
change the Senate without proper consultation and
constitutional change, and think it will lead to confrontations as to who has more power – MPs or
senators. New Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach supports the federal government on this issue and thinks
it opens up consultation on how to bring about Senate reform, while Quebec Premier Jean Charest has
stated that the federal government does not have the
power to unilaterally alter the selection of senators.
Some other premiers have stated that representation, rather than how senators are selected, should
be the first priority.
Prime Minister Harper delivered on his promise to
hold a free vote on whether the government should
introduce legislation that would restore the tradi-
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
18
T H E
F E D E R A L
S C E N E
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE
Federal government satisfaction
A majority of Canadians continue to express
overall satisfaction with the federal government, but this view has declined five points
since October, reversing an upward trend dating back to July 2005.
Just over five in ten Canadians are now very (13%)
or somewhat (40%) satisfied with the federal government’s overall performance. Almost as many are
now somewhat (26%) or very (20%) dissatisfied
with the government’s performance.
Despite its efforts on the environmental and national
unity fronts over the past quarter, the current survey shows a decline in overall satisfaction with the
federal government, and this appears to be driven
by the income trust taxation announcement made
on October 31, 2006. Overall satisfaction with the
federal government dropped by five points over the
quarter, following more than a year of increasing
satisfaction.
Federal government satisfaction
By region
Satisfied
73
58
53
CANADA
58
October 2006
Federal government satisfaction
65 64
53
B.C.
2006
Alb.
60 61
Sask.
66
54 57 51 51
50
Man.
Ont.
Que.
December 2006
1996 - 2006
58
53
53
46
43
39
Satisfied
Dissatisfied
O O O O O Ja Ap Jl O Ja Mr Jl O Ja Mr Jn O D Ap O D Mr Jl O Mr Jn O D
96 97 98 99 00 01 01 01 01 02 02 02 02 03 03 03 03 03 04 04 04 05 05 05 06 06 06 06
Q.20
Would you say you are very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with the present federal government in Ottawa?
Note: Prior to December 2003, this question was asked of eligible voters only; as of December 2003, asked of the total sample
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
19
47
Atl.
T H E
F E D E R A L
S C E N E
Federal government report card
Public satisfaction with the federal government has
declined in all regions except Quebec, and most noticeably in Atlantic Canada (down 19 points since
October). Satisfaction with this government continues to be highest in Alberta (65%, down 8) and is
now lowest in Atlantic Canada (47%).
In addition to gauging overall satisfaction with government performance, FOCUS CANADA also includes assessments of performance in 19 specific
policy areas. This quarter’s drop in overall satisfaction with the performance of the federal government
is related to views on government performance in
the following five areas: taxation (down 9 points);
keeping promises (down 6); debt and deficit reduction (down 5); addressing issues facing Canada’s
cities (down 5); and running an honest and ethical
government (down 4).
Looking at Canada’s largest metropolitan areas, the
results for two are stable (Toronto with 50% and
Vancouver with 55% satisfied, both essentially unchanged over the quarter), with increased satisfaction in the third, Montreal (51% satisfied, up 81).
Public satisfaction with the federal government is
down fairly consistently across most demographic
groups, with the exception of Canadians aged 60
years and older – satisfaction among this group is
unchanged from October (60%), including two in
ten who are very satisfied (21%). Canadians aged
60 years and older are now the most supportive of
the federal government’s performance.
Assessments in all but two of the other 14 specific
areas addressed in the survey are largely unchanged,
the exceptions being the government’s handling of
immigration (up 9 points) and reducing unemployment (up 6).
The economy. Despite two consecutive quarters
of noticeable decline in public confidence about the
national economy, to the lowest level recorded in two
years (see Trends and Issues, Economic Mood), the
government continues to receive its strongest ratings
for its handling of this area.
Six in ten Canadians (62%) approve of the way
the federal government is handling the economy,
essentially unchanged from the previous quarter.
Approval ratings increase from Eastern to Western
Canada, with the exception that approval is highest
in Alberta, and also increase with income and education levels. Approval is also higher among men
than women.
1 At this sample size, an eight-point increase is significant at the 90 percent confidence level.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
20
T H E
F E D E R A L
S C E N E
Federal report card
Approve 1995 - 2006
Economy
O
95
O
96
O
97
O
98
O
99
O
00
O
01
O
02
O
03
AP
04
O
04
D
04
MR
05
JL
05
O
05
MR
06
JN
06
O
06
D
06
30
35
45
43
46
58
58
53
57
51
62
55
51
49
53
52
60
60
62
Domestic security
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
56
56
56
60
53
54
54
55
51
56
60
61
National unity
–
–
42
46
48
57
62
61
59
60
61
53
53
51
55
55
57
59
57
Running honest/
ethical gov’t
–
–
–
–
39
51
55
37
39
34
33
34
31
23
29
43
55
57
53
Canada-U.S. relations
58
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
49
57
52
51
47
47
52
47
53
53
53
Transportation
–
–
–
–
–
54
57
56
–
55
–
–
45
51
50
45
50
53
52
Debt and deficit
reduction*
19
38
49
61
50
51
61
57
56
52
56
52
47
47
55
43
50
56
51
Reducing
unemployment
21
23
26
32
35
51
46
49
50
45
55
42
43
45
51
40
55
44
50
Immigration
–
–
–
–
28
49
26
39
41
50
44
38
39
40
42
35
37
40
49
Federal-provincial
relations
36
31
39
37
41
47
48
37
40
46
57
42
42
37
45
46
50
52
49
Defence policy
45
35
41
41
39
49
45
43
41
49
44
40
47
43
48
48
46
46
47
Keeping its promises
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
36
52
52
46
Crime and justice**
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
38
–
–
46
45
45
Foreign policy
42
–
52
54
47
59
59
52
56
61
59
54
51
48
56
47
44
45
43
Taxation
16
23
21
27
22
34
42
37
41
35
44
33
36
33
44
32
42
51
42
Canada’s cities
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
53
39
35
–
46
38
42
44
39
Health care
41
34
35
25
29
35
30
26
35
32
48
33
31
31
37
30
36
40
38
Environment
55
53
51
51
47
48
46
52
53
48
52
44
42
41
47
37
35
38
35
Aboriginal and
native issues†
19
–
28
31
30
33
37
39
42
42
42
35
36
36
41
31
31
36
33
– not asked
* Prior to October 1999, Deficit reduction
** Not in table: July 1998 – 35%
† Prior to January 2000, Indian and native issues
Q.21
Generally speaking, do you approve or disapprove of the way the current federal government is handling ...?
Note: Prior to December 2003, based on eligible voters; December 2003 to December 2004, July 2005 to December 2006, asked of two-thirds of the
respondents; March 2005, asked of half of the respondents
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
21
T H E
F E D E R A L
Domestic security. Although passengers in Canada have been faced with increasing security measures at airports, investigative reporters have found
that there has been lax security around airport staff
and access to restricted areas. On November 10,
the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities announced proposed amendments to the
Canadian Aviation Security Regulations to boost
airport security. The changes would help support
the implementation of a new Restricted Area Identity Card by Transport Canada and the Canadian
Air Transport Security Authority. The card would
use biometric technology to enhance the restricted
area pass system for airport personnel currently in
place in Canada’s major airports.
S C E N E
Federal report card
Approve – disapprove (plus/minus)
2006
MAR.06
JUNE 06
OCT. 06
DEC. 06
Domestic security
+16
+19
+26
+29
Economy
+15
+25
+25
+28
National unity
+23
+25
+25
+20
Transportation
+7
+15
+19
+17
Debt and deficit
reduction
+1
+13
+22
+12
Running honest/
ethical gov’t
–4
+17
+20
+11
Reducing
unemployment
–4
+21
–3
+11
Canada-U.S. relations
+2
+10
+9
+10
Immigration
–14
–14
–10
+9
Six in ten (61%) Canadians approve of the government’s handling of domestic security, essentially
unchanged from October. Across the country, approval is lowest in B.C. (55%) compared to other
regions. Men (67%) are also considerably more
supportive in this area than are women (54%).
Federal-provincial
relations
+5
+10
+10
+4
National unity. On November 27, the House of
Commons passed a motion recognizing the Québécois as a nation within Canada. Supporters of this
motion believe that it will quell sovereigntist forces
in Quebec and improve national unity. However,
data from FOCUS CANADA indicate that there is
mixed support for this idea among Canadians (support is much higher in Quebec than in the rest of
Canada), because there is considerable uncertainty
about what it may lead to and whether it will lead to
greater powers for Quebec.
Canada’s cities
Defence policy
+6
0
–4
0
Keeping its promises
–13
+10
+10
–2
Foreign policy
+9
–1
–3
–4
–
–2
–6
–5
–27
–11
+7
–10
–8
–2
–2
–12
–31
–23
–15
–21
–18
–26
–16
–24
––16
–26
–21
–27
Crime and justice
Taxation
Health care
Aboriginal and
native issues
Environment
Q.21
Generally speaking, do you approve or disapprove of the way the current
federal government is handling ...?
Subsample: Two-thirds of the respondents
Approval of the federal government’s performance
on the national unity file now stands at 57 percent
nationally, essentially unchanged from the previous
quarterly survey. This overall stability, however,
masks an increase in approval among residents of
Quebec (58%, up 5) and a decrease among Canadians outside Quebec (56%, down 5).
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
22
T H E
F E D E R A L
S C E N E
Running an honest ethical government. Despite
the Federal Accountability Act becoming law on
December 12, the government has lost some ground
in the area of running an honest and ethical government over the past quarter. This may be related to
the income trust announcement and the perception
that this amounts to a broken campaign promise.
competition, which the government states will mean
more choices for consumers with respect to destinations, flights and routes. Under this policy, the focus
would be on further liberalizing Canada’s air policy
by pursuing more open-skies-type agreements, which
some analysts suggest could lead to lower fares for
consumers.
Slightly more than half (53%) of Canadians now
approve of the government’s performance in this
area, a decrease of four points since the October
survey. The largest declines are in Alberta (61%,
down 12) and Atlantic Canada (53%, down 9).
Despite this latest trend in Alberta, approval on
running an honest and ethical government remains
higher in that province than elsewhere in the country. Men are more positive than women in their assessment of government performance in this area,
and approval also increases with age.
Half of Canadians (52%, essentially unchanged
since October) continue to approve of the federal
government’s handling of the transportation file.
Approval in Atlantic Canada dropped by 22 points
over the quarter (to 47%), and residents of the Prairies (56%) and B.C. (56%) are now the most supportive of the government on this issue.
Debt and deficit reduction. Finance Minister Jim
Flaherty tabled the Debt Management Report for
2005-06 on November 28. The report indicates
that the federal government has reduced the national
debt by $13.2 billion, to $481.5 billion – $81.4 billion below the peak recorded in 1996-97 of $562.9
billion. Canada’s net debt is the lowest of the G7
and is well below the average of OECD countries.
Despite this news, the federal government has experienced a decline in approval of its handling of debt
and deficit reduction.
Canada-U.S. relations. On November 7, the
Democratic Party won control of both the U.S.
House and Senate in mid-term elections. It is yet to
be seen if this will have any major impact on relations
between the two countries. Canadians’ approval rating of the federal government’s performance in this
area has remained unchanged for three consecutive
quarters.
Half (51%) of Canadians now approve of the government’s handling of debt and deficit reduction, a
drop of five points since October.
Now at 53 percent nationally, this is a stable policy
area for the federal government. Approval is highest
in the Prairies (61%) and lowest in Quebec (44%,
down 6 points). Approval on this file also increases
somewhat with income levels (from 49% at the lower
end, to 59% at the higher end).
The drop in approval of the government’s handling
of debt and deficit reduction is greatest among Canadians aged 18 to 29 years (41%, down 9 points)
and 45 to 59 years (51%, down 11). Approval has
also declined among the most educated and more affluent Canadians. Across the country, the decrease
in approval is centred primarily among Atlantic
Canadians (50%, down 12) and Prairie residents
(49%, down 15).
Transpor tation. On November 27, Minister of
Transport Lawrence Cannon announced a new
international air transportation policy called Blue
Sky. The policy is aimed at encouraging the development of new markets and services, and greater
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
23
T H E
F E D E R A L
S C E N E
Immigration. On October 31, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Monte Solberg tabled the
2006 Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration.
This Report outlines initiatives in 2006 to attract
newcomers to Canada, including: $307 million in
additional funding in the 2006 budget for language
training and other services to help new immigrants
settle in their communities, as well as $18 million
for the establishment of an agency to assess the foreign credentials of new immigrants. The Report
also stated that Canada plans to accept between
240,000 and 265,000 new immigrants in 2007,
up from the range of 225,000 to 255,000 in the
previous year.
Reducing unemployment. In November, the
unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percent to 6.4 percent, the lowest rate in over three decades. Despite
Canada’s employment rate remaining at near record
highs for the past few years, approval of the government’s performance in this area has fluctuated
up and down since July 2005. The current survey
sees this trend continuing, with performance ratings
increasing noticeably after declining sharply in the
previous quarter.
The federal government’s approval rating for its
handling of unemployment, at 50 percent, represents a six-point increase over the previous quarter.
Across the country, approval is up by six to nine
points in all regions except the Prairies (54%, unchanged).
Approval of the government’s handling of immigration has increased to 49 percent, up nine points
over the previous quarter. Interestingly, this trend
is centred in Quebec (up 16 points), particularly
Montreal (up 22), and in Ontario (up 13; approval
increased 8 points in Toronto). This increase is also
most evident among Canadians with annual household incomes up to $80,000; approval among the
most affluent is unchanged.
The increased approval on unemployment this quarter is evident among Canadians aged 30 and older,
and those with a post-secondary education, while
the views of younger and less educated Canadians
remain relatively unchanged.
Federal-provincial relations. The federal government’s yet to be addressed commitment to deal with
the fiscal imbalance may be a contributor to the government’s performance rating in this area; approval
has levelled off this quarter, after increasing steadily
between March and October 2006.
Defence policy. In December, Opposition parties
criticized the government for its handling of the mission in Afghanistan, calling for a greater emphasis
on reconstruction rather than fighting, and criticizing
the troop commitments of other NATO countries.
Despite these criticisms and mounting military casualties, approval of the government’s performance in
this area has remained steady since October 2005.
At 49 percent nationally, the federal government’s
approval rating in the area of federal-provincial relations is essentially unchanged from October. Underneath this overall stability, however, approval
of federal performance on provincial relations has
strengthened in Quebec (to 49%, up 8 points), and
declined significantly in the Atlantic region (to 41%,
down 17) and in B.C. (to 48%, down 14).
Fewer than half (47%) of Canadians currently approve of the government’s handling of defence policy, essentially unchanged from the previous quarter.
Approval remains lowest in Quebec and highest
in the Prairies, and is below average in Canada’s
larger cities. Men continue to be more supportive of
the government in this area than women.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
24
T H E
F E D E R A L
S C E N E
the mission in Afghanistan, approval of its performance in the area of foreign policy has been quite
stable since March 2006.
Keeping its promises. The federal government
decision in October to tax income trusts, reversing
a campaign promise, is likely driving the noticeable
decline in Canadians’ views on its performance in
keeping its promises, which had remained stable
between June and October 2006.
Just over four in ten Canadians (43%) currently approve of the government’s handling of foreign policy,
essentially unchanged from October. Approval rates
are lowest in Quebec (36%) and B.C. (39%), and
highest in Alberta (58%).
Approval of the government’s performance in this
area now stands at 46 percent nationally, a decrease
of six points since October. Across the country, approval levels fell most notably in Atlantic Canada
(41%, down 12), the Prairie provinces (53%, down
10) – especially Alberta (53%, down 16) – and
British Columbia (47%, down 10).
By comparison, public disapproval on this issue is
highest among the most affluent Canadians (52%
household income $80,000 and higher) and the
most educated (52%).
Taxation. On October 31, Finance Minister Jim
Flaherty announced the federal government’s decision to tax income trusts. Existing trusts will be
allowed to grow until 2011 without losing their taxexempt status, but within strict limits. If the trusts
exceed the threshold level, it will have to begin paying taxes. Some were critical of the changes because
they say it will have a severe impact on individual investors, particularly seniors, who have invested heavily in income trusts. Criticism of the government’s
decision to tax income trusts is likely driving the
noticeable decline in approval of the government’s
handling of taxation.
While the drop in approval is fairly evenly distributed across demographic groups, two age groups
show the largest decreases – those aged 18 to 29
years (down 9 points) and those aged 45 to 59
years (down 10). Approval among Canadians in
other age categories did not differ significantly from
October to December.
Crime and justice. On November 23, the federal
government introduced legislation to make it harder
for people who commit gun crimes to get bail. Currently, Crown officials have to convince a judge that
the people who commit these crimes should be in
custody. The new legislation would reverse the onus
so that those charged with serious gun crimes will be
required to convince the court why they should not
remain in custody.
Four in ten (42%) Canadians now approve of the
government’s handling of taxation, down nine points
from October. Government approval ratings in this
area are down significantly (by 11 to 14 points)
in all regions except Quebec (44%). Ratings also
decreased fairly consistently across all demographic
groups.
As in the previous survey, slightly fewer than half
(45%) of Canadians approve of the government’s
handling of the crime and justice file. Approval on
this issue is higher among men than women, among
the more affluent, and increases with education level.
Approval of the federal government’s handling
of taxation is now lowest in the Atlantic region
(39%) and B.C. (39%), and higher in the Prairies
(47%).
Foreign policy. Despite criticism from some quarters regarding the federal government’s handling of
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
25
T H E
F E D E R A L
S C E N E
Latest trend in government satisfaction driven by income trust decision
Detailed analyses suggest that the income trust taxation decision was the primary driver of the overall decline in satisfaction
with the federal government this quarter. These analyses were performed in two steps.
First, a multivariate (factor) analysis reveals that the 19 specific government performance assessment items mentioned in
the FOCUS CANADA (2006-4) survey, group statistically into three main groups: issues related to government revenue and
expenditures, international or cross-jurisdictional issues, and domestic security/justice.
Issue themes in citizen assessments of the federal government2
GOVERNMENT REVENUE AND
EXPENDITURE ISSUES
INTERNATIONAL OR CROSSJURISDICTIONAL ISSUES
DOMESTIC SECURITY/
JUSTICE ISSUES
Keeping promises
Taxation
Reducing unemployment
Debt and deficit reduction
The economy
Running an honest ethical government
Addressing issues facing cities
Federal-provincial relations
Health care
Defence policy
Canada-U.S. relations
Foreign policy
Protection of the environment
Aboriginal and native issues
National unity
Immigration
Domestic security
Crime and justice
Most of the movement in public assessments of the federal government’s performance over the past quarter has taken
place within the “government revenue and expenditures” theme and, with one exception (reducing unemployment, up 6), the
changes are all downward.
Second, a driver analysis reveals that the most important issue influencing overall satisfaction with federal government
performance this quarter is keeping promises, followed by foreign policy, the economy, Canada-U.S. relations and federalprovincial relations.
Driver analysis – issue performance and
overall government satisfaction3
In combination with the report card trend data presented
earlier, this driver analysis suggests that the decreased
satisfaction with the government’s performance on
“keeping its promises” is the primary determinant of
the drop in overall satisfaction with the government
this quarter. It is also noteworthy that views on the
government’s performance in the area of taxation, this
quarter, are strongly correlated with assessments of its
performance on “keeping promises.”
DRIVER
STANDARDIZED COEFFICIENT (BETA)
Keeping promises
Foreign policy
Economy
Canada-U.S. relations
Federal-provincial relations
Defence policy
Debt and deficit reduction
These findings point to the income trust taxation decision
as the driver behind the decrease in overall government
satisfaction this quarter.
Model statistics
.209***
.173***
.170***
.151***
.132**
.111**
.099*
R2 (adjusted) = 0.483
F=59.5, p=.000
*** p< 0.001; ** p< 0.01; * p<0.05
2 The issue “Transportation” is excluded from the table – statistically, it fits into each of the themes more or less equally.
3 The analysis employed linear regression with step-wise variable selection using overall satisfaction as the dependent variable and the 19 report
card assessments as the potential driver (independent) variables.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
26
T H E
F E D E R A L
S C E N E
address a patient wait times guarantee. Although
the government insists that the provinces are making
good strides in reducing wait times, the country’s
health care ministers have insisted that more federal
funding is needed to meet these guarantees.
Of note this quarter is that approval on the taxation
file is much lower among Canadians with household
annual incomes below $60,000 (37% to 40%) than
for those with higher incomes (48%), and among
those aged 45 years or older (38% to 39%) than for
those below 45 years of age (46%).
Approval of the government’s handling of the health
care file is essentially unchanged nationally this
quarter, at four in ten (38%), and this despite an
18-point drop in Atlantic Canada (to 30%). Elsewhere in the country, approval of the government’s
handling of health care is lower than average in B.C.
(30%) and higher across the Prairies (48%).
Canada’s cities. The federal government continues to be criticized by Canada’s big city mayors for
not addressing the financial needs of cities. This
may be a factor in the decline in approval rates for
the government’s handling of Canada’s cities.
Currently, four in ten (39%) Canadians say they
approve of the federal government’s handling of
the issues facing cities, down five points from the
previous quarter. Approval on this file is down significantly this quarter in most regions except Quebec
(40%), and Ontario (32%) – the latter of which
has the lowest approval rating in the country on this
measure. Declines this quarter are most notable in
Atlantic Canada (38%, down 15), Ontario (32%,
down 9) and Alberta (43%, down 9).
Protection of the environment. The environment
has once again emerged as a top-of-mind issue in
the country, and continues to be one of the lowest
rated areas for the current federal government. The
federal government has been criticized by Opposition parties and environmental groups for stating
that Canada cannot meet its Kyoto targets, and the
government’s Clean Air Act has been denounced
by critics for not doing enough to deal with climate
change.
In Canada’s three major urban centres, approval on
this issue is much lower in Toronto (29%), than in
Montreal (44%) or Vancouver (45%). Approval
also decreases as community size increases (from
44% in communities of 5,000 or fewer residents to
37% in cities of one million or more residents).
Approval of the federal government’s handling of
the environment is at 35 percent nationally, essentially unchanged from the previous quarter. Across
the country, approval remains highest in the Prairies
(41%), despite a drop of nine points in that region
over the quarter. This drop is partially offset by a
modest increase in B.C. (37%, up 6). Significant
changes are not evident elsewhere or across demographic groupings within the population.
Health care. On November 24, the federal government announced a national cancer control strategy.
The strategy involves the creation of a new agency
called the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer,
which will be a clearing house for the latest information on cancer care, and will focus on the prevention,
early detection and the best treatment for patients.
The government is providing $260 million over five
years to fund this initiative. Of its five election campaign priorities, the federal government has yet to
Aboriginal and native issues. On November 21,
Assembly of First Nations Chief Phil Fontaine appeared before a House of Commons committee on
Aboriginal affairs and called for the federal government to move quickly to implement the Kelowna
accord, which the government had shelved shortly
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
27
T H E
F E D E R A L
S C E N E
Approval of the prime minister
after coming into power. The federal government
continues to receive its lowest rating for its performance on Aboriginal and native issues.
Just over half of Canadians approve of Prime
Minister Stephen Harper’s job performance,
unchanged since October.
One-third (33%) of Canadians approve of the federal government’s performance on this file, essentially unchanged from the previous quarter. Approval
on this issue is slightly above average in Atlantic
Canada (38%), Saskatchewan (38%) and Alberta
(39%), and is lowest in Ontario (30%) and Quebec (32%).
Despite the drop in overall satisfaction with the federal government, approval of the prime minister is
unchanged from October. Slightly more than half
(53%) of Canadians continue to approve of his performance, unchanged from October, although remaining lower than what was recorded earlier this
year.
As with the national figure, approval of the prime
minister has been steady since October across regions and demographic groups. Approval continues
to be strongest in Alberta (73%), lowest in Quebec (44%), and increases as community size decreases (from 47% in cities of one million or more
residents to 59% in communities of 5,000 or fewer
residents).
Approval of the prime minister continues to be higher among men (58% compared to 47% for women),
and increases slightly with income (from 50% to
57%), and more substantially with age (from 45%
to 60%).
Approval of the prime minister
1993 - 2006
62
53 53
42 42
Approve
14
Disapprove
D O O O O O O O O O Ja Mr Jn O Ap O D Mr Jl O Mr Jn O D
93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 03 03 03 04 04 04 05 05 05 06 06 06 06
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
28
Q.26a
Please tell me if you approve
or disapprove of the way the
following leaders are doing their
jobs: Prime Minister Stephen
Harper.
SECTION TWO
Trends
AND
Issues
T R E N D S
A N D
I S S U E S
M O S T I M P O R TA N T I S S U E FA C I N G C A N A D A
For the first time in 17 years, Canadians identify the environment as the leading top-ofmind concern on the national agenda, essentially tied with health care.
Most important problem facing
Canadians today
Top mentions
Each quarter, FOCUS CANADA asks the public to identify the one problem they consider to be
the most important facing Canadians today (asked
unprompted, without offering response choices).
The current FOCUS CANADA findings show that
the environment has now become the leading issue
among Canadians, virtually tied with health care,
which has led the national agenda for most of the
past seven years. Environmental issues have not
been the number one public issue since June 1990.
December 2006
Environment/pollution
18
Health care
17
Poverty/hunger/homelessness
6
Poor government/leadership
5
Economy/interest rates
5
Unemployment 4
Afghanistan/military mission 3
Taxes 3
Q.2
In your opinion, what is the most important problem facing Canadians
today?
Note: Prior to March 2006, “Economy/interest rates” was “Economic
issues” and also contained “Cost of living/inflation.”
Following on increasing global reports of serious
concern over climate change and concerns over inaction on the issue, the environment is now identified as the country’s most important problem by 18
Most important problem facing Canadians today
1996 - 2006
42
Health
Poor gov’t/leadership
Taxes
Environment/pollution
Economy/interest rates
World conflict/war/terrorism/security
Unemployment
21
18
14
17
10
7
5
45
4
4
1
23
3
*
O O O O O O Ja Mr Jl O Ja Mr Jn O D Ap Jl O D Mr Jl O D Mr Jn O D
96 97 98 99 00 01 02 02 02 02 03 03 03 03 03 04 04 04 04 05 05 05 05 06 06 06 06
* Less than one percent
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
31
T R E N D S
A N D
I S S U E S
percent of Canadians, an increase of eight points
since October 2006, and now at its highest level
since December 1989. In contrast with most other
issues, concern about the environment is noticeably higher among those who are dissatisfied with
the overall performance of the federal government
(22%) than among those who are satisfied (15%),
although mention of the environment has increased
among both groups since October.
The environment is of greatest salience in Ontario
(21%, up 11 points) and Quebec (20%, up 8), and
least so in British Columbia (11%) and Saskatchewan (7%), where levels of concern are relatively
unchanged from October. Mention of the environment as the most important issue is also up notably
in Atlantic Canada (up 12). The environment is
also of greater salience among those living in cities of
100,000 inhabitants or more.
Today, 17 percent of Canadians identify health care
as the most important problem facing the country,
down four points from October. Health care, which
has been the dominant top-of-mind issue since
2000, is now essentially tied with the environment
on the national agenda, and is at its lowest level
since October 2001.
Public concern over health care continues to be
highest in B.C. (24%, down 7 points), and lowest
in Quebec (12%), Alberta (12%, down 7) and
Saskatchewan (9%, down 8). Since October, attention to this issue has also decreased in Ontario
(down 6), while remaining essentially unchanged
in other regions. As in previous quarters, salience
is higher among women, and Canadians aged 30
or older.
Fewer than one in ten (6%, down 6 points) Canadians mention issues related to world conflict, war,
including security and terrorism, the military situation in Afghanistan, or the war in Iraq. Similar proportions mention issues related to governance and
leadership (6%), poverty, hunger and homelessness
(6%) and the economy (5%) – all essentially unchanged since October 2006.
Attention to unemployment continues to be most
prevalent in Atlantic Canada, as has been the case
historically for much of the past three decades. The
economy continues to be of greater salience in Quebec than in other regions. Governance issues are
mentioned most frequently in Saskatchewan, while
poverty, hunger and homelessness are key issues in
B.C.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
32
T R E N D S
A N D
I S S U E S
ECONOMIC MOOD
T
The core Consumer Price Index, used by the Bank
of Canada to monitor the inflation-control target,
rose by 2.0 percent between December 2005 and
December 2006, compared with 2.2 percent the
previous month.
he pace of economic activity was largely unchanged in the third quarter, following a slowdown in the second quarter. Real gross domestic
product (GDP) grew by 0.4 percent in the third
quarter after increasing 0.5 percent and 0.9 percent in the second and first quarters, respectively.
The third quarter included a recovery in exports,
renewed non-residential investment and a slight acceleration in personal consumer spending. These
combined increases were offset by a drop in investment in residential construction along with a significant slowdown in government current expenditures
and in inventory accumulation. The annualized rate
of growth of real gross domestic product (GDP) in
the third quarter was 1.7 percent, following a 2.0percent gain in the second quarter.
In December, the unemployment rate declined by
0.2 percentage points, back down to the 30-year
low of 6.1 percent (also seen earlier in the year), as
employment increased by an estimated 62,000 jobs.
Overall, 2006 marked the 14th consecutive year of
employment increases in Canada as employment
grew by 2.1 percent, the highest growth rate since
2002. This growth was driven by increases in fulltime jobs, which accounted for an estimated 80 percent of employment gains. Employment increased
in several industries in 2006, including natural resources; business, building and other support services; finance, insurance, real estate and leasing; health
care and social assistance; “other services” and construction. There were declines in manufacturing and
information, culture and recreational services.
Consumer prices grew for the fourth consecutive
month in December. Consumers paid 1.6 percent
more for the goods and services in the Consumer
Price Index (CPI) basket in December 2006 than
they did a year earlier, an increase over the 12month change of 1.4 percent in November. This
upturn was due mainly to the second consecutive
monthly increase in homeowners’ replacement cost,
representing the worn-out structural portion of housing. In addition, drivers paid slightly more for gasoline, but this was offset by a decline in natural gas
prices. On a monthly basis, consumer prices edged
up 0.2 percent between November and December
last year, the same increase as in the previous month.
Alberta led in employment growth in 2006, with its
largest growth rate in 26 years (+6.0%). Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador, and British
Columbia also finished the year above the national
employment growth rate. Over the course of 2006,
seven provinces hit record high employment rates,
while six reached 30-year record low unemployment
rates.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
33
T R E N D S
A N D
I S S U E S
Strength of the Canadian economy
regions, particularly in Atlantic Canada (down 14
points), Manitoba (down 11) and Alberta (down
10). Confidence is now lowest in Ontario (23%).
The perception that the national economy is growing stronger continues to be higher among men, and
those with higher levels of income or education.
Public confidence in continued strong growth
in the Canadian economy continues to decline, most notably in Atlantic Canada, Manitoba and Alberta. However, this latest trend
does not coincide with rising anxiety about
economic conditions.
Canadians’ confidence in the national economy has
fallen since October 2006 for the second consecutive quarter. Three in ten (30%) Canadians now
believe the Canadian economy is getting stronger;
this proportion is down seven points since October
and 19 points since June 2006, and has returned
to the levels found in June and October 2005. The
proportion saying the economy is growing weaker is
essentially unchanged (19%), while there has been
an increase in the proportion who think the economy
is staying the same (49%, up 5 points).
Strength of the Canadian economy
Getting stronger
By province
2006
58
44
48
37
36
40
47
38
27
B.C.
Alb.
October 2006
Across the country, belief in a strengthening national economy continues to be strongest in Alberta
(48%), but economic confidence is down in most
Sask.
30
Man.
31 29
23
Ont.
Que.
Q.4
In your opinion, is the Canadian economy getting stronger, weaker or is it
staying about the same?
1996 - 2006
44
49
41
39
37
30
18 19
18
Getting weaker
Atl.
December 2006
Strength of the Canadian economy
Getting stronger
33
Staying the same
O O O O O O Ja Mr Jl O Ja Mr Jn O D Ap Jl O D Mr Jl O D Mr Jn O D
96 97 98 99 00 01 02 02 02 02 03 03 03 03 03 04 04 04 04 05 05 05 05 06 06 06 06
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
34
T R E N D S
A N D
I S S U E S
As in October, concern about the economy is strongest in Quebec (40%); it is now lowest in Saskatchewan (25%). Since October, the degree of personal
anxiety about the economy has declined marginally
in Saskatchewan, and is essentially unchanged in
other regions. As in past quarters, anxiety about
the economy is most evident among women, those
with lower levels of income and education, and those
aged 30 and older, especially those aged 45 to 59.
This latest trend suggests Canadians are becoming
less optimistic about continued economic growth,
but it does not indicate growing anxiety about economic or personal financial conditions. The extent
to which consumers express worry about the economy has remained stable over the last two quarters.
Currently, two-thirds of Canadians (66%) continue
to say that they are not worried about the economic
situation in Canada, while one-third (32%) remain
concerned about overall economic conditions, the
lowest level recorded since the question was first
asked in 1983.
Concern about the Canadian economy
Worried
By province
2006
35
28 28
25 27
B.C.
Alb.
October 2006
25
26 27
Sask.
Man.
32 33
38 40
Ont.
Que.
31 30
Atl.
December 2006
Q.5
Considering the overall economic situation in Canada, would you say that
you are very worried, worried, not too worried or not at all worried?
Concern about the Canadian economy
1995 - 2006
79
67 66
32 32
Worried
20
O
95
O
96
0
97
O
98
O
99
Ja
00
O
01
Not worried
Ja Mr Jl
02 02 02
O
02
Ja Mr Jn
03 03 03
O
03
D Ap
03 04
Jl
04
O
04
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
35
D Mr Jl
04 05 05
O
05
D Mr Jn
05 06 06
O
06
D
06
T R E N D S
A N D
I S S U E S
Consumer confidence
Consumer confidence has remained stable
over the past three quarters; about half of Canadians continue to say it is a good time to
buy the things they want and need.
expressing consumer confidence has been more or
less stable, fluctuating for the most part between 45
and 50 percent, and the current findings continue
this trend. Prior to January 2000, confidence levels
in the high 40-percent range had not been observed
since 1985.
As an indicator of propensity to spend on big ticket
items, a measure of consumer confidence has proven to be a leading indicator of consumer spending, which in turn is a key driver of the Canadian
economy. Despite declining optimism in the broader
economic picture over the last quarter, confidence
in consumer spending is stable, with positive assessments continuing to outweigh negative ones. As
in the previous two quarters, close to one-half of
Canadians (47%) believe this is now a good time
to buy the things they want and need, compared
with 42 percent who say now is a bad time to make
such purchases. Since January 2000, the proportion
Consumer confidence is now highest in Saskatchewan (55%, up 4 points) and lowest in B.C. (42%,
down 12); in addition to these changes, it is up in
Manitoba (up 10) and essentially unchanged in all
other regions. Those living in mid-sized and larger
urban areas are more likely than those in smaller
communities and rural areas to believe that now is
a good time to buy what they want and need. Confidence in spending remains stronger among men,
and among Canadians with higher education and
incomes.
Consumer confidence
2000 - 2006
48
48 47
44
42 42
Good time to buy
Bad time to buy
Neither good nor bad
8 8
6
Ja Ap Jl O O Ja Mr Jl O Ja Mr Jn O D Ap Jl O D Mr Jl O D Mr Jn O D
00 00 00 00 01 02 02 02 02 03 03 03 03 03 04 04 04 04 05 05 05 05 06 06 06 06
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
36
Q.6
Considering the cost of things today, as
well as your present financial situation,
do you think now is a good time or a bad
time to buy things you want and need?
T R E N D S
A N D
I S S U E S
S AT I S FA C T I O N W I T H D I R E C T I O N O F T H E C O U N T R Y
Satisfaction with direction of country today
Most Canadians are satisfied with the way
things are going in the country.
By region
While Canadians can readily identify issues of concern on a variety of issues, overall they are more
likely than not to be positive about the country, and
certainly express considerable satisfaction relative to
how people elsewhere feel about their own country.
December 2006
69
61
39
36
B.C.
Satisfied
59
Prairies
Ont.
China
81
61
Egypt
55
Jordan
53
Spain
50
Turkey
40
Great Britain
35
Pakistan
35
Russia
32
India
31
United States
29
Germany
29
Japan
27
Indonesia
26
France
Nigeria
Atl.
2006
Canada
Examining the Canadian findings by region, satisfaction is strongest in the Prairie provinces, and
weakest in Atlantic Canada and British Columbia.
Que.
40
Dissatisfied
International*
The Pew survey found that only in China was the
satisfaction rating higher than that found in Canada
in the current FOCUS CANADA Survey. Eight
in ten (81%) residents of China were satisfied with
the way things are going in their country. About
one-half of the residents of Egypt, Jordan and Spain
expressed satisfaction, with countries such as Great
Britain, Russia, the United States, Germany and
Japan earning ratings around three in ten.
56
39
36
28
CANADA
A majority of six in ten (61%) Canadians are satisfied with the state of affairs in their country, compared with just over one-third (36%) who express
dissatisfaction. This proportion compares favourably with international results to the same question
found in a 2006 survey of 15 countries conducted
by the American-based Pew Research Center.1
61
56
20
7
* Source for countries other than Canada: Pew Research Center, 2006
Q.1
Thinking about Canada, overall, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the
way things are going in our country today?
Across Canada, satisfaction with direction of the
country is strongest among men, those aged 18 to
44, the most affluent and better educated Canadians, and non-European immigrants. Satisfaction
with the current state of affairs in the country is
higher among those who are satisfied with the federal
government’s performance (78%) than among those
who are dissatisfied (40%).
1 Pew Global Attitudes Project: Spring 2006 Survey, conducted by the Pew Research Center in China, Egypt, France, Germany, Great
Britain, India, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Spain, Turkey and the Unites States between March 31 and May
14, 2006, with national samples ranging from 500 to 2,100. The question wording used in FOCUS CANADA is the same as that used
in the Pew Center survey.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
37
T R E N D S
A N D
I S S U E S
PRIDE IN BEING CANADIAN
Most Canadians express a strong sense of
pride in their country. This sentiment is based
on a number of positive attributes, but chief
among them is the view that Canada is a free
and multicultural country with humanitarian
values.
Very proud to be Canadian
1985 - 2006
85
80
74
70 71
Canada
1985
50
Quebec
1999
84
65
43
Pride in being Canadian has remained strong over
the past two decades, despite a drop in 1999, largely
due to significant 22-point decline among Quebecers. The current FOCUS CANADA survey shows
that three-quarters (74%, up 3 points from December 2003) of citizens are very proud to be a Canadian, with most of the remainder (19%) indicating
they are “somewhat” proud. While the proportion
of those who express a great sense of pride is up
slightly from 2003, it remains six points lower than
that found in 1985.
79 78
2003
45
Rest of Canada
2006
Q.7
Would you say you are very, somewhat, not very, or not at all proud to be
a Canadian?
Levels of strongly expressed pride in being Canadian continues to be high outside of Quebec, most
notably in Atlantic Canada (89%). Strong pride is
up since 2003 in Atlantic Canada (up 12 points),
Alberta (up 12) and Ontario (up 5). Quebecers
(45%) are least likely to be very proud, and it is
in Quebec that such pride has declined since 2003
(down 5).
More affluent Canadians, and those 30 and older
– particularly those 60 or older – are more likely
than others to express strong pride in being Canadian. Growth in this sentiment is most evident
among men, those aged 30 to 59, and European
immigrants.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
38
T R E N D S
A N D
I S S U E S
Basis of pride in being Canadian
Basis of pride. The reasons given by Canadians for
having pride in their country have remained more or
less consistent since this question was first asked in
1994, but their relative importance has shifted since
2003. When asked what it is about Canada that
gives them the greatest sense of pride, the most common top-of-mind response remains that it is a free
and democratic country (27%). Other reasons for
such pride include its multiculturalism (11%, up 5
points), its values of humanitarianism, kindness and
caring (9%, down 4), and its peaceful nature (6%).
Smaller proportions mention a wide range of other
reasons, including the beauty of the land, that it is
respected by other countries and its quality of life.
Multiculturalism in particular has gained in relative
salience, and is now on a par with humanitarianism
as a reason for pride, the second-most frequently
mentioned reason in 2003.
Top reasons
1994 - 2006
Free country/freedom/democracy
1994
2003
2006
31
28
27
Multiculturalism
3
6
11
Humanitarian/kind/caring/
friendly people
9
13
9
Peaceful country
7
5
6
Beauty of country/land/geography
7
4
4
Respected by other countries
4
3
4
Quality of life/standard of living
5
6
3
Q.8
What is it about Canada that gives you the greatest sense of pride?
Reasons for pride in being Canadian are for the
most part consistent across the country, with some
notable variations. Pride in a free and democratic
country is most evident in Saskatchewan (37%) and
Alberta (34%); since 2003, this sentiment is up
slightly in these two provinces and down markedly
in Atlantic Canada (down 16 points). Strongly expressed pride in Canada as a humanitarian and caring country is most frequently expressed in Atlantic
Canada (14%) and Manitoba (15%). Multiculturalism is a significant and growing basis for national
pride in Ontario (16%, up 9) and particularly in
Toronto (24%, up 13). The image of Canada as a
peaceful country is of special importance to Manitobans (11%).
Residents of smaller urban communities and rural
areas are more likely to cite freedom and democracy
as reasons for pride. Multiculturalism is mentioned
most often by younger Canadians, those with higher
levels of education and immigrants, regardless of
country of origin.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
39
T R E N D S
A N D
Like least about Canada. When Canadians are
asked what they like least about Canada, the most
frequently mentioned issues are government (10%),
and the climate or cold (8%), followed by taxes
(5%), multiculturalism and too much immigration
(5%), the Harper government and the conservative
agenda (5%), and politics (5%). A number of other
reasons are also given, but none by more than four
percent. One in five (18%) cannot identify anything
they like least about the country in which they live.
I S S U E S
Like least about Canada
Top mentions
December 2006
Government
10
Climate/cold weather
Dissatisfaction with government is most evident in
Manitoba, and climate is of greatest salience in Saskatchewan, while taxes are the number one complaint among Albertans. Government in general is
more likely to be mentioned by the least affluent and
least educated Canadians, and Canadians aged 45
or older are more inclined to mention multiculturalism.
8
Taxes
5
Multiculturalism/
too much immigration
5
Harper government/
conservative agenda
5
Politics/political parties/politicians/
weak political system
5
Follows suit with U.S./
U.S. dependency
4
Discrimination/treatment
of immigrants/others
3
Lack of unity/Canadian patriotism/
national identity/regionalism
3
Environment/pollution
3
Q.9
And what do you like least about Canada?
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
40
T R E N D S
A N D
I S S U E S
CONFIDENCE IN LEADERS, PROFESSIONALS AND INSTITUTIONS
O
These patterns of relative trust have held despite
significant fluctuations in the overall degree of confidence expressed over the last 30 years. Tracking
indicates that the period 1977 to 1978 saw a decline in overall confidence, which reversed in 1981,
beginning a climb that peaked in 1985. Between
1985 and 1996, confidence in teachers, business
leaders, journalists and pollsters and the free enterprise system was relatively stable, but confidence in
political leaders and government fluctuated widely,
declining in 1987, rising again in 1988, then dropping to all-time lows in 1992 before rebounding
somewhat in 1996.
ver the past three decades, FOCUS CANADA
has from time to time examined the levels
of confidence that Canadians place in a range of
leaders, professionals and institutions. Some clear
patterns have emerged over the past three decades,
suggesting that Canadians reserve their greatest
sense of confidence for people and institutions involved in education and the non-profit sector, and
tend to place more trust in the private sector than the
public sector.
Interestingly, in all three areas, institutions – universities, the free enterprise system and government
– tend to be more highly trusted than the people
within those institutions – teachers, business leaders
and political leaders. Labour leaders have tended
to evoke lower levels of confidence than other types
of leaders. Religious leaders, once among the most
trusted of leaders and professionals, are now among
the least trusted. Over the decades, journalists and
pollsters have occupied a mid-ground – less trusted
than those in the educational or non-profit sectors,
but earning greater trust than politicians.
The current survey finds universities, teachers, leaders in the non-profit sector and the institution of
the free enterprise system earning the confidence of
seven in ten or more Canadians each, while business leaders, journalists and pollsters are all held in
confidence by around six in ten Canadians. Governments, political leaders, labour leaders and religious
leaders are each trusted by about one-half of Canadians.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
41
T R E N D S
A N D
I S S U E S
Confidence in leaders
Canadians express the greatest confidence in
leaders of non-profit organizations and business leaders; politicians, labour leaders and
religious leaders inspire less confidence.
Confidence in leaders
of non-profit organizations
December 2006
49
Among those with leadership roles in society, Canadians place the greatest confidence in leaders of
non-profit organizations such as charities, followed
by business leaders, who evoke somewhat less confidence; Canadians express notably lower levels of
confidence in political, religious and labour leaders.
22
17
9
A lot of
Some
Little
No
confidence confidence confidence confidence
at all
4
Depends/
dk/na
Confidence in leaders
Leaders in the non-profit sector. Seven in ten
Canadians express a lot (22%) or some (49%) confidence in leaders in the non-profit sector, 26 percent express little or no confidence. Quebecers and
Manitobans are more likely than others to express
confidence in leaders of non-profit organizations, as
are younger and better educated Canadians.
1976 - 2006
66
58
48
43
Business leaders. About two-thirds of Canadians
express a lot (15%) or some (49%) confidence in
business leaders, down two points from 1996 and
eight points below the record high found in 1985.
One-third (33%) express little or no confidence.
Confidence in business leaders is highest in Manitoba; it is lower than average among Quebecers,
women, those aged 18 to 29, and the least affluent
and least educated Canadians. Since 1996, confidence has declined among Albertans, British Columbians, women and those aged 18 to 29, while
increasing among Manitobans.
Business leaders
64
31
Political leaders
1976 1977 1978 1981 1983 1985 1986 1987 1988 1990 1992 1996 2006
Q.10b,d,j
In general, would you say that you have a lot of confidence, some
confidence, little confidence or no confidence at all in each of the
following …?
Base: Two-thirds of the respondents
Political leaders. About one-half of Canadians
express a lot (8%) or some (40%) confidence in
political leaders; this is up 17 points from 1996
and a total of 29 points higher than the record low
recorded in 1992, but still four points below the level found in 1976, when this question was first asked.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
42
T R E N D S
A N D
An equal proportion (48%) express little or no confidence. Confidence in political leaders is higher
than the national average in Alberta, Saskatchewan,
and Atlantic Canada, while low in Quebec and
B.C. There have been increases in all regions since
1996, most notably in Alberta (up 29 points), with
smaller increases in Ontario (up 11) and Manitoba
(up 12). Confidence has increased more sharply
among better educated Canadians.
I S S U E S
Confidence in leaders
1977 - 2006
66
57
40
Religious leaders. Just under one-half of Canadians express a lot (11%) or some (35%) confidence in religious leaders; this proportion is down
20 points from 1985, and 23 points below the
level found in 1976. A somewhat larger proportion (48%) express little or no confidence. There
are significant regional differences in these findings
– confidence in religious leaders is notably higher in
Saskatchewan (62%), Atlantic Canada (56%) and
Alberta (54%) than it is in B.C. (36%) and Quebec (37%). There have been significant declines
in confidence among Quebecers (down 30) and
Atlantic Canadians (down 23), but a more modest
decline in Alberta (down 8).2 Canadians aged 60
and older are also more likely than younger generations to have confidence in religious leaders.
Religious leaders
Sept 77
46
38
Sept 78
Dec 78
Labour leaders
Sept 79 June 81 June 83
Mar 85
Dec 06
Q.10h,i
In general, would you say that you have a lot of confidence, some
confidence, little confidence or no confidence at all in each of the
following …?
Base: Two-thirds of the respondents
Labour leaders. Just under one-half of Canadians
express a lot (8%) or some (38%) confidence in labour leaders; this proportion is up eight points from
1985 and 23 points higher than the low point found
in December 1978. Confidence in labour leaders
is highest in Saskatchewan and Atlantic Canada,
and lowest in Alberta. The most marked increase in
confidence since 1985 is found in Quebec (up 18);
other regions show more modest increases, with the
exception of Ontario, where confidence in labour
leaders is essentially unchanged. Women and Canadians 18 to 29 are also more inclined to express
confidence in labour leaders.
2 Separate tracking data from 1985 is not available for Manitoba or Saskatchewan, as regional results were provided only for Alberta,
British Columbia and the Western provinces as a whole.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
43
T R E N D S
A N D
I S S U E S
Confidence in professions
Canadians express a high level of confidence
in school teachers; confidence in journalists
and pollsters are lower but still strong.
Pollsters. Six in ten Canadians express a lot (14%)
or some (46%) confidence in public opinion pollsters; this is down five points from 1996 and 11
points below the record high found in 1990, but
four points above the level found in 1983 when this
question was first asked. More than one-third (35%)
express little or no confidence in pollsters. Quebecers continue to have the highest level of confidence
in pollsters; since 1996, there have been declines in
confidence among residents of Quebec, Ontario,
Saskatchewan and Alberta. Canadians aged 60 or
older, and the least affluent Canadians are less likely
than others to have confidence in this profession.
Among the professions examined, school teachers
have consistently been the most trusted, with confidence in journalists and public opinion pollsters
running notably lower.
School teachers. More than eight in ten Canadians express a lot (45%) or some (38%) confidence
in school teachers; this is down four points from
1996 and five points below the record high noted in
1990, but similar to the proportion found in 1988,
when this question was first asked. Just over one in
ten (14%) have little or no confidence. Atlantic Canadians and Quebecers are more likely than others
to express confidence in school teachers; since 1996,
there have been declines in confidence among residents of Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta and B.C.,
and an increase in confidence among Manitobans.
Women, younger Canadians and those with higher
levels of education are also somewhat more likely to
express confidence in school teachers.
Confidence in professions
1976 - 2006
84
Teachers
87
83
Journalists
Pollsters*
53
Journalists. Just over six in ten Canadians have a
lot (16%) or some (47%) confidence in newspaper
journalists; this is unchanged from 1996, but 28
points higher than the record low recorded in 1978,
and 10 points above the level found in 1976, when
this question was first asked. One-third (34%) of
Canadians express little or no confidence in journalists. Atlantic Canadians and Manitobans express
higher levels of confidence than other Canadians;
since 1996, confidence is up in Manitoba and, to
a lesser extent, in Atlantic Canada, Saskatchewan
and B.C., and down in Quebec. Women are slightly
more inclined than men to place confidence in journalists.
56
65
63
63
60
1976 1977 1978 1981 1983 1985 1988 1990 1992 1996 2006
* Note: Prior to 1988, Public opinion polls
Q.10e-g
In general, would you say that you have a lot of confidence, some
confidence, little confidence or no confidence at all in each of the
following …?
Base: Two-thirds of the respondents
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
44
T R E N D S
A N D
I S S U E S
Confidence in institutions
Confidence in colleges and universities
Canadians have the greatest confidence in
colleges and universities, followed by the free
enterprise system, with governments earning
the lowest confidence levels from the public.
December 2006
40
Among the institutions examined, colleges and universities are most likely to earn the public’s confidence, followed by the free enterprise system, which
has consistently been among the more deeply trusted
among all institutions, leaders and professionals
examined. Governments, which have often earned
some of the lowest confidence ratings, continue to
rank below the other institutions.
46
8
3
A lot of
Some
Little
No
confidence confidence confidence confidence
at all
3
Depends/
dk/na
Q.10k
In general, would you say that you have a lot of confidence, some
confidence, little confidence or no confidence at all in each of the
following …?
Base: Two-thirds of the respondents
Colleges and universities. More than eight in
ten Canadians express a lot (40%) or some (46%)
confidence in educational institutions; only 11 percent express little or no confidence. Quebecers and
Manitobans are more likely than others to express
confidence in colleges and universities, as are younger, more affluent and better educated Canadians.
While FOCUS CANADA has not previously examined confidence in colleges and universities, these
findings parallel the high levels of confidence that
educators such as school teachers receive among
professionals.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
45
T R E N D S
A N D
Private enterprise. Three-quarters of Canadians
express a lot (27%) or some (47%) confidence in
private enterprise, down nine points from 1996.
Two in ten (22%) express little or no confidence.
Confidence in private enterprise is highest in Quebec and Manitoba, and is lower than average among
residents of Saskatchewan and B.C. Since 1996,
confidence has declined significantly among Albertans (down 20 points) and British Columbians
(down 13), while more modest declines have also
occurred in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. While confidence in private enterprise
has declined across the board, this is especially
marked among women and those aged 18 to 29,
who are now among those Canadians least likely to
express confidence in free enterprise.
I S S U E S
Confidence in institutions
1983 - 2006
83
82
74
58
53
37
Private enterprise
Government
1983 1985 1986 1987 1988 1990 1992 1996 2006
Q.10a,c
In general, would you say that you have a lot of confidence, some
confidence, little confidence or no confidence at all in each of the
following …?
Base: Two-thirds of the respondents
Governments. Just over one-half of Canadians express a lot (10%) or some (43%) confidence in
governments; this is up 16 points from 1996 and 26
points higher than the record low recorded in 1992,
but still five points below the level found in 1983,
when the question was first asked. More than four
in ten (45%) express little or no confidence. Confidence in governments is highest in Alberta (where
satisfaction ratings with the provincial government
have been strong for the past decade), and lowest
in Quebec and British Columbia (where satisfaction ratings with provincial governments have been
weak in recent years). There have been increases
in all regions since 1996, most notably in Alberta
(up 25 points), with the smallest increases found
in Saskatchewan (up 9) and Manitoba (up 13).
Confidence has increased more sharply among Canadians aged 18 to 29, who are now, along with the
most affluent Canadians and those with higher levels
of education, more likely than others to express confidence in governments.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
46
T R E N D S
A N D
I S S U E S
BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT
any consider a certain level of government
involvement in the economy to be necessary
to smooth the rough edges off the free-enterprise
system, and to protect the public interest. At the
same time, excessive regulation creates inefficiency
and increases costs, resulting in higher prices for
consumers. Finding an appropriate balance in the
relationship between government and business is an
ongoing challenge in Canada and elsewhere.
M
Government regulation of business
In 1996, FOCUS CANADA examined a number
of issues related to this key question: the appropriate level of government regulation of business and
industry; the proper degree of influence the business community should have on government; and
matters associated with corporate profits and the
relationship between profit and a corporation’s civic
responsibilities. Revisiting these issues a decade later, it appears that the mood of Canadians is to some
extent shifting away from a pro-business perspective
and toward one that favours, to a moderate degree,
more rather than less government regulation of business and less rather than more influence of business
over government. As well, Canadians are becoming
more inclined to view large corporate profits in a
neutral, or even negative light, rather than in a positive light. This trend is also indicated in the finding
reported previously that confidence in the institution of government is up over the past decade, while
confidence in the institution of private enterprise is
down.
Canadians’ sense of the appropriate balance between
government’s responsibility to regulate business in
the public interest and the need for corporations
to act freely in the interests of their shareholders
has shifted over the years in response to changes
in government policies and the social and business
climate. At the present time, Canadians appear to
be moving away from the view that government overregulates the business community.
A plurality of Canadians are content with the
current amount of government regulation of
business, but the number who think there is
too much regulation is declining. No industry
stands out as having too much regulation, but
the oil and gas industry is seen by a growing
proportion as having too little regulation.
Amount of government regulation
in business today
2004 - 2006
39
26
43
25
23
28
9
Too much
April 2004
About right
Too little
7
Depends/
dk/na
December 2006
Q.11
Overall, do you feel the amount of government regulation of business in
Canada today is …?
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
47
T R E N D S
A N D
When Canadians are asked their opinion about the
current amount of government regulation of business, just over four in ten (43%, up 4 points from
2004) think the balance is about right. One-quarter
(23%, down 3) say there is too much regulation,
and three in ten (28%, up 3) say there is too little.
I S S U E S
Too much government regulation
in business today
By region
2004 -2006
35
26
The overall trend data suggest a modest but noteworthy shift since 2004 toward the view that the
current amount of government regulation of business is enough, or even too little. An examination
of the responses of Canadians to both this question
concerning the regulation of business and a similar
question on government regulation of business and
industry asked in previous years suggests that, in
1987, most Canadians felt that there was either too
much or just the right amount of government regulation of business and industry, but that 1990 saw
a significant decline in the numbers who felt there
was too much regulation. This view, however, was
markedly more prevalent in 1996, when four in ten
Canadians said that there was too much regulation
of business and industry. In 2004, only one-quarter
of Canadians held the position that there was too
much government regulation of business, and this
number has declined again, albeit modestly, over the
past two years.
23
29
32
27
29
27 25
17
CANADA
B.C.
2004
2006
Prairies
Ont.
24
14
Que.
Atl.
Amount of government regulation
in business today
By region
December 2006
B.C.
29
Prairies
27
Ont.
Que.
Atl.
43
43
25
14
48
33
24
49
Too much
Too little
About right
Depends/dk/na
22 7
20
10
23 3
46
7
19
8
Q.11
Overall, do you feel the amount of government regulation of business in
Canada today is …?
The view that there is too much regulation continues to be more widely expressed outside Quebec,
especially in the Prairie provinces (27%) and in
B.C. (29%), and least often in Quebec (14%).
The opinion that there is too little government regulation is markedly more prevalent in Quebec (46%)
than in other regions (the average outside Quebec is
22%). Atlantic Canadians (49%) are most likely to
feel the current degree of regulation is about right,
while Albertans (41%) and most notably Quebecers (33%) are least likely to express this opinion.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
48
T R E N D S
A N D
Since 2004, there have been modest declines in the
numbers who feel there is too much regulation in all
regions except Ontario and Alberta (where there
has been essentially no change since 2004); the proportions who think there is too little regulation are
up in Quebec, Saskatchewan and Alberta, down
in Atlantic Canada, and essentially unchanged in
other regions. The proportions who are content
with current regulation are up in all regions except
Quebec and Manitoba (where they are essentially
unchanged).
I S S U E S
There is little regional variation in Canadians’ perceptions of over-regulation, although as in 2004,
residents of Manitoba and Saskatchewan are most
likely to cite agriculture, British Columbians are
most likely to name the forestry/pulp and paper industry, and Albertans and Atlantic Canadians are
among the most likely to mention the oil and gas
industry.
Which industries are over-regulated?
Top mentions
The opinion that current levels of government regulation are too high continues to be notably stronger
among men, older Canadians, particularly among
those 45 to 59, and European immigrants, and
more modestly among the less educated and most
affluent. Women and younger Canadians are more
likely to think current government regulation is too
little.
2004 - 2006
7
Agriculture
5
6
5
Health care
Banking/financial services
This issue was examined further by asking Canadians to identify (unprompted) those industries or
sectors they believe are currently over- or underregulated. As in 2004, the results indicate no strong
public consensus on industries that fall into either
category.
2
4
Forestry/pulp and paper
4
4
Oil and gas
4
4
Energy/electric power
3
2
2004
2006
Q.12
In which industries, if any, do you think there is too much government
regulation today?
When asked to identify industries that are over-regulated, one-half cannot identify any (25%) or offer
no opinion (28%) The most often mentioned industries are agriculture (5%) and health care (5%),
with smaller proportions citing other industries, such
as banking and financial services, forestry/pulp and
paper, and the oil and gas industry. These findings
are essentially unchanged since 2004.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
49
T R E N D S
A N D
Influence of business on government
With respect to under-regulation, when asked unprompted, one in ten (10%, up 4 points from
2004) mention the oil and gas industry, and six
percent mention national resources/environment.
But five percent or fewer each cite other industries
such as energy/electric power, banking and financial
services, pulp and paper/forestry and health care.
Close to one-half cannot identify any specific industries (19%) or offer no opinion (26%).
Increasing numbers of Canadians in most regions of the country think that business has
too much influence on both federal and provincial governments, while the view that business has too little influence has declined.
Canadians tend to be critical about the influence
that business has on both federal and provincial governments. Across Canada, the general trend over
the past decade has been away from the opinion that
the business community does not have enough influence on both federal and provincial levels of government, and toward the opinion that it has enough
– and even too much – influence.
Once again, there is little regional variation on
which industries are highlighted as under-regulated,
with one notable exception – Albertans are by far
the most likely to mention oil and gas (22%).
Which industries are under-regulated?
Top mentions
Today, almost one-half (46%, up 5 points from
1996) of Canadians say that the business community has too much influence on the policies of the
federal government. Two in ten (20%, down 8) say
it does not have enough influence, and one-quarter
(26%, up 6) think the degree of influence is about
right. One in ten say it depends (2%) or offer no
opinion (6%, down 5).
2004 - 2006
6
Oil and gas
Natural resources/
environment
Energy/electric power
10
4
6
5
5
Banking/financial services
4
4
Forestry/pulp and paper
3
4
Health care
5
4
I S S U E S
Influence of business on federal government
1996 - 2006
2004
2006
46
41
Q.13
And in which industries, if any, do you think there is too little government
regulation today?
20
26
28
20
11
Too much
1996
About right
Too little
8
Depends/
dk/na*
2006
* “Depends” was not an option in 1996
Q.17
Generally speaking, do you think the business community has too much,
not enough, or about the right amount of influence on the policies of the
federal government?
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
50
T R E N D S
A N D
A similar proportion (44%, up 3 points from 1996)
now think that the business community has too much
influence on the policies of their provincial government. Two in ten (20%, down 7) think it has too
little influence and three in ten (29%, up 9) think
the amount of influence is about right. Almost one
in ten say it depends (2%) or offer no opinion (5%,
down 7).
I S S U E S
Too much influence by business
on provincial government
By region
1996 -2006
47
43
45
45
33
B.C.
1996
Alb.
45
50
43
37
28
22
In all regions of Canada, there have been declines
in the proportions who think that business has too
little influence on the federal government; as well,
the perception that business has too little influence
on the provincial government has declined in most
regions, with the exception of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Toronto, where opinion is essentially unchanged since 1996. Albertans in particular are
now much less likely than they were in 1996 to think
that business does not have enough influence at both
the federal (down 17 points) and provincial (down
18) levels of government. The perception that business does not exert enough influence on the federal
government has also fallen significantly in Atlantic
Canada (down 15) and the perception that it does
not influence provincial government enough is down
notably in Vancouver (down 12). The current findings indicate that residents of Saskatchewan remain
most likely to think that business has too little influence on government, both federal and provincial.
41 42
Sask.
22
Man.
Ont.
Que.
Atl.
2006
Q.18
And do you think the business community has too much, not enough,
or about the right amount of influence on the policies of your provincial
government?
that business influence on provincial government is
about right is up everywhere except Saskatchewan
and Montreal; the largest increases are found in
Manitoba (up 25) and Toronto (up 23).
Quebecers and residents of Vancouver remain most
likely to think that the business community has too
much influence on both federal and their provincial
governments. Since 1996, the perception that business exerts too much influence at the federal level is
up in most regions, most notably Atlantic Canada
(up 13 points), but it has declined in Manitoba
(down 11), and is essentially unchanged in Alberta
and B.C. The idea that business has too much influence at the provincial level is again up in most
areas – notably Alberta (up 12) and Montreal (up
11), but it has fallen in Manitoba (down 23) and
Toronto (down 8) and is essentially unchanged in
Ontario.
Residents of Manitoba and Ontario, particularly
Toronto, are more inclined than other Canadians to
say that the business community has just the right
amount of influence on both federal and provincial governments, opinions that Ontarians also held
strongly in 1996. The perception that the influence of business on the federal government is about
right is up in virtually all regions (with the exception of Montreal); the largest increases are found
in Atlantic Canada (up 10 points), B.C. (up 10),
Manitoba (up 12) and Toronto (up 16). The belief
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
51
T R E N D S
A N D
I S S U E S
Canadians with higher levels of education and income are more likely than others to say that business
has too much influence on federal and provincial
policies. Younger Canadians continue to be more
likely to hold the opinion that business does not have
enough influence, while men are now more inclined
to think that business has about the right amount of
influence.
Corporate profits. Four in ten Canadians (39%,
essentially unchanged from 1996) say that when
they hear stories about some corporations making large profits, this is in their opinion neither a
good nor a bad thing. Three in ten (29%, down
12 points) think it is a good thing, and one-quarter
(25%, up 7) think it is a bad thing. Seven percent
say it depends (this response was not an option in
1996).
Corporate profits
Manitobans are now more likely to think large corporate profits are a good thing, while British Columbians are most likely to think they are a bad thing.
Ontarians are most likely to hold a neutral opinion.
Since 1996, there has been a clear trend in all regions away from the perception that large corporate
profits are a good thing; the most marked declines
are seen in Quebec (down 21 points), Saskatchewan (down 14) and Atlantic Canada (down 13).
This shift in opinion has resulted in increases in the
belief that such profits are a bad thing in Atlantic
Canada (up 9 points), Quebec (up 16) and B.C.
(up 8). On the other hand, neutral perspectives are
up modestly in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan
and Atlantic Canada. As well, one in ten Canadians in Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta say that “it depends.”
Canadians increasingly see large corporate
profits as neutral or even negative, and there
has been a decline in the large number who
think corporations should consider their civic
responsibilities to be as important as their
profits. Half of Canadians continue to think a
stable and profit-earning company should not
downsize.
Canadians express somewhat mixed opinions about
corporate profits and the relationship between profits and corporations’ civic responsibilities. In the
matter of Canadians’ perceptions of large corporate
profits, while the plurality view reports of such profits in a neutral light, a significant proportion see
large corporate profits as positive, and almost as
many think large profits are a bad thing. With respect to corporate responsibilities, most Canadians
continue to think that corporations have responsibilities to their employees and the communities around
them, although this number has declined over the
last decade. Furthermore, the idea that such responsibilities might include protecting the jobs of workers
in profitable and stable companies does not receive
nearly as much support.
View of large corporate profits
1996 - 2006
41
37
39
29
18
25
1996
2006
Good
Neither good
nor bad
Bad
Q.14
When you hear stories today about some corporations making large
profits, is this in your opinion a good thing, a bad thing, or neither good
nor bad?
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
52
T R E N D S
A N D
Men and more affluent Canadians remain most
likely to think that large corporate profits are a good
thing. Older Canadians continue to be more inclined to see such profits in a negative light; those
with lower levels of income and education, and those
living in smaller cities, towns and rural communities are now also more likely to hold this opinion.
Younger and better educated Canadians are now
more likely to express a neutral opinion concerning
large corporate profits.
I S S U E S
Corporate priority should be on profits
versus employees/communities
1996 - 2006
89
77
1996
2006
7
18
Put profits ahead
of everything else
Corporate responsibilities. While a large proportion of Canadians (77%) continue to agree that corporations have to be responsible for their employees
and their communities – and that this is as important
as profits – this view has declined by 12 points from
1996. Two in ten (18%, up 11 points) now say
companies have to put profits first, in the interests of
their shareholders. Four percent say it depends (this
response was not an option in 1996).
4
Employees/
communities
just as important
5
Depends/dk/na*
* “Depends” was not an option in 1996
Q.15
Some people say that companies and corporations have to put profits
ahead of everything else because they have to operate in the interests
of their shareholders. Other people say that corporations have to be
responsible for their employees and their communities, and that this is as
important as profits. Which point of view is closer to your own?
Ontarians and Manitobans are somewhat more
likely than others to think that corporations have
responsibilities to employees and communities as
well as to their shareholders; residents of Saskatchewan are most likely to hold the opposite perspective,
that profits must come first. Since 1996, there have
been declines in all regions in the proportions who
think corporations have a responsibility to their employees and to communities; the largest declines are
found in Saskatchewan (down 21 points), Alberta
(down 17) and B.C. (down 15). There have been
increases across the board in the proportions who
agree that corporations should put profits first, most
notably in Saskatchewan (up 17 points).
The view that corporations have to be responsible to
employees and communities as well as to shareholders is high among all demographic groups, but men,
those aged 18 to 29, the most affluent, the least educated, and rural Canadians are slightly less likely
than others to express this opinion.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
53
T R E N D S
A N D
Corporate downsizing. Overall, there has been
essentially no change since 1996 in Canadians’ perceptions of corporate layoffs. One-half (50%) say
that a company that is making a profit should not
lay off workers, while four in ten (42%) say layoffs
can be justified if they will help long-term profits or
the survivability of the company. Six percent say it
depends (this response was not an option in 1996).
I S S U E S
Priority on corporate profits
versus downsizing
1996 - 2006
52
50
1996
43
42
2006
6
Should not lay
off workers
However, there have been some notable regional
shifts in opinion on this question. British Columbians are now most inclined to say that a profitable
company should not engage in layoffs; Manitobans
are now least likely to hold this opinion, a marked
change from 1996, when they were more likely
than other Canadians to say this. Since 1996, there
have been modest increases in Quebec and British Columbia in the proportions who think layoffs
are unjustifiable when a company is earning profits.
Significant declines in this view have occurred in
Manitoba (down 17 points) and Alberta (down
10), with more modest declines in Atlantic Canada and Saskatchewan. There has been essentially
no change in this view among Ontarians. Women
and the less affluent continue to be more inclined
to think profit-making companies should not lay off
employees.
Layoffs justified
for future/survival
8
Depends/dk/na*
* “Depends” was not an option in 1996
Q.16
Some people say that a company that is making a profit should not be
laying off workers. Other people say that laying off workers in a company
making a profit can be justified if it will help the long term profits or the
survival of the company. Which point of view is closer to your own?
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
54
T R E N D S
A N D
I S S U E S
QUEBEC AND CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE
T
resolution from the federal Liberals’ Quebec wing
– to be voted on during the leadership convention
– demanding the official recognition that Quebec is
a nation within Canada. Other leading candidates,
including Bob Rae and Stephane Dion, criticized
Ignatieff for raising the profile of the issue.
he notion of Quebec as a distinct nation has
been part of the Canadian reality since 1760,
when colonies founded by two separate countries
became part of a single empire. Indeed, Lord Durham in 1839 referred to Canada and Quebec as
“two nations warring in the bosom of a single state,”
and this assessment continues to be relevant. The
concept of Quebec and Canada as “deux nations”
was revitalized during Quebec’s Quiet Revolution
of the 1960s. While the idea of “deux nations” is
not necessarily a separatist one, the strong federalist reaction to any suggestions of an asymmetrical
federalism in the 1970s led to the rise of the Parti
Québécois, the development of the concept of sovereignty-association, and the 1980 referendum, and
the repatriation of the Canadian Constitution in
1982 enshrined the federalist vision of Canada as a
confederation of equal provinces.
The Bloc Québécois announced that it would propose a motion on November 23 in the House of
Commons asking Parliament to recognize Quebec
as a nation: “Que la Chambre reconnaisse que les
Québécoises et les Québécois forment une nation
actuellement au sein du Canada,” which Hansard
translates as: “That this House recognize that Quebecers form a nation currently within Canada.”
When the Quebec National Assembly passed a motion earlier this year demanding recognition of Quebec nationhood, Prime Minister Harper had refused
to endorse the idea, saying at the time that it was “a
semantic debate that doesn’t serve any purpose.”
However, in response to the BQ announcement,
Mr. Harper introduced a motion on November 22:
“Que cette Chambre reconnaisse que les Québécoises et les Québécois forment une nation au sein
d’un Canada uni,” translated in Hansard as: “That
this House recognize that the Québécois form a nation within a united Canada.”
In 1987, with the Meech Lake Accord, and again
in 1992, with the Charlottetown Accord, the federal
government attempted, but failed, to incorporate at
a constitutional level the idea of Quebec as a distinct
society – an acknowledgement of Quebec’s unique
language, culture and laws. The failure of Meech
and Charlottetown led directly to the creation of
the Bloc Québécois, the demise of the Mulroney
government and the second Quebec referendum
in 1995. By now, the PQ was calling for outright
sovereignty, with association being desirable but not
necessary. In 1997, the premiers of the other provinces came together in Calgary and agreed to have
their legislatures recognize “the unique character of
Quebec society.” The decision did not evoke much
enthusiasm in Quebec.
On November 27, members of Parliament voted on
the motion introduced by Prime Minister Stephen
Harper. The motion passed by a margin of 266 to
16, with three abstentions.
At the time of the Meech Lake and Charlottetown
Accords, Brian Mulroney, then prime minister, said
that distinct society represented a sociological recognition of the reality that was Quebec and that
the concept would be largely symbolic. So far, it is
unclear just how much of an effect the passage of
the 2006 resolution, which finally acknowledges
The national debate on the nature of Quebec and
its relationship with Canada has remained relatively
quiet until recent months, when the debate resurfaced during the Liberal Party leadership campaign.
Leadership candidate Michael Ignatieff backed a
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
55
T R E N D S
A N D
I S S U E S
Constitutional options for Quebec
the distinct character and nationhood of Québécois society – though, not that of the civic entity of
Quebec – will indeed have on the national conversation about the relationship between Quebec and
Canada.
Quebecers currently favour federalist options
over separatist ones, but by a small margin.
The current survey finds a slight increase of three
points in Quebecers’ support for federalist options
since October, and corresponding decline in support for sovereigntist options; this may be at least in
part a response to the passage through Parliament of
the government’s resolution recognizing the Québécois as a nation within a united Canada. One-half of
Quebecers now favour either the status quo (34%)
or special status (17%). Combined, support for
these options is seven points higher than the support
found for the sovereigntist options of sovereignty-association (23%) or outright independence (21%).
The current FOCUS CANADA survey finds a
slight shift toward federalist sentiments in Quebec,
but mixed and often divergent expectation among
Quebecers and other Canadians about the longerrange consequences of the adoption of this resolution.
Federalist support remains highest among men, and
those with the highest levels of income and education. Since October, support for federalist options
(status quo or special status) within Quebec has increased most among those aged 18 to 29, and those
with less education and income.
Constitutional options for Quebec
Quebec
52
1986 - 2006
Independence
Special status
Sovereignty-association
Present status
33 34
24
23
16
23
21
17
15
13
10
F D O N N N D D O O O O O O O Ja Mr Jl O Ja Mr Jn Jl Mr Jl O D Mr Jn O D
86 87 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 02 02 02 03 03 03 04 05 05 05 05 06 06 06 06
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
56
Q.27
Here are some
constitutional options
that have been proposed
for Quebec. Which one
do you think would be
best …?
Subsample: Residents of
Quebec
T R E N D S
A N D
I S S U E S
Quebec as a “nation”
Seven in ten Quebecers support the Parliamentary resolution recognizing the Québécois
as a “nation within a united Canada;” support
is notably lower outside of Quebec, with onethird offering support for the resolution.
Support for recognizing Québécois as
a “nation within a united Canada”
December 2006
70
61
The current FOCUS CANADA findings indicate
that there is a marked disparity in support for the
Parliamentary resolution between Quebecers and
Canadians outside of Quebec, and that neither
group has a firm sense of how the passage of the
resolution will effect the question of special powers for Quebec or the way Quebecers feel about
Canada. However, most Quebecers and Canadians
outside Quebec do not think that the resolution will
reduce the chance of separation.
34
20
Quebec
Rest of Canada
Support
Oppose
Q.28
The Parliament of Canada recently passed a resolution recognizing the
Québécois as a “nation within a united Canada.” Do you personally
support or oppose this resolution? Is that “strongly” or “somewhat”?
Fully seven in ten residents of Quebec (70%) express support for the resolution that recognizes the
Québécois as a “nation within a united Canada,”
with 36 percent giving it their strong support. Only
one-third of Canadians living outside of Quebec
(34%) support the resolution.
Among Canadians outside Quebec, overall support
is highest in Toronto (37%). Among demographic
subgroups, support for the Parliamentary resolution
is higher among those aged 18 to 29 and the least
affluent Canadians.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
57
T R E N D S
A N D
The mixed support found for the resolution can be
explained in part by the fact that there is no strong
agreement among Canadians, in or outside of Quebec, that it will have a concrete impact on national
unity.
I S S U E S
Likely impact of Parliamentary resolution
December 2006
43
Canadians, both in Quebec and in other parts of
Canada, are more or less divided as to effect of the
resolution on Quebec’s powers. Just over four in
ten Quebecers (43%) and one-half of Canadians
outside Quebec (48%) think that the resolution will
result in greater powers for Quebec. One-half of
Quebecers (50%) and four in ten Canadians outside Quebec (41%) say it will not.
48
Lead to
greater powers
for Quebec
Quebec
54
37
Make Quebecers
feel better
about Canada
34
33
Reduce chances
Quebec will
separate
Rest of Canada
Q.29
Do you think this new Parliamentary resolution will, or will not … Lead to
greater powers for Quebec … Make Quebecers feel better about Canada
… Reduce the chances that Quebec will separate from Canada?
More than half of Quebecers (54%) think the resolution will make Quebecers feel better about Canada, but fewer than four in ten (37%) Canadians
outside Quebec hold this view. Four in ten Quebecers (38%) believe that the resolution will not make
Quebecers feel better about Canada, a perspective
shared by one-half of those outside Quebec (52%).
On the question of whether the resolution will reduce
the chance that Quebec will separate from Canada,
opinions of Quebecers and those outside Quebec
are essentially the same. One-third of Quebecers
(34%) and Canadians outside Quebec (33%) believe that the resolution will reduce the chance that
Quebec will separate. About six in ten Quebecers
(58%) and Canadians outside Quebec (57%) think
it will not reduce the chance of separation.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
58
SECTION THREE
SPECIAL THEME
Muslims
AND
Multiculturalism Canada
IN
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
OVERVIEW
T
his quarter, FOCUS CANADA presents something unique and groundbreaking – an in-depth
look at Canadian Muslims, a small but important
and growing segment of our country’s population.
The research looks at how Canadian Muslims are
experiencing life in this country, how other Canadians
view them, and how these attitudes and perspectives
compare with citizens (Muslims and others alike) in
other countries around the globe.
The findings of the current FOCUS CANADA
survey suggest that Canadians remain positive about
immigration in general, but are increasingly uneasy
about whether newcomers are being successfully integrated into Canadian society. When it comes to the
Muslim population in particular, the data show that
most Canadians believe that Muslims wish to remain
separate from the society at large – even though most
Canadian Muslims say that Muslims are interested
in integrating into Canadian society.
In spring of 2006, the Pew Global Attitudes Project
surveyed the publics of 11 countries around the
world about their attitudes toward domestic Muslim
minority populations. In addition, Muslim minorities
themselves were surveyed in four European countries:
France, Spain, Great Britain and Germany. This
edition of FOCUS CANADA replicates portions of
the Pew study in Canada – both among the Canadian
general public and among Muslim-Canadians – and
covers other issues as well.
In addition to differing perceptions about the desire
of Muslim-Canadians to integrate into the wider
society, Canadians overall and Muslim-Canadians
diverge on a number of policy issues, from the federal
government’s anti-terrorism legislation to the military
mission in Afghanistan.
Still, the picture of Muslim-Canadians that emerges
in the current survey is of an educated population
that is satisfied with Canada and its citizens, and
positive about quality of life here. Although Canadian Muslims express concern about unemployment
and discrimination, they are less likely than Muslims
in European countries to feel ambient hostility in
the society at large and more likely to feel that their
country is headed in the right direction.
In addition to having the highest immigration rate in
the world, Canadians express more positive attitudes
toward immigration than any other society. Still,
Canadians look on with some anxiety as European
countries wrestle with the integration of newcomers;
many wonder whether the next eruption of “homegrown terror” (as in London or Madrid) or ethnic
strife (as in Paris or Melbourne) will happen on
Canadian soil.
The current survey suggests that, when it comes to
public attitudes toward immigration as well as minority experiences of economic, social and political life,
the Canadian context, with its loudly touted multicultural policies, is not perfect – but it is unique.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
61
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
C O N TA C T W I T H A N D I M P R E S S I O N S O F M I N O R I T Y G R O U P S
Contact with ethnic groups
Contact with ethnic groups
Canadians are increasingly likely to have frequent contact with members of numerous minority groups, particularly in cities. Aboriginal
Peoples are the only group Canadians are more
likely to encounter outside the city.
Population-at-large
Today, Canadians have more contact with a more
diverse set of fellow citizens than at any other time in
the country’s history. Although Canada’s territory is
vast, most Canadians live in fairly densely populated
and multicultural towns and cities. Immigrants and
ethnocultural minorities are even more heavily concentrated in Canada’s big cities. It is worth examining
which groups Canadians are encountering in their
daily lives, and how contact between groups changes
over time.
December 2006
Blacks
32
Chinese
33
Pakistanis/
East Indians
25
Jews
24
Muslims
32 65
29 54
26 50
20
Aboriginal Peoples
37 69
26 46
26
Francophones
(outside Quebec)
28 54
31
31 62
Anglophones
(inside Quebec)
50
Often
The minority groups Canadians are most likely to
report encountering either “occasionally” or “often”
are black Canadians (69%) and Chinese-Canadians
(65%), followed by South Asian-Canadians (54%)
and Aboriginal Peoples (54%). Jewish-Canadians
(50%) and Muslim-Canadians (46%), who compose
smaller proportions of the total population, tend to be
less frequently encountered.
29 79
Occasionally
Contact with ethnic groups
Population-at-large
Often
1984 - 2006
35
33
32
31
26
24
20
In Canada outside Quebec, 62 percent of Canadians
say they encounter francophones sometimes or often.
Meanwhile, 79 percent of Quebecers have at least
occasional contact with anglophones.
17
17
Jews
1984
While the proportion of Canadians reporting contact
with all the minority groups listed has been on the rise
since 1988, the likelihood of encountering members
of these groups “often” has changed little between
2004 and 2006. However, in 2006, Canadians are
slightly more likely than they were in 2004 to report
frequent or occasional contact with Muslim-Canadians (46%, up 6 points).
25
24
1988
Blacks
1992
Chinese
East Indians
2004
2006
Q.FC30
Do you personally have contact with members of the following groups
often, occasionally, rarely or never …?
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
62
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
As most immigrants settle in the country’s urban
areas, it is not surprising that Canadians are more
likely to encounter most minority groups in big
cities rather than in smaller towns and rural areas.
Canadians living in cities of one million or more are
much more likely to say they often encounter Jews,
blacks, South Asians, Chinese and Muslims. The
notable exception to this rule is Aboriginal Peoples:
Canadians living in communities of less than 5,000
people are more than twice as likely as those living
in cities of one million or more to say they often have
contact with Aboriginal Peoples.
IN
CANADA
contact with Muslims. One in five Canadians (20%)
encounter Muslims often, while a quarter (26%)
report occasional contact.
The Canadian Muslim population is heavily concentrated in urban areas; seven in ten Canadian Muslims
live in Toronto, Montreal, or Vancouver. As a result,
it is residents of Canada’s largest cities who are most
likely to say they encounter Muslims often or occasionally. Four in ten (38%) Toronto area residents
indicate they often have contact with individuals from
this faith, followed by residents of Vancouver (32%)
and Montreal (29%). By comparison, this degree of
contact is reported by one in ten or fewer residents in
communities under 100,000 in population.
Divergent patterns are apparent in the frequency
of contact between anglophones and francophones
within and outside Quebec. Quebecers who live in the
province’s largest city, Montreal, are markedly more
likely than others to encounter anglophones often in
their daily lives. In the rest of Canada, meanwhile,
contact with francophones is most frequent in midsized towns and cities with populations of 5,000 to
one million – especially in those with populations of
100,000 to one million. This finding relates to the fact
that contact with francophones outside Quebec is most
frequent in the Atlantic provinces, which do not have
any cities with populations in excess of one million.
Looking at change over time, Toronto residents are
the group whose contact with Muslims has increased
most drastically; in 2004, 55 percent of Torontonians
reported at least occasional contact with Muslims
– 15 points lower than the proportion reporting such
contact today. Proportions reporting at least occasional contact with Muslims have also risen in Canada’s
other two largest cities, but less markedly: 10 points
in Montreal and eight points in Vancouver.
Frequency of contact with Muslims
Special focus: contact with Muslims
Population-at-large
Just under half of Canadians have regular
personal contact with Muslims. City-dwellers,
especially Torontonians and Vancouverites,
are the most likely to encounter Muslims frequently.
December 2006
OFTEN OCCASIONALLY RARELY
NEVER
Community size
Although Muslims are Canada’s fastest-growing
minority group, they remain a small proportion of the
total population: 842,000 out of 33,000,000 – about
two and a half percent. Given these numbers, it is
not surprising that about half of all Canadians report
that they rarely (23%) or never (30%) have personal
1 M+
34
30
18
17
100K – 1M
22
29
22
25
5K – 100K
9
24
29
37
>5K
5
19
25
49
Toronto
38
32
17
13
Montreal
29
25
22
23
Vancouver
32
33
15
19f
Q.FC30f
Do you personally have contact with members of the following groups
often, occasionally, rarely or never …?
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
63
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
Quebecers and residents of the Atlantic provinces
are the least likely to report regular contact with Muslims. About two-thirds of residents in each of these
regions say they rarely or never encounter Muslims.
Ontarians are the most likely to report occasional or
frequent contact with Muslims, not surprising since
– according to census data – about six in ten Canadian Muslims reside in that province.
Since current FOCUS CANADA data show that
Canadian Muslims are more highly educated than the
general population (45% of Muslims have university
degrees, as compared to a national average of 33%),
Canadians with higher levels of education are more
likely to encounter Muslims in the workplace and
perhaps in related social settings as well. While about
three in ten Canadians with a high school diploma or
less report at least occasional contact with Muslims,
the proportion among university-educated Canadians
is nearly twice as high: about six in ten.
Although Atlantic Canadians are the least likely to
report regular contact with Muslims, reported contact
has risen dramatically in this region since 2004; that
year, just 22 percent of Atlantic Canadians reported
at least occasional contact with Muslims, a figure
which has since risen 11 points. In Alberta, the
number reporting at least occasional contact is up
by 13 points.
The proportion of highly educated Canadians reporting at least occasional contact with Muslims has
changed little since 2004, while those with lower
levels of education are notably more likely today than
in 2004 to report regular contact. The proportion
of those with less than a high school education who
reported at least occasional contact with Muslims
in 2004 was 20 percent; that figure has risen eight
points.
In addition to education and region of residence,
age appears to make a difference in the likelihood
of Canadians having regular contact with Muslims.
Among Canadians aged 18 to 29, nearly six in ten
report at least occasional encounters with Muslims,
compared with just one in three Canadians aged 60
or over.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
64
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
General impressions of religious groups
Canadians’ impressions of Christians and Jews
are more favourable than their impressions of
Islam. But for all three groups, Canadians are
more likely to hold positive impressions than
negative ones.1
Impression of religion of Islam
Population-at-large
45
2004 - 2006
49
2004
36
12
Since the September 2001 terrorist attacks on the
United States, the links between the Islamic faith
and violence carried out in the name of Islam have
been much debated. Most moderates downplay the
relationship between Islam per se and the violence
perpetrated by extremist groups such as al-Qaeda.
Still, the extent to which terrorism carried out under
the banner of Islam has damaged the Western public’s
perception of the religion bears examination.
Generally
positive
38
8
2006
8
Neither
positive nor
negative
Generally
negative
5
dk/na
Impression of religion of Islam
Population-at-large
By frequency of contact with Muslims
December 2006
70
58
49
Canadians on average are more positive than negative
about the religion of Islam. Half of all Canadians
(49%, up 4 points from 2004) report generally positive impressions of the Islamic faith, while about four
in ten (38%) are generally negative. Eight percent
(down 4) are neutral and five percent offer no opinion. These findings suggest that events during the
intervening years (e.g., the London subway bombings
in July, 2005 and the arrests of 18 men in the Greater
Toronto Area on suspicion of terrorist activity) have
not negatively affected Canadians’ general opinion
about Islam.
36
22
29
Often
Occasional
Rare/never
Positive
Negative
Q.FC32
Is your impression of the religion of Islam generally positive or negative?
Canadians’ views of Islam improve the more frequent
their personal contact with Muslims. Of those who
encounter Muslims often, a large majority (70%) report positive impressions of Islam, compared with just
one in five (22%) who are negative about the faith.
Among those who encounter Muslims rarely or never
in their own lives, just over a third (36%) express
positive impressions of Islam, while half (49%) are
negative about it.
Positive impressions of Christians and Jews are considerably higher. Over eight in ten Canadians (84%)
report a favourable impression of Christians, and a
roughly similar proportion (81%) positive impression
of Jews.
1 These comparisons are drawn from two separate items:
(Q.31.1) Would you say you have a very favourable, somewhat favourable, somewhat unfavourable, or very unfavourable opinion of
[Christians, Jews]?
(Q.32) Is your impression of the religion of Islam generally positive or negative?
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
65
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
Impression of religion of Islam
There are marked regional variations in Canadian
opinion on both Jews and Islam, with Quebecers
the most negative about both. Throughout most of
Canada, approximately a third of all respondents
report negative impressions of Islam; in Quebec the
proportion is fully half (51%). Similarly, the proportion of Quebecers reporting positive impressions
of Jews is 66 percent, 15 points below the national
average.
Population-at-large
December 2006
57
52
44
35
B.C.
Positive
Ontarians are the most likely to report positive impressions of both Islam and Jews. Just under six in
ten (57%) say their impression of Islam is generally
good, eight points above average. And 89 percent
of Ontarians report positive impressions of Jews,
again eight points above the national average. Since
personal contact tends to breed positive impressions
minority groups, positive feelings toward Islam and
Jews in Ontario may be partly attributed to the concentration of Muslims and Jews in that province (six
in ten Canadian Muslims live in Ontario, as do over
half of Canadian Jews).
By region
36
Prairies
51
33
Ont.
36
Que.
52
33
Atl.
Negative
Q.FC32
Is your impression of the religion of Islam generally positive or negative?
opinions of both Jews and Christians, and are about
average in their impressions of Islam. Canadians
who adhere to a religion but are neither Catholic nor
Protestant are above average in favourable opinions of
all three groups. Catholics are roughly average in their
opinions of Christians, but are slightly less positive
than average about Jews, and are also more negative
than average in their impressions of Islam.
Those who describe their ethnicity as French or
Quebecer are markedly less likely than average to
express favourable views of Jews and Islam, but are
about average in their impressions of Christians.
Canadians of British origin are roughly average in
their opinions of Christians, more favourable than
average in their opinions of Islam, and especially
positive in their impressions of Jews. Canadians with
non-European origins are more positive than average
in their impressions of Islam, and roughly average in
their impressions of Christians and Jews.
Quebec, notably, has the second highest concentration of Muslims in Canada but the second-lowest
frequency of contact with Muslims (after the Atlantic
provinces) and the most negative impression of Islam. In Quebec as elsewhere in Canada, a sizeable
majority of those who have personal contact with
Muslims hold positive impressions of Islam. But
personal contact with Muslims among Quebecers is
surprisingly low given the concentration of Muslims
in the province.
Impressions of these three religious groups varies in
some cases according to the ethnicity and religion of
respondents. Those who belong to no religion are
the most likely to express an unfavourable view of
Christians, and are also most likely to express neither
favourable nor unfavourable views of all three groups.
Protestants are the most likely to express favourable
Canadians with higher levels of educational attainment tend to report more positive impressions of all
religious groups. This finding is consistent with the
general tendency for highly educated people to accept
differences of various kinds – of religion, ethnicity,
sexual orientation and so on. In the case of Muslims
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
66
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
Immigration levels
and Jews, it may also point to more frequent contact
between the minority groups in question and highly
educated Canadians. Both Muslims (FC data) and
Jews (census data) have higher than average levels of
educational attainment, so these groups may be more
likely to have regular personal contact with highly
educated Canadians in their professional lives.
Most Canadians are positive about the country’s immigration rate, although support has
dipped slightly since 2005.
Accepting a quarter-million newcomers annually,
Canada has the highest immigration rate in the world.
Most Canadians express satisfaction with these high
rates of immigration. Six in ten (60%) disagree that
“Overall, there is too much immigration to Canada,”
while 37 percent agree.
Attitudes about immigration
A majority of Canadians express approval of the
country’s high levels of immigration. By and large,
Canadians feel that immigrants have a positive effect
on the Canadian economy; only a small minority feel
that immigrants take jobs away from other Canadians.
Despite generally positive attitudes about immigration in this country, Canadians express some anxiety
about the integration of newcomers, and abuses of
the immigration and refugee system. There has been
a small but noteworthy shift in opinion since 2005,
reflecting increased concern among Canadians about
some aspects of immigration in Canada.
Support for current levels of immigration has been
on the rise since the late 1990s; the proportion of
Canadians who believe that immigration rates are
too high hit a low of 33 percent in 2005. This trend
has reversed over the past year, however, with a small
rebound in the proportion of the population seeing
current immigration rates as excessive.
Immigration levels too high
Population-at-large
1977 - 2006
65
61
60
37
35
33
Agree
Disagree
77 80 83 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 97 98 00 02 03 05 06
Q.FC19a
Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly
disagree with each of the following statements … Overall, there is too
much immigration to Canada?
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
67
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
Economic impact of immigration
IN
CANADA
Economic impact of immigration
is positive
A large majority of Canadians continue to believe that immigration has a positive effect on
the economy, but this view has softened over
the past year.
Population-at-large
1993 - 2006
81
78
56
Positive feelings about immigration are underpinned
to a great extent by economic interests: eight in ten
Canadians (78%) believe that immigration has a
positive impact on the Canadian economy. The proportion of Canadians who feel optimistic about the
effect of immigration on the economy vastly outweighs
the minority (24%) who believe that, “Immigrants
take away jobs from other Canadians.” Most Canadians believe that immigrants help stimulate economic
growth, rather than simply competing against Canadians in zero-sum contests for employment. Still, the
proportion of Canadians believing immigrants have
a positive effect on the economy is down three points
from 2005, reversing a long-established trend.
Agree
Disagree
dk/na
39
17
18
2
2
2005
2006
5
1993
1998
2000
2002
2003
Q.FC19g
Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly
disagree with each of the following statements … Overall, immigration
has a positive impact on the economy of Canada?
Immigrants take away Canadian jobs
Population-at-large
1985 - 2006
76
73
54
36
10
Agree
Disagree
22
24
1
1
dk/na
1985 1989 1993 1994 1997 1998 2000 2002 2003 2005 2006
Q.FC19e
Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly
disagree with each of the following statements … Immigrants take away
jobs from other Canadians?
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
68
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
Notably, those with the lowest levels of income and
education are the most likely to feel that immigrants
take jobs from other Canadians. Although Canadians
with lower levels of education might once have disproportionately experienced competition from newcomers
to Canada in the job market, since Canada changed
its admission criteria in 1993 in order to attract immigrants with higher levels of education, this is no
longer the case. (According to Statistics Canada, in
2004, 45% of adult immigrants to Canada held university degrees, as compared to 17% in 1992 before
admission criteria changed.) Those in less skilled and
less remunerative jobs, particularly in the manufacturing sector, may be feeling the economic effects of
outsourcing and mechanization, and expressing their
concerns about job insecurity in terms of a competitive
threat from newcomers.
IN
CANADA
Immigrants take away Canadian jobs
Population-at-large By education
Less than
high school
21
High school
14
Community
college
13
Some
university
20
21
21
33 5
25
18
25
7 10
University
degree 4 7
December 2006
36 5
41 3
25
57 1
26
62 2
Strongly agree
Strongly disagree
Somewhat agree
Neither/dk/na
Somewhat disagree
Q.FC19e
Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly
disagree with each of the following statements … Immigrants take away
jobs from other Canadians?
Although the sense that immigrants take jobs away
from other Canadians is essentially unchanged
overall since late 2005, among some subgroups the
change has been sharper. This opinion has risen five
points (to 37%) among Canadians earning less than
$20,000, seven points (to 41%) among Canadians
with less than a high school diploma, and seven points
(to 27%) among Canadians aged 18 to 29, who may
feel that the competition they face for employment
is greater than that experienced by their parents.
Outside Quebec, the belief that immigrants take jobs
away from other Canadians has risen just one point
(to 26%) since 2005, but in Quebec this belief has
grown by five points (to 21%).
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
69
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
Immigration from non-white populations
Legitimacy of refugee claimants
Canadians consistently and overwhelmingly
reject the idea of racial screening of prospective immigrants.
Although in long-term decline, the slight majority who believe that some refugee claimants
are not legitimate has held steady over the
past year.
Over the past few decades, there has been a massive
shift in the source countries of Canadian immigration.
Until the 1960s, immigrants to Canada were overwhelmingly European; today, immigrants to Canada
are overwhelmingly Asian. There is little evidence
that the changing racial composition of the country
concerns Canadians: nine in ten Canadians (91%)
disagree with the statement, “Non-whites should not
be allowed to immigrate to Canada.” This rejection
of explicitly racist immigration policy has been a
very stable attitude among Canadians since the first
FOCUS CANADA measure in 1985, changing no
more than a few points over the past two decades.
A slight majority of Canadians (54%) express suspicion about some refugee claimants, agreeing that
“Many people claiming to be refugees are not real
refugees.” The proportion of Canadians expressing
suspicion about some refugee claims has declined
25 points in all since 1987, but has remained stable
since last measured in 2005. Three in ten Canadians
(31%) disagree that many refugee claims to Canada
are false. One in ten Canadians cannot offer an
opinion on this question.
Notably, immigrants themselves (59%) are slightly
more likely than the national average to express skepticism about some refugee claims; it may be that some
immigrants feel that, in their bid to enter Canada,
they were competing with others who had unfairly
jumped the queue by falsely claiming refugee status.
Canadians with the lowest levels of educational attainment are notably more likely to agree that non-whites
should not be allowed to immigrate to Canada: 13
percent of those with less than a high school diploma,
as compared to just three percent of those who have
completed university, favour racial screening for prospective immigrants.
Refugee claimants not legitimate
Population-at-large
Exclude racial minorities
Population-at-large
79
1985 - 2006
94
89
1987 - 2006
91
Agree
54 54
Disagree
dk/na
Disagree
34 31
Agree
13
7
5
7
8
9
8
87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 97 98 00 02 03 05 06
85 89 90 91 92 93 94 97 98 00 02 03 05 06
Q.FC19b
Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly
disagree with each of the following statements … Many people claiming
to be refugees are not real refugees?
Q.FC19c
Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly
disagree with each of the following statements … Non-whites should not
be allowed to immigrate to Canada?
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
70
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
Confidence in immigration selection process
Assimilation into Canadian society
Four in ten Canadians believe Canada does a
good job of keeping criminals and suspected
criminals out of the country, up slightly from
2005.
Despite overall acceptance of immigration
levels, a majority of Canadians express concern
that many immigrants are not adopting Canadian values, and this viewpoint has increased
over the past year.
Only a minority of Canadians (40%) believe that
Canada does a good job of keeping criminals and
suspected criminals out of the country. More than half
disagree that the system functions well in this regard,
with fully a third (33%) strongly disagreeing. Still,
the proportion of Canadians who believe that Canada
does not do a good job of keeping criminals and
suspected criminals out of the country has declined
six points from 2005, while the proportion who give
positive marks has increased by three points.
A more general – and more widespread – concern
about Canada’s current immigration practices relates to the integration of immigrants into Canadian
society. Sixty-five percent of Canadians agree that
“There are too many immigrants coming into this
country who are not adopting Canadian values,”
while 30 percent disagree. Concern about the cultural
integration of newcomers to Canada, which has declined gradually since the early 90s, has rebounded
recently – up seven points from 2005. Even more
notably, the proportion who agree strongly that too
many immigrants are not adopting Canadian values
has jumped by nine points to 39 percent. This spike
may be a response to debate in Western countries
Older Canadians are notably more likely to have a
negative view of this aspect of the immigration and
refugee system: just 32 percent of Canadians aged 60
or over agree that Canada is successful in excluding
criminals, as compared to 55 percent of those aged
18 to 29.
Too many immigrants do not adopt
Canadian values
Immigration controls effective in
keeping out criminals
Population-at-large
Population-at-large
1993 - 2006
1993 - 2006
72
58
60
62
54
Agree
dk/na
39
30
40
37
28
23
Agree
10
1993
Disagree
65
1994
1997
1998
2000
Disagree
2002
2003
dk/na
2
4
2005
2006
2
6
1993
1994
1997
1998
2000
2002
2003
2005
2
2006
Q.FC19f
Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly
disagree with each of the following statements … There are too many
immigrants coming into this country who are not adopting Canadian
values?
Q.FC19d
Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly
disagree with each of the following statements … Canada is doing a
good job keeping criminals and suspected criminals out of the country?
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
71
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
such as France, Great Britain, Australia and the
Netherlands about the integration of their newcomer
populations – particularly Muslims. It may also be
related to the arrests in 2006 of 18 young men in the
Greater Toronto Area suspected of plotting terrorist
attacks on Canadian targets, arrests which raised the
prospect of “homegrown” terror in Canada.
IN
CANADA
Too many immigrants do not adopt
Canadian values
Population-at-large Strongly agree
By community size and age
30
Notably, concern about the dilution of Canadian
values is highest among Quebecers, who have waged
their own struggle for the preservation of a minority
linguistic and cultural heritage in Canada and in
North America. Forty-three percent of Quebecers
strongly agree that too many immigrants are not
adopting the values of their new society.
34
26
1M plus
2003
23 20
18 to 29
47
40
36 39
26 29
32
100K to 1M
5K to 100K
2005
28
2003 - 2006
35 33
Less than 5K
2006
35
27 24
30 to 44
51
32
36
42
45 to 59
41
37
60 plus
Q.FC19f
Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly
disagree with each of the following statements … There are too many
immigrants coming into this country who are not adopting Canadian
values?
Quebec is also the area of the country where concern
about the integration of immigrants is rising most rapidly; the proportion of Quebecers expressing the view
that too many immigrants are not adopting Canadian
values has risen 14 points (to 70%) since 2005. In
British Columbia the opinion grew 12 points (to
67%). In the other regions, growth has been more
modest but still significant – except in Alberta, where
it remains essentially unchanged.
Significantly, however, it is in smaller cities that concern about the integration of immigrants has risen
most sharply in the past year. Among Canadians
living in cities of 100,000 to one million, the sense
that too many immigrants are not adopting Canadian
values has risen 13 points to 66 percent. Growth
in this opinion has been more modest in both the
smallest communities (by 8 points, to 70%) and the
country’s largest cities (by 6 points to 62%). It may
be that, while the smallest communities are little affected by immigration directly and the largest cities
are accustomed to encountering newcomers (and have
considerable support systems in place), residents of
mid-sized cities are feeling the effects of immigration
without having the reassurance of past experience
and established infrastructure to help newcomers
integrate.
Canadians living in smaller communities are also
more likely than average to express anxiety about immigrants not adopting Canadian values, and growth
in concern is especially strong among those in the
smallest communities. Among Canadians in cities of
one million or more, the proportion strongly agreeing that too many immigrants fail to adopt Canadian
values has increased from about a quarter in 2005 to
about a third in 2006. Among those in communities
of 5,000 residents or fewer, in the same period strong
concern has grown from a third to nearly half.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
72
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
Relations between specific groups
Another important finding on this question is that,
while the most highly educated Canadians remain
less likely than average to express concern about the
integration of newcomers, it is among these Canadians that concern is rising most sharply. Among
university-educated Canadians, the opinion that too
many immigrants are not adopting Canadian values
has grown 13 points (to 59%) since 2005. While, in
2005, those with university degrees were 12 points
below the national average in their belief that too
many immigrants are not adapting Canadian values,
change since then has found the most highly educated
Canadians catching up: in 2006, those with university
degrees are just six points below the national average
on this question. Among less educated Canadians,
concern has grown more modestly.
Canadians are positive about relations between
Christians and Jews in Canada. Opinion is
divided on relations between Christians and
Muslims, while relations between Jews and
Arabs are seen as somewhat negative.
In a diasporic country such as Canada, tensions
between ethnic, linguistic and religious groups may
originate in domestic debates (such as the struggle for
French-language protections in Quebec), or may be
imported from other parts of the world as migrants
bring their loyalties, concerns – and even prejudices
– with them to their adoptive country.
For example, Canadians see tensions between Jews
and Arabs – tensions which many trace in part to the
ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians
– as palpable even among Jews and Arabs living in
Canada, far from the contested territories.
Across age groups, older Canadians are not only
more intensely concerned about immigrants adopting
Canadian values, but are showing a greater increase
in concern over time.
Overall, Canadians are very positive in their assessment of relations between Christians and Jews in
Canada. There is somewhat greater concern about
relations between Christians and Muslims in Canada,
while relations between Jews and Arabs in Canada
are seen by most as at least somewhat negative.
Quebecers tend to be less optimistic than others
about all three sets of ethnic and religious relations.
City-dwellers, particularly Torontonians, tend to be
the most positive about ethnic relations – and stand
out as especially optimistic about relations involving
Canadian Muslims and Arabs.
Canadian Muslims more or less match the national
average in their assessments of Jewish-Arab and
Christian-Jewish relations, but are notably more
sanguine about Christian-Muslim relations than the
population-at-large.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
73
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
Relations between Jews and Arabs. Most Canadians see Jewish-Arab relations in Canada as
somewhat troubled. Just a third of Canadians see such
relations as very (4%) or somewhat (28%) positive,
while more than half would describe them as negative
(somewhat 32%, very 14%). One in six Canadians
(16%) cannot offer any opinion of the state of relations between Jews and Arabs in Canada.
IN
CANADA
Perception of current relations between
Jews and Arabs in Canada
Population-at-large
December 2006
32
28
Very
positive
There are few variations across groups in Canadians’
assessments of relations between Jews and Arabs
in Canada, but on average older people are more
negative about Jewish-Arab relations. Only about a
quarter of Canadians aged 60 or over (23%) see relations between these groups as either very or somewhat
positive, nine points below the national average.
14
16
Very
negative
dk/na
5
4
Somewhat
positive
Neither
positive
nor
negative
Somewhat
negative
Q.FC31.2c
Would you describe the current relations between Jews and Arabs in
Canada today be very positive, somewhat positive, somewhat negative, or
very negative?
Notably, Canadian Muslims (36%) are more likely
than other Canadians (32%) to see Jewish-Arab
relations in a positive light. Canadians overall are
more likely to see relations between Jews and Arabs
as negative, while Muslims are more likely to see them
as neither positive nor negative, or not to express an
opinion on the state of these two groups’ relations.
Perception of current relations between
Christians and Muslims in Canada
December 2006
46
39
35
27
7
Very
positive
Relations between Christians and Muslims.
Canadians are somewhat more optimistic in their
assessment of relations between Christians and
Muslims in Canada than in their estimation of Jewish-Arab relations in this country, although public
opinion remains split. About half of Canadians see
Christian-Muslim relations as either positive (46%)
or neutral (3%). Over four in ten see relations as
negative (44%).
3
Somewhat
positive
Canadian Muslims
3
Neither
positive
nor
negative
14
Somewhat
negative
2
9
Very
negative
7
8
dk/na
Population-at-large
Q.M7.2b/FC31.2b
Would you describe the current relations between Christians and Muslims
in Canada today be very positive, somewhat positive, somewhat negative,
or very negative?
Canadian Muslims are markedly more positive than
others in their assessment of relations between Christians and Muslims in Canada: about three-quarters
(73%) of Canadian Muslims see Christian-Muslim
relations as largely positive, while less than one in five
(16%) see them as generally negative. This particular
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
74
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
Relations between Christians and Jews. In comparison with the group relations presented previously,
most Canadians see relations between Christians
and Jews in Canada as positive. Fully three-quarters
of Canadians say that Christian-Jewish relations are
either very (24%) or somewhat (50%) positive. Just
15 percent see relations as negative. A small proportion see relations between Canadian Christians and
Jews as neither positive nor negative (3%), or do not
offer an assessment (7%).
relationship – between the Christian and Muslim
communities in Canada – is the site of the greatest
divergence between Muslim opinion and national
opinion when it comes to relations between religious
or ethnocultural groups.
Canadians who live in cities are more likely to offer
a positive assessment of Christian-Muslim relations
in Canada. Of those living in cities with populations
of one million or more, fully half (52%) see relations between Christians and Muslims as at least
somewhat positive, as compared to four in ten (41%)
among those living in communities of 5,000 people
or fewer. Toronto residents are especially sanguine in
their view of Christian-Muslim relations in Canada;
57 percent of Torontonians see relations between
members of these two faiths as at least somewhat
positive. This more positive outlook on inter-group
relations, like more positive impressions of minority
groups in general, is likely due to city-dwellers’ more
frequent personal experience with minority religious
and ethnic groups.
Quebecers stand out as especially pessimistic on this
question; three in ten Quebecers (28%) describe
Christian-Jewish relations in Canada as at least somewhat negative – almost twice the national average.
Perception of current relations between
Christians and Jews in Canada
Population-at-large
December 2006
78
74
All Canadians
Quebec
58
Canada excluding
Quebec
Notably, immigrants to Canada are more likely
than native-born residents to see relations between
Christians and Muslims living in Canada as positive;
immigrants with origins outside Europe are especially
likely to view Christian-Muslim relations as positive
(58% of non-European immigrants, versus 49% of
European immigrants). One possible explanation for
this finding is that some new Canadians may have
their origins in countries where religious strife is much
more severe than it is in Canada, causing whatever
tensions that may exist in their adoptive country to
appear relatively minor in comparison to the tensions
in their nations of origin.
28
3
Very/somewhat
positive
6
2
Neither positive
nor negative
15
11
Very/somewhat
negative
7
7
7
dk/na
Q.FC31.2a
Would you describe the current relations between Christians and Jews in
Canada today be very positive, somewhat positive, somewhat negative, or
very negative?
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
75
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
Discrimination against ethnic groups
Residents of Ontario (84%) are the most likely to
see Christian-Jewish relations as generally positive.
This optimism about Christian-Jewish relations in
Canada may derive at least in part from familiarity
with both groups and personal experience with their
interactions: census data show that half of all Canadian Jews live in Toronto.
Canadians see Muslims, Aboriginal Peoples,
South Asians and blacks as the minority groups
who experience discrimination most frequently
in Canada.
Although Canada’s national identity is frequently
articulated in terms of diversity, multiculturalism
and Canada’s history as “a nation of immigrants,”
most Canadians perceive that the ideal of equality
for all, regardless of ethnocultural background, does
not always match the reality of life in Canada. Most
Canadians perceive at least occasional discrimination
against numerous minority groups.
Canadian Muslims are fairly close to the national
average in their assessment of Christian-Jewish relations, with six in ten (62%) viewing such relations as
positive. The gap between Muslims and Canadians
at large derives not from a greater propensity for
Muslims to see relations between Christians and Jews
as negative, but from the greater Muslim tendency to
express no opinion on the question (21%, compared
to 7% of all Canadians).
The group seen as being discriminated against the
most frequently are Muslims; over four in ten Canadians (44%) believe Muslims are discriminated
Perceived frequency of discrimination
Population-at-large December 2006
Muslims
44
Pakistanis/
East Indians
36
Blacks
34
Aboriginal
Peoples
42
Anglophones
(inside Quebec)
10
Often
20
35
13
10
14
38
17
Francophones
(outside Quebec)
12 8 4
37
32
Jews
Chinese
32
20
Sometimes
15 4
34
16 3
37
30
Rarely
92
30
32
30
9 4
15
93
19 4
39 1
Never
dk/na
Q.31
For each of the following groups, please tell me whether you think they
are often, sometimes, rarely or never the subject of discrimination in
Canadian society today …?
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
76
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
against often, and an additional 32 percent believe
that Canadian Muslims experience discrimination
at least sometimes. Large majorities also perceive at
least occasional discrimination against Aboriginal
Peoples (74%), Canadians of Pakistani and Indian
origin (73%), and blacks (70%).
IN
CANADA
Perceived frequency of discrimination
Population-at-large Often/sometimes
73 73
68 70
56 52
About half of all Canadians believe Jews (52%) and
Chinese Canadians (47%) are discriminated against
at least sometimes. Four in ten (40%) Canadians
outside Quebec believe that francophones experience at least occasional discrimination, while three
in ten Quebecers (30%) feel that anglophones are
sometimes discriminated against.
Jews
2004 - 2006
80 76
48 47
Blacks
Chinese
2004*
2006
Pakistanis
/East
Indians
Muslims
75 74
46
Canadians’ sense of the frequency of discrimination
against most minority groups has declined slightly
since 2004. In 2006, Canadians are less likely than
in 2004 to perceive frequent or occasional discrimination against Muslims, Jews and francophones living
outside Quebec. The perception of discrimination
against Chinese Canadians, South Asian Canadians, Aboriginal Peoples, anglophones living inside
Quebec and blacks has remained stable.2
Aboriginal
Peoples
40
Francophones
(outside
Quebec)
32 30
Anglophones
(inside
Quebec)
* 2004 data from FC omnibus study for the Department of Canadian
Heritage
Q.31
For each of the following groups, please tell me whether you think they
are often, sometimes, rarely or never the subject of discrimination in
Canadian society today …?
Estimates of discrimination against most groups
tend to be higher among younger Canadians. For
example, while just 67 percent of Canadians aged 60
or over believe that Muslims are at least sometimes
discriminated against, the proportion among those
aged 18 to 29 is 85 percent. Similarly, while about
two-thirds (65%) of Canadians aged 60 or over
believe that South Asians experience at least occasional discrimination, eight in ten Canadians under
30 (82%) say the same.
policy, but in a social climate where racism and
discrimination have been seen as increasingly unacceptable. As such, younger Canadians are likely to
have higher expectations of their fellow citizens in
matters of fair treatment for immigrants, people of
colour, religious minorities and other groups that may
experience discrimination. While older Canadians
may see the society around them as exceptionally fair
relative to the one they remember from their youth,
younger Canadians are more likely to compare their
society to the ideals it claims to espouse – not to a
more prejudiced past.
One likely explanation for this finding is that younger
Canadians have grown up not only in a Canada
where multiculturalism, adopted in 1971, is official
2 General population tracking data from a Focus Canada 2004-1 omnibus survey for the Department of Canadian Heritage.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
77
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
T R E AT M E N T O F M U S L I M S I N C A N A D A
Treatment of Muslims in Canada relative to other countries
Treatment of Muslims in Canada vs.
in other western countries
Most Canadians feel Muslims are treated better in Canada than in other Western countries.
An even higher proportion of Muslim-Canadians say the same.
December 2006
77
Some commentators on Canadian multiculturalism
argue that, while Canada is not alone in its multicultural policies, it is unique in the extent to which multiculturalism has become part of the national identity.
Many Canadians take pride in the idea that Canada
offers newcomers – and minority groups in general
– an especially open, fair and welcoming atmosphere.
Others argue that discrimination is more widespread
than most Canadians care to realize – and that
rhetoric about diversity and multiculturalism rings
hollow when viewed against above-average poverty
rates among immigrants and even visible minorities
born in Canada.
Canadian Muslims
61
Population-at-large
30
17
Better
About
the same
3
3
Worse
Q.M10/FC33
Do you think that the way that Muslims are treated in Canada is better,
worse or about the same as they are treated in other western countries?
In the population-at-large, men (65%) are more likely
than women (56%) to say that Muslims are treated
better in Canada, while women are more likely to
say that Muslims fare about the same in Canada as
elsewhere.
In the case of Muslims, most Canadians (61%) believe that Canada offers better treatment than other
Western countries. Although Canadian Muslims
express concern about discrimination and underemployment, a large majority (77%) agree that Muslims
are better treated in Canada than they are in other
Western countries.
Quebecers are more likely than average to believe
that Muslims are better treated in Canada; seven
in ten Quebecers (69%) as compared to six in ten
(58%) in the rest of Canada say that Muslims are
better off in Canada than in other Western countries.
Canadians in the Prairie provinces (53%) and in
the Atlantic provinces (55%) are the least likely to
say that Muslims are treated better in Canada than
elsewhere in the West, and most likely to say that they
do not know (9% each). The Prairies and Atlantic
Canada have the lowest concentrations of Muslims
in the country.
Very small proportions in both groups (3% each)
believe Muslims are worse off in Canada than in the
United States or Western Europe. Those who do
not see Muslims as better off in Canada tend, rather,
to believe that Muslims experience the same treatment in Canada as in other Western countries; three
in ten Canadians overall (30%) and 17 percent of
Canadian Muslims say this.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
78
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
A surprising finding among Muslim-Canadians is
that experience with discrimination does not appear
to influence how Muslims feel they are treated in
Canada relative to other countries. Among those who
report no experiences of discrimination in the last two
years, eight in ten (78%) believe Muslims are better
off in Canada than elsewhere. Among those who
have experienced discrimination in the last two years,
however, three-quarters (74%) still believe they are
better off in Canada than elsewhere in the West.
IN
CANADA
Treatment of Muslims in Canada vs.
in other western countries
Canadian Muslims
December 2006
86
78
By years in Canada
74
Less than 5 years
5 to 15 years
16 years or more
8
Better
Foreign-born Muslims who have lived in Canada longer are more likely to say that treatment of Muslims
in Canada is probably on par with other Western
countries; those who have immigrated more recently
are more likely to believe that they fare better in
Canada than they would elsewhere.
17
About
the same
21
3
2
1
Worse
Q.M10
Do you think that the way that Muslims are treated in Canada is better,
worse or about the same as they are treated in other western countries?
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
79
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
Quality of life for Muslim women
Most Canadian Muslims feel that quality of life
for Muslim women is better in Canada than it
is in most Muslim countries.
Quality of life for Muslim women in Canada/
Europe compared to most Muslim countries
Muslim residents
Canada and Europe
Canada
Seven in ten Canadian Muslims (70%) feel that
quality of life for Muslim women is better in Canada
than in most Muslim countries. A quarter of Canadian Muslims (23%) feel that Muslim women enjoy
roughly the same quality of life in Canada as in the
Muslim world. Only a very small proportion (3%)
feel that Muslim women are worse off in Canada than
they would be in a Muslim country.
70
France
62
Great Britain
58
Germany
50
Spain
46
Better
Notably, there is no gender difference on this question: among both Muslim men (71%) and Muslim
women (70%) in Canada, seven in ten each believe
Muslim women are better off in Canada.
2006
Same
23 3
21
25
16
13
31
17
36
16
Worse
Q.M14/Pew
Overall, do you think that the quality of life for Muslim women in Canada
is better, worse, or about the same as the quality of life for women in
most Muslim countries?
Perhaps not surprisingly, among foreign-born Muslims, the sense that Muslim women are better off in
Canada increases with time in Canada. Three-quarters (76%) of those who have lived in Canada for 16
years or more believe Muslim women have a higher
quality of life in Canada, as compared to 63 percent
of those who have lived in Canada for less than five
years. It is likely that those who have lived in Canada
for a shorter time experience more challenges associated with migration and settlement, and even to feel
greater nostalgia for the (possibly Muslim-majority)
country from which they have immigrated. Those who
have lived in Canada longer likely feel more settled,
and are better able to assess the benefits of life in
Canada free of the upheaval of migration.
for Muslim women is better in Canada than in most
Muslim countries. The proportion among those who
identify themselves as primarily Muslim is smaller,
but still a majority: 64 percent.
International comparisons show Canadian Muslims
to be markedly more satisfied than European Muslims with the quality of life Muslim women enjoy
in Canada. The proportions of Muslims in Great
Britain, France, Germany and Spain who believe
that Muslim women enjoy a higher quality of life in
Europe than in Islamic countries ranges from the
mid-40s to the low-60s. In all four countries, more
than one Muslim in ten feels that Muslim women
are better off in Islamic countries than in European
countries.3
Among Canadian Muslims who state that their primary identity is Canadian, as opposed to Muslim,
fully nine in ten (90%) believe that the quality of life
3 Throughout this section, international data from the Pew Research Center, 2006.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
80
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
Hostility toward Muslims among Canadians
Most Canadians believe that public hostility
toward Muslims is limited to a minority of citizens. Notably, Muslims are even less likely than
other Canadians to feel that the public-at-large
is hostile toward adherents of their faith.
Estimate of number of Canadians
hostile to Muslims
2006
Canadian Muslims
Population-at-large
As debates about terrorism and religious extremism
linked to Islam have proliferated in the last several
years, there has been evidence of an anti-Muslim
“backlash” in several Western countries, in the form
of vandalized mosques and scattered violence. In
Canada, such criminal acts have been rare and, unlike in some European countries, no political party in
Canada gives official voice to anti-Muslim (or antiimmigrant) sentiment. FOCUS CANADA data show
that most Canadians – and an even higher proportion
of Canadian Muslims – see hostility toward Muslims
as a marginal attitude in Canadian society.
5
7
Most
39
44
35
24
21
12
Many
Just some
Very few
9
4
dk/na
Q.M11/FC34
In your opinion, how many Canadians do you think are hostile toward
Muslims? Would you say most, many, just some or very few?
Think many/most Canadians/Europeans
are hostile to Muslims
2006
42 40
Most Canadians estimate that hostility toward Muslims is limited to “just some” (44%) or “very few”
(24%) of their fellow citizens. Still, three in ten Canadians believe that “many” (21%) or even “most”
(7%) of their compatriots are hostile toward Muslims.
Among Muslim-Canadians, the sense of general societal hostility to members of their faith is more rare:
only one about one in six Muslims in Canada believes
that “most” (5%) or “many” (12%) Canadians are
hostile to adherents of Islam; more then seven in ten
Muslims say it is “just some” or “very few.”
39
28
63
60
56
51
31
17
Canada
Muslims
Great
Britain
France
Spain
Germany
Population-at-large
Q.M11/FC34/Pew
In your opinion, how many Canadians do you think are hostile toward
Muslims? Would you say most, many, just some or very few?
The perception of widespread societal hostility to
Muslims is less common in Canada than in key
European countries – both among Muslims and the
population-at-large. Canadians (both Muslim and
non-Muslim) are less likely than citizens of Great
Britain, France, Germany or Spain (both Muslim
and non-Muslim) to estimate that “many” or “most”
of their fellow citizens are hostile to followers of
Islam.4
4 Citizens of the four European countries named were asked how many Europeans they thought were hostile to Muslims. Canadians were
asked how many Canadians they thought were hostile to Muslims.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
81
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
Women (34%) are marginally more likely than men
(28%) to report discrimination, a difference that may
in part be explained by some Muslim women wearing
head scarves that could attract the attention of those
inclined toward discriminatory remarks.
In general, those who believe that hostility to Muslims
is widespread are the most likely to express a negative impression of Islam. In other words, those most
likely to see hostility to Muslims in the society around
them are likely to share that hostility to some degree.
Among Canadians who have a generally positive
view of Islam, only about one in five (19%) believe
that most or many Canadians are hostile to Muslims.
Among those who have a negative view of Islam,
the proportion who see most or many Canadians as
hostile to Muslims is twice as high: 40 percent.
Young Muslims are markedly more likely than older
Muslims to say they have had a negative experience
related to race, ethnicity or religion in the last two
years. Four in ten Canadian Muslims between the
ages of 18 and 29 (42%) report experiences of
discrimination, the proportion among those aged 45
and older is about half that (22%).
Muslim experience of discrimination
Have had recent bad experience due to
race/ethnicity/religion in past two years
Three in ten Canadian Muslims report an experience of discrimination in the last two years.
Canadian Muslims
In the wake of the September 11 attacks, there were
reports of physical and verbal attacks on Muslims
(and people of colour wrongly perceived to be Muslim) in both Canada and the United States. Some
of these attacks, related to a major news item, were
heavily publicized. Other, less sensational instances
of discrimination against Muslim-Canadians receive
less attention.
By age
December 2006
74
69
78
58
42
31
All
18 to 29
26
30 to 44
22
45 plus
Had bad experience
Thirty-one percent of Muslim-Canadians say that in
the last two years, they have had a negative experience due to their race, ethnicity or religion. Sixty-nine
percent say they have had no such experience.
No bad experience
Q.M12
In the last two years, have you personally had a bad experience due to
your race, ethnicity, or religion, or hasn’t this happened to you?
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
82
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
Quebec Muslims (36%) are more likely than those
living in Ontario (28%) to report discrimination,
while those in the West (32%)5 are about average.
IN
CANADA
dian Muslims may have negative experiences related
to their race, ethnicity or religion, they are more likely
to see these as isolated incidents and not as symptoms
of widespread social hostility.
Compared to Muslims in Western European countries, Canadian Muslims are slightly more likely to
report experiences of discrimination in the last two
years. While French Muslims are more likely (37%)
than Canadian Muslims to report discrimination,
Muslims in Great Britain (28%) are as likely, and
those in Spain (25%) and Germany (19%) are less
likely to report experiences of discrimination. Even
so, Canadian Muslims are less likely than Muslims
in most European countries to believe that most or
many of their compatriots are hostile to Muslims.
Combined, these findings suggest that, while Cana-
Canadians at large are aware that Muslims face
discrimination in Canada. As noted in the Contact
with and Impressions of Minority Groups section of
this report, three-quarters of Canadians (76%) believe that Muslims are discriminated against at least
sometimes in this country; Muslims are seen as being the group most frequently discriminated against.
Still, most Canadians, including Muslim-Canadians,
believe that hostility toward Muslims is limited to a
small minority of the general population.
5 Small sample size (n=85).
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
83
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
M U S L I M I D E N T I T Y A N D I N T E G R AT I O N
Integration versus separation from Canadian society
Do Muslims want to adopt Canadian customs
or remain distinct?
Remain distinct or integrate?
Most Canadians believe Muslims in Canada
wish to remain distinct from the wider society, but most Muslims feel that most of their
co-religionists in fact want to integrate into
Canadian society.
December 2006
57
55
Canadian Muslims
Population-at-large
25
23
13
When a minority group is seen as remaining separate
from the larger society, explanations can run in two
directions. Some may claim that the minority group
is deliberately separating itself, enjoying the benefits
of the larger society but refusing to participate fully.
Others may claim that the larger society shuts the
minority group out, using discrimination, both subtle
and overt, to prevent minority group members from
enjoying the economic, political and social benefits
other citizens enjoy.
Want to
adopt
customs
Want to
remain
distinct
Both
9
9
9
dk/na
Q.M21/FC37
Do you think most Muslims coming to our country today want to adopt
Canadian customs and way of life or do you think that they want to be
distinct from the larger Canadian society?
Frequency of contact with Muslims has a notable
bearing on Canadians’ impressions of Muslims’ desire to adopt Canadian customs. Among Canadians
who have contact with Muslims often or occasionally,
a third (32%) believe that Canadian Muslims are
mainly interested in adopting Canadian customs,
as compared to one in five (19%) among those who
rarely or never encounter Muslims. Canadians who
have personal contact with Muslims rarely or never
are much more likely (65%) than those who have
frequent personal contact with Muslims (44%) to believe that Muslims in Canada mainly wish to remain
distinct from the wider society. Those who encounter
Muslims frequently are twice as likely (13%) as those
who do so rarely or never (7%) to believe that Canadian Muslims wish to both adopt Canadian customs
and remain distinct as a community.
In the case of Canada’s Muslim minority, Muslims
themselves report a strong impression that their coreligionists wish to integrate into Canadian society,
while most members of the general public believe the
opposite – that Canadian Muslims wish to remain
apart. Among Canadians at large, just a quarter
(25%) believe that Muslims in Canada are more
interested in adopting Canadian customs than in
remaining distinct from the wider society. Among
Canadian Muslims, meanwhile, a majority (55%)
believe that most of their co-religionists in Canada
are more interested in adopting a Canadian way of
life than in remaining apart. About one in ten in both
the general public (9%) and the Muslim minority
(13%) believe that Canadian Muslims wish equally
to integrate and remain distinct.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
84
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
Among Muslim-Canadians, there are some notable
group differences on views about the intentions of
their co-religionists. Muslims with higher incomes
are considerably more likely than those with lower
incomes to believe that most Canadian Muslims
wish to adopt a Canadian lifestyle. Those with lower
incomes are more likely to say either they do not know
how most Muslims approach this matter, or that most
Muslims wish to both adopt Canadian customs and
remain distinct in equal measure.
Quebecers are the most likely to believe that Muslims
wish to remain distinct from the wider Canadian
society; fully two-thirds of Quebecers (67%), as
compared to just over half (54%) of those outside
Quebec, believe that Canadian Muslims are more
interested in remaining separate than in adopting
Canadian customs. This difference may be explained
in part by some Quebecers doubting that Quebec
Muslims are adopting “Canadian” (as opposed to
“Quebec”) customs. Still, in view of other findings of
this research in Quebec, such as less positive impressions of Islam and greater anxiety about integration,
it is unlikely that the distinction between Quebec
customs and Canadian customs is the only reason for
the regional differences here.
The belief that most Muslims wish to integrate
increases somewhat with years spent in Canada.
Those who have lived in Canada less than five years
are moderately less likely than those who have been
in the country longer to believe that most Muslims
wish to adopt Canadian customs, and moderately
more likely to say that Canadian Muslims wish to
remain distinct, or that they wish to both integrate
and remain separate.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
85
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
Internationally, Canadian Muslims are among the
most likely to believe that their co-religionists want
to adopt the customs and lifestyle of their adoptive
country, and among the least likely to say that they
want to remain separate from the wider society.
Of the Muslim minorities in the four European
countries surveyed, only French Muslims are more
likely (78%) than Canadian Muslims to say that
their co-religionists wish to adopt the customs of the
wider society rather than remain distinct. Muslims
in Canada are as likely as those in Spain (53%),
and more likely than those in Great Britain (41%)
and Germany (30%) to see their fellow Muslims as
wishing to adopt the lifestyle of the western society
in which they live.6
IN
CANADA
Do Muslims want to adopt local country’s
customs or remain distinct?
Muslim residents
Canada and Europe
2006
78
55
53
52
41
23
21
Canada
France
Adopt customs
27
Spain
35
Great Britain
30
Germany
Remain distinct
Q.M21/Pew
Do you think most Muslims coming to our country today want to adopt
Canadian customs and way of life or do you think that they want to be
distinct from the larger Canadian society?
As far as the general populations are concerned,
Canadians are among the most likely to believe that
Muslims in Canada are interested in adopting Canadian customs. Here again, France stands out, with
nearly half (46%) of the French public believing most
Muslims in France wish to adopt French customs
rather than remaining distinct. But Canadians are
more likely than British (22%), Spanish (21%) or
German (17%) citizens to believe that the Muslim
minority in their country is mainly interested in adopting the customs of the wider society.
Do Muslims want to adopt local country’s
customs or remain distinct?
Populations-at-large
Canada and Europe
76
67
57
46
21
France
Adopt customs
64
53
25
Canada
2006
Spain
22
Great Britain
17
Germany
Remain distinct
Q.FC37/Pew
Do you think most Muslims coming to our country today want to adopt
Canadian customs and way of life or do you think that they want to be
distinct from the larger Canadian society?
6 International data from the Pew Research Center, 2006.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
86
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
Blend in or retain culture?
IN
CANADA
Options for immigrants and
minority ethnic groups
Both Canadian Muslims and Canadians overall tend to believe that immigrants should be
free to maintain their religious and cultural
practices. But the general population is more
likely to express a preference for immigrants
to “blend in.”
Canadian Muslims and population-at-large
by immigration status 2006
Canadian
Muslims
65
Total populationat-large
European
immigrants
Presented with two different, but not mutually exclusive, claims about how immigrants and minority ethnic groups should relate to the wider society in which
they live, there is general tendency to believe that
members of such groups should be able to maintain
their religious and cultural practices. But MuslimCanadians are more likely than other Canadians to
hold this view.
15
49
40
40
Non-European
immigrants
17 3
9 2
50 7 4
49
41
91
Should be free to maintain
religious/cultural practices
Both equally
Should blend into Canadian society
Depends/dk/na
Q.M6/PET68
Some people say that immigrants and minority ethnic groups should
blend into Canadian society and not form a separate community. Other
people say that immigrants and minority ethnic groups should be free to
maintain their religious and cultural practices and traditions. Which one
of these two points of view is closest to your own?
Two-thirds (65%) of Muslim-Canadians say that
immigrants and minority ethnic groups should be
free to maintain their religious and cultural traditions, compared with just one in six (15%) who
agree more strongly with the idea that immigrants
should try to blend into Canadian society. Notably,
another 17 percent of Canadian Muslims decline to
choose between these two options and volunteer that
both options are equally possible and desirable. In
contrast, Canadians at large are evenly divided on
this question, with about half (49%) agreeing that
immigrants and minority groups should be free to
maintain their own traditions, while four in ten (40%)
say immigrants should try to blend into Canadian
society.7
to 29, seven in ten (72%) believe that immigrants
should be free to maintain their religious and cultural
practices, which declines among Muslim-Canadians
aged 45 and older (58%). Older Muslims are more
likely to say minority groups should blend into Canadian society, and to say blending in and maintaining
religious and cultural practices are equally important.
A parallel trend according to age is evident among
the Canadian population-at-large; Canadians aged
18 to 29 are nearly twice as likely (63%) as those
aged 60 or over (33%) to believe that immigrants
and minority groups should be free to maintain their
religious and cultural practices.
Age has a strong influence on opinions about this
issue, among both Muslim-Canadians and the population-at-large. Among Muslim-Canadians aged 18
7 General population data drawn from Focus Canada 2006-3 research conducted on behalf of the Pierre Trudeau Foundation.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
87
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
Quebecers overall, like the Muslim minority in that
province, are more likely than others to agree equally
with both statements (16%, compared to 6% in the
rest of Canada).
Quebecers, both Muslims and the population-atlarge, stand out starkly on this question. Just four in
ten Quebec Muslims (41%) believe that immigrants
and minority groups should be free to maintain
their religious and cultural practices, compared to
72 percent of Ontario Muslims and 73 percent of
Muslims in the West. While Quebec Muslims are in
line with the Muslim average (15%) in believing that
immigrants should try to blend into the wider society,
they are considerably above average (42%, compared
to 17% of all Canadian Muslims) in espousing the
belief that immigrants should be free to maintain their
cultural practices and blend into the wider society.
Overall, Muslims who are devoutly religious tend
to attach greater significance to the protection of
Islamic identity than do more secular Muslims. It is
noteworthy, then, that Muslims who attend religious
services frequently are statistically as likely (14%) as
those who attend rarely or never (19%) to believe that
immigrants and minority groups should try to blend
into the wider society. But those who attend services
rarely or never are more likely to believe that minority
groups should try to blend in and be free to maintain
their own religious and cultural practices (22%, as
compared to 13% of frequent worshipers). MuslimCanadians who attend religious services frequently
are more likely (70%) than those who attend rarely
or never (56%) to believe first and foremost that
immigrants should be free to maintain their religious
and cultural practices.
The Quebec population-at-large also stands out,
primarily in its embrace of assimilation as an ideal
for immigrants. Just a third of Quebecers (33%, compared to 53% in the rest of Canada) say that immigrants and minority groups should be free to maintain
their religious and cultural practices, while fully half
(48%, compared to 38% in the rest of Canada) say
that immigrants should blend into Canadian society.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
88
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
The rights and role of women
IN
CANADA
Role of women in immigrant/
ethnic communities
Canadians believe strongly that respect for
newcomers’ traditions must not compromise
gender equality in Canada. Canadian Muslims
are more likely to believe that Canada should
accommodate traditional gender roles.
2006
44
81
51
51
36
32
Some Canadians believe there is a tension between
the individual rights guaranteed in the Canadian
Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the group rights
accorded by Canada’s multicultural policies. Gender
equality in particular emerges as a site of concern in
this regard, with some analysts arguing that women’s
Charter rights to equal treatment are sometimes at
odds with religious or cultural practices that Canadian
multiculturalism, in principle, would seek to protect.
Others argue that there is no real tension between
Charter rights and Canadian multiculturalism – that
the Charter is paramount – and that rhetoric about
such a tension is simply a manifestation of Canadian
anxiety about the integration of newcomers.
31
13
Canada should
accomodate traditional
beliefs
Immigrants should
adopt mainstream
Canadian beliefs
Canadian Muslims
Muslims with income of $60K or more
Muslim women
Population-at-large
Q.M7/PET69
Some immigrant and minority ethnic communities have very traditional
practices and beliefs when it comes to the role and rights of women.
Some people say Canada should accept and accommodate these
traditional beliefs about the rights and role of women. Other people
say that immigrants and ethnic minorities should adapt to mainstream
Canadian beliefs about the rights and role of women. Which one of these
two points of view is closest to your own?
A strong majority of Canadians (81%) believe that,
whatever their traditional practices, newcomers
should adapt to mainstream Canadian beliefs about
the rights and role of women, while just 13 percent
say Canada should accommodate traditional beliefs
some newcomers may hold about women’s rights and
roles. Canadian Muslims are notably more divided on
this question: A plurality (44%) believe that Canada
should accommodate newcomers’ more traditional
beliefs, compared with just over one in three (36%)
who agree with the overall Canadian majority that it
is immigrants who must adapt to Canadian mores
around gender.8
Canadians tend to express similar views on this issue
across demographic subgroups, although there is a
modest variation by age: Younger Canadians are
somewhat more likely to believe that Canada should
accommodate traditional beliefs some newcomers
may hold about the rights and role of women, while
older Canadians are more apt to express the view that
newcomers must adapt to majority Canadian opinion
and practice in the area of gender equality.
8 General population data drawn from Focus Canada 2006-3 research conducted on behalf of the Pierre Trudeau Foundation.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
89
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
Large and important differences emerge across Canadian Muslim subgroups on this issue. First, and
perhaps surprisingly, Muslim women are considerably
more likely than Muslim men to believe that Canada
should accommodate traditional beliefs and practices
some newcomers may have about the rights and role
of women.
IN
CANADA
Role of women in immigrant/
ethnic communities
Canadian Muslims By gender, religious attendance
and years in Canada 2006
Men
Major differences also emerge among Muslim-Canadians according to income and education. More
affluent and more educated Muslims more likely to
believe that newcomers should adapt to Canadian
gender mores, compared with less affluent and less
educated Muslims, who are more apt to believe that
Canada should accommodate traditional beliefs
among newcomers.
37
Women
51
Attend religious
services once a week
51
Rarely/never attend
religious services
34
Less than 5 years
in Canada
50
5 to 15 years
in Canada
16 or more years
in Canada
Religious attendance also seems to have a strong
influence over Canadian Muslim opinion on this issue: fully half of those who frequently attend religious
services believe that Canada should accommodate
those with traditional beliefs about the rights and role
of women, as compared to just a third of those who
attend religious services rarely or never.
41
47
40
13
9
9
10
28
12
8
45
9
12
13
11
34 10
9
31
27
43
9
8
Canada should accommodate traditional beliefs
Immigrants should adopt mainstream Canadian beliefs
Both equally
Depends/dk/na
Q.M7
Some immigrant and minority ethnic communities have very traditional
practices and beliefs when it comes to the role and rights of women.
Some people say Canada should accept and accommodate these
traditional beliefs about the rights and role of women. Other people
say that immigrants and ethnic minorities should adapt to mainstream
Canadian beliefs about the rights and role of women. Which one of these
two points of view is closest to your own?
Among Canadian Muslims born outside Canada,
those who have lived in Canada longer are more likely
to believe that it is up to immigrants and minority
groups to conform to mainstream Canadian beliefs
and practices about the rights and role of women.
Even among those who have been in Canada 16
years or longer, however, opinion is split almost evenly
between those who think that immigrants must conform to Canadian mores, and those who think that
Canada must accommodate the diverse traditions
and practices of immigrants. In other words, even
Muslims who have been in Canada for over 16 years
look markedly different from the population-at-large
on this issue.
Muslims who self-identify as primarily Canadian are,
perhaps not surprisingly, much more likely (61%)
than other Canadian Muslims to believe that the
onus is primarily on newcomers and minority groups
to adapt to the Canadian mainstream on matters of
gender equality. Those who identify primarily as
Muslim, meanwhile, are more likely (50%) than the
Canadian Muslim average to believe that Canada
should accommodate newcomers’ sometimes more
traditional beliefs.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
90
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
Perceptions of cross-cultural learning
IN
CANADA
Other cultures have a lot to teach us;
contact with them is enriching
Muslim-Canadians are more likely than Canadians overall to believe that contact with other
cultures is enriching.
Canadian Muslims
December 2006
61
One underlying idea of multiculturalism is that respect
for minority groups’ traditions and practices benefits
not only the minority groups who adhere to them, but
also the wider society which learns from them and
becomes richer, more flexible and more interesting.
Whereas aggressive assimilationism assumes that
the host culture is paramount and immigrants must
adopt its ways completely, multiculturalism positions
the integration of newcomers as, at least ideally, a
two-way process in which newcomers both adapt to
and shape the mainstream.
26
4
Totally
agree
Somewhat Somewhat
agree
disagree
4
4
Totally
disagree
dk/na
Q.M41c
Now I’d like to read you a list of opinions that we often hear expressed.
For each one, please tell me whether you totally agree, somewhat agree,
somewhat disagree or totally disagree … Other cultures have a lot to
teach us; contact with them is enriching.
Three-quarters of Canadians agree either strongly
(25%) or somewhat (48%) that “Other cultures have
a lot to teach us; contact with them is enriching for
us.”9 Muslim-Canadians express even greater enthusiasm for this idea of cross-cultural learning, with six
in ten agreeing strongly (61%) that they are enriched
by interacting with other cultures and an additional
quarter agreeing somewhat with this idea.
Although the belief that contact with other cultures is
enriching is embraced across subgroups of MuslimCanadians, the belief is especially strong among those
with the highest incomes and those who have lived in
Canada the longest. Among those who have been in
Canada 16 years or more, fully three-quarters (75%)
agree strongly that contact with other cultures is enriching. The proportion among Muslim-Canadians
earning more than $60,000 annually is 73 percent.
Disagreement is highest among the least affluent
(13%) and least educated (17%); these are the only
two groups in which disagreement with the idea of
cross-cultural learning exceeds 10 percent.
9 General population data drawn from the 2005 Environics Social Values study.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
91
M USLIM S
PRIDE
IN
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
CANADA
Muslim-Canadians are as likely as others in the
population to express pride in being Canadian.
(Pride in Canada among Canadians overall is
discussed more fully in the Trends and Issues
section of this report.) Ninety-four percent of
Canadian Muslims say they are very (73%) or
somewhat (21%) proud to be Canadian, figures
that roughly mirror pride in the population-at-large.
Quebec Muslims, like Quebecers overall, are less
likely to express strong pride in being Canadian
– but even in Quebec nine in ten Muslims (89%) say
they are at least somewhat proud to be Canadian.
Like the population-at-large, when asked to name
the things that make them proud to be Canadian,
Muslim-Canadians cite freedom and democracy
(33%), Canadian multiculturalism (17%), the fact
that Canada is a peaceful country (10%), and
the sense that Canada is a humane and caring
country (9%). Muslims are somewhat more likely to
emphasize multiculturalism in describing Canada’s
virtues (six points higher than the 11% of all
Canadians who cite this), but by and large, sources
of pride in Canada among Canadian Muslims match
those cited by Canadians overall.
Muslims most likely to report being very proud to
be Canadian include older individuals (84% among
those aged 45 and older), the most affluent (81%),
the least educated (81%) and (among the foreignborn) those who have lived in Canada the longest
(88%). No more than a handful in any subgroup
say they are not proud, although among those who
have lived in Canada less than five years, 12 percent
are either not Canadian citizens or do not consider
themselves Canadian.
When Canadian Muslims are asked to name their
least favourite thing about Canada, the top mention
is the weather (24%); by contrast, the weather is the
second most frequent mention among Canadians
overall (8%) – after the government (10%). Other
aspects of Canada Muslims dislike include, in
order of frequency of mention, discrimination
and treatment of immigrants (12%), taxes (8%),
Canadian foreign policy (6%), lack of economic
opportunity (6%) and the government (4%).
Pride in being Canadian
Pride in being Canadian
Canadian Muslims
December 2006
94
21
89
42
95
17
78
73
94
9
85
93
Less than 5
19
Quebec
Ontario
West
Population-at-large
Very proud
Q.M3/FC7
Would you say you are very, somewhat, not very, or not at all proud to be a Canadian?
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
92
2006
29 3
70
16 or more
Canadian Muslims
Somewhat proud
54
5 to 15
74
47
Total
By years in Canada
12
24 22
88 11 2
Very proud
Not very/not at all proud
Somewhat proud
Not Canadian
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
Strength of Muslim identity
How strong is Muslim identity in Canada?
Strength of Islamic identity among
Muslims in Canada
A strong majority of both Muslim-Canadians
and the population-at-large feel that Muslims
in Canada identify strongly with their Islamic
identity.
December 2006
42
30
Muslim-Canadians and Canadians overall tend to
share the view that Muslims in Canada have a strong
sense of Islamic identity. Seventy-two percent of
Muslim-Canadians and 71 percent of all Canadians
believe that Muslims’ sense of Islamic identity is at
least fairly strong.
27
Very strong
Canadian Muslims
44
Population-at-large
19
Fairly strong
14
Not too
strong
3
3
Not strong
at all
6
11
Depends/
dk/na
Q.M22/FC38
In your opinion, how strong a sense of Islamic identity do Muslims in
Canada have: very strong, fairly strong, not too strong or not strong at all?
Foreign-born Muslims with roots in Asia are most
likely to see Muslim identity in Canada as very strong
(37%), while those who immigrated from Africa
(31%) and the Middle East (23%) are somewhat
less likely to share this perception.10
Muslims who identify primarily as Canadian are
less likely to say that Islamic identity in Canada is
strong (63%), while those who identify themselves
as primarily Muslim (79%) are more likely to sense
that their co-religionists’ sense of shared identity is
powerful.
Regionally, Quebec Muslims are slightly more likely
than others to feel that Islamic identity in Canada is
strong. Three-quarters (75%) of Muslims in Quebec
feel Islamic identity is strong in Canada, and onethird (33%) see it as very strong. Muslims in Ontario
(72%) and the west (62%) are less likely to see
Islamic identity as at least fairly strong in Canada.
Just as Quebec Muslims stand out on this issue, the
general population in Quebec also holds opinions
that differ from the rest of Canada. One-third (34%)
of Quebecers believe that Muslims in Canada have a
very strong sense of Islamic identity, as compared to
27 percent in the Atlantic provinces, 24 percent in
Ontario and 20 percent in British Columbia.
10 Sample sizes for Muslims born in Canada or elsewhere in the world are too small to interpret meaningfully.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
93
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
The sense in Quebec that Muslims have a very strong
sense of Islamic identity may be related to Quebecers’ higher levels of anxiety about the integration of
Muslims. In general, Canadians who have a negative
impression of Islam and who see Muslims as wishing
to remain distinct from the wider Canadian society
are more likely to say that Muslims in Canada have a
very strong sense of Islamic identity. Canadians who
have a positive impression of Islam and see Muslims
as willing to integrate into the Canadian mainstream
tend to say that Muslims in Canada have a fairly
strong sense of Islamic identity.
Is there a growing sense of Islamic identity
in Canada?
Strength of Islamic identity among
Muslims in Canada
Notably, while both Quebec Muslims and Quebecers overall are more likely than the national average
to believe that there is a very strong sense of Islamic
identity in Canada, Quebec Muslims (57%) and
Quebecers overall (58%) are less likely than average to believe that this sense of Islamic identity is
growing.
Population-at-large
Majorities of both Canadian Muslims and the
population-at-large believe the sense of Islamic
identity in Canada is growing.
Majorities of both the Canadian Muslim population
and the general public believe that there is a growing
sense of Islamic identity in Canada. Muslim-Canadians (69%) are somewhat more likely than Canadians
overall (62%) to believe that Islamic identity in
Canada is growing.
December 2006
By perception of willingness of Muslims
to adopt Canadian customs
Want to
adopt customs
21
Want to
be distinct
Both
49
33
16 2
44
19
50
Very strong
Not too strong
Fairly strong
Not strong at all
11
14 3 6
93
Just as foreign-born Muslims with roots in Asia are
more likely than average to believe that there is a
strong sense of Islamic identity in Canada, they are
also more likely (76%) than those from Africa (71%)
or the Middle East (57%) to believe that the sense
of Islamic identity in Canada is growing.
18
Depends/dk/na
By impression of Islam
Positive
24
Negative
Neutral
50
34
19
40
41
10 4
14 3
9
Foreign-born Muslims who have immigrated to
Canada more recently are less likely than those who
have been in Canada longer to believe that Islamic
identity in Canada is growing, but this difference
rests primarily on the fact that more recent arrivals are
more likely to say they do not know whether Islamic
identity in Canada is growing.
15 3 6
27
Q.FC38
In your opinion, how strong a sense of Islamic identity do Muslims in
Canada have: very strong, fairly strong, not too strong or not strong at all?
Similarly, the least affluent Muslim-Canadians are
less likely to see Islamic identity in Canada as on
the rise but are no more likely to sense that it is not
growing; they are simply more likely to be uncertain
(11%).
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
94
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
Of those Canadians who believe there is a growing
sense of Islamic identity in Canada, most (56%)
believe this is a bad thing for the country, while onethird (33%) believe this is a positive development,
and the remaining one in ten (11%) have no clear
opinion either way. In contrast, among Canadian
Muslims who see the sense of Islamic identity in
Canada as on the rise, the vast majority (85%) see
this as a positive development. Just nine percent see it
as a bad thing, while six percent do not know.
Among Canadians overall, the most significant group
difference on this impression of whether Islamic identity in Canada is growing emerges by community size.
Those in cities of a million or more (68%) are more
likely than those in the smallest communities (56%)
to see Canadian Islamic identity as on the rise.
Growing Islamic identity: good or bad thing?
While majorities of Muslim-Canadians and
the population overall agree that there is a
growing sense of Islamic identity in Canada,
they disagree on whether this is a positive
development.
Muslim Islamic identity
December 2006
69
Those who study diverse societies describe two
kinds of social relations: bridging and bonding.
Bonding social relations are those that exist within
homogeneous religious and ethnocultural communities; organizations such as religious groups or clubs
rooted in shared ethnocultural heritage foster bonding relations. Bridging social relations are those that
reach across religious and ethnocultural boundaries,
and unite individuals along axes of civic engagement
or other shared interests. Organizations that foster
bridging relations might include community centres,
school committees, or groups devoted to neighbourhood issues such as land use or traffic control. Both
Muslim-Canadians and Canadians overall have a
sense that bonding relations within the Muslim-Canadian community are increasing – but the two groups
disagree on whether this development will militate
against bridging relations: Muslim participation in
the wider society.
62
85
33
Canadian Muslims
... and that is a
good thing
Population-at-large
Islamic identity is growing ...
Q.M23/FC39
In your opinion, these days do you think there is a growing sense of
Islamic identity among Muslims in Canada?
Q.M24/FC40
Do you think this is a good thing or a bad thing for Canada?
Subsample: Those who think there is a growing sense of Islamic identity
among Muslims in Canada
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
95
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
Across the country, Quebecers (24%) are the least
likely of all Canadians to see the growing sense of
Islamic identity in Canada as a good thing. Atlantic
Canadians are most positive (46%) about this development. Notably, although Ontarians and Torontonians tend to have the highest levels of contact with
Muslims and be most positive about Islam overall, it
is in Ontario (15%) and Toronto (17%) where the
highest proportions say they do not know whether a
growing sense of Islamic identity is a good thing or a
bad thing for Canada.
Perception of growing Islamic identity
Among the Canadian population-at-large, those most
likely to believe that a growing sense of Islamic identity is good for Canada are young Canadians (48%),
men (36%), non-Christians and those who adhere to
no religion (38%), and Canadians of non-European
origin (41%).
Growing Islamic identity a good thing
Population-at-large
By age
18 to 29
December 2006
48
30 to 44
40
45 to 59
29
60 plus
16
Good thing
Bad thing
41
11
49
11
61
10
73
11
dk/na
2006
86
85
75
59
48
33
The view that a growing Islamic identity is good for
Canada is shared by a large majority across all identifiable subgroups of Canadian Muslims.
27
13
Canada
Muslims
In comparison with the Canadian Muslim population, Canadians overall are relatively skeptical about
the effects of a growing sense of Islamic identity on
the country. Still, Canadians are more optimistic
about this phenomenon than those in any of the four
European countries surveyed.
Great Britain
Spain
11
France
11
Germany
Population-at-large
Q.M24/FC40/Pew
Do you think this is a good thing or a bad thing for Canada?
Subsample: Those who think there is a growing sense of Islamic identity
among Muslims in Canada
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
96
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
How growing sense of Islamic identity
is good for Canada
How is a growing sense of Islamic identity
a good thing?
Top mentions Canadian Muslims
December 2006
Canadians who see the growing sense of Islamic identity as positive cite cross-cultural understanding and the strengthening of the Muslim
community as reasons. Muslim-Canadians also
emphasize the quality of Muslim values.
Helps Canadians
understand Islam
23
Islamic values
positive/beneficial
21
Multiculturalism
Muslim-Canadians and members of the populationat-large who see an increased sense of Islamic identity
in Canada as positive tend to agree broadly on the
reasons for this assessment. Both groups emphasize
the idea that increased Islamic identity will help
Canadians to understand Islam better. Both groups
also indicate that a growing sense of Islamic identity
suggests that Canadian multiculturalism is working
well.
17
Harmony/co-operation
12
Strengthen Muslim identity/
pride/reject extremism
10
Freedom of choice/
democracy/relgious freedom
9
Muslims are peaceful/
law-abiding 5
How growing sense of Islamic identity
is good for Canada
Top mentions Population-at-large
December 2006
Canadians overall are somewhat more likely than
Canadian Muslims to say that a strong sense of
Islamic identity in Canada is a positive sign of tolerance and religious freedom in this country. Canadian
Muslims are more likely to say increased Islamic
identity is positive because Islamic values themselves
are positive. Muslim-Canadians are also more likely
than the population-at-large to emphasize the idea
that a strong sense of Muslim identity will promote
peace, and that a proud Muslim community will be
better able to fight extremism.
Encourage diversity/
cultural mosaic
28
Strengthen Muslim
identity/community
19
Education/understanding
of Muslim culture
Free dountry/
religious freedom
Tolerance
Create peace/improve
cross-cultural relations
17
14
12
9
Among Muslim-Canadians, the most affluent, those
who have lived in Canada the longest, and those in
the youngest age category are more likely than others
to emphasize that a strong sense of Islamic identity in
Canada will benefit the country in helping the general
public to better understand Muslims and their faith.
Q.M25a/FC41
In what way do you think this is a good thing for our country today?
Subsample: Those who think there is a growing sense of Islamic identity
among Muslims in Canada – and think this is a good thing
Muslim-Canadians who attend religious services most
frequently are the most likely to say that the main
benefit to Canada of an increased sense of Islamic
identity is the increased presence of Islamic values,
which are positive.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
97
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
Main worry about Islamic identity in Canada
Concerns about growing Islamic identity
Population-at-large
Among Canadians who see a growing sense of
Islamic identity in Canada as a negative development for the country, gender inequality is
the top concern, followed by violence.
December 2006
Poor treatment
of women/girls
36
Violence
Preventing
integration
Canadians who believe that a growing sense of
Islamic identity in Canada is bad for the country
most often cite perceived poor treatment of women
and girls (36%) in Islam as their main worry. An
additional three in ten (30%) say that the possibility of violence perpetrated by Muslims is their main
worry, while 16 percent feel that an increased sense of
Islamic identity will prevent Muslims from integrating
into the wider society. Fourteen percent of Canadians
who are pessimistic about the effect of an increased
Islamic identity in Canada say that all of these issues
worry them equally.11
All equally
30
16
14
Q.FC42
Which one of the following worries you most about Islamic identity in our
country today? It can lead to …
Subsample: Those who think there is a growing sense of Islamic identity
among Muslims in Canada – and think this is a bad thing
Although most violence purportedly carried out
under the banner of Islam has been directed at
urban targets (the London subway system, Madrid
commuter trains, the World Trade Center), those in
Canada’s largest cities are the least likely to cite violence as their top concern about an increased sense of
Islamic identity in the country. Just a quarter (25%)
of those living in cities of one million or more residents
say that violence is what concerns them most about
what they see as a growing sense of Islamic identity in
Canada. The proportion among those in communities of less than 5,000 is 34 percent. Those in urban
areas are instead most concerned about poor treatment of women and girls as a possible consequence
of increased Islamic identity in Canada: 42 percent
of those who live in Canada’s largest cities cite this
as their top concern, as compared to 31 percent of
those in communities of less than 5,000.
These differences by residential density hinge mainly
on Canadians’ varying degrees of contact with Muslims. City-dwellers, though more likely to be affected
by terrorism should it be carried out on a Canadian
target, have more frequent contact with Muslims
and are therefore less likely to express concern about
violence as an outcome of increased Islamic identity.
Of those who have frequent contact with Muslims
and are concerned about a growing sense of Islamic
identity in Canada, just 22 percent cite violence as
their main worry, as compared to 36 percent of those
who never have personal contact with Muslims. Canadians who encounter Muslims often are more likely to
cite the prevention of integration (21%) as a concern.
Concern about poor treatment of women and girls,
the top worry across groups, does not vary according
to degree of personal contact with Muslims.
11 The number of Muslim-Canadians who see an increased sense of Islamic identity as a negative thing for Canada is too small to allow
meaningful interpretation of the reasons for this opinion.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
98
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
als to offer them guidance – and this proportion is
substantially higher among some subgroups of the
Canadian Muslim population.
Source of religious guidance among Muslims
When seeking guidance as Muslims, Canadian
Muslims are most likely to trust a local imam
or sheikh. But many Canadian Muslims reject
the guidance of religious authorities.
Canadian Muslim subgroups most likely to say they
would rely on a local imam or sheikh for guidance
include young Muslims (37%), and those who attend
religious services frequently (36%).
The influence of religion over believers’ thinking and
decisions related to family, politics and lifestyle is
frequently discussed. With 94 percent of Canadian
Muslims stating that their religious beliefs are very
important to them, it seems likely that religion will
have a powerful influence over at least some aspects of
these Canadians’ lives. But when it comes to seeking
guidance from religious authorities, which voices do
Canadian Muslims trust?
Older Muslims are considerably more likely than
younger ones to say that they would trust none of the
sources listed to offer them guidance as Muslims.
Other groups more likely than average to say they
would rely on none of the individuals or bodies named
for guidance include the most affluent and the most
educated, those who attend religious services rarely
or never, and foreign-born Muslims who have lived
in Canada for 16 years or longer.
When asked who they would most trust to offer them
guidance as Muslims, Canadian Muslims are most
likely to trust in a local imam or sheikh (30%), while
others cite an imam or institution outside Canada
(such as al-Azhar or the Saudi imams of Mecca)
(21%), national religious leaders in Canada (12%)
or religious leaders on television (4%). Significantly,
however, fully a quarter (26%) of Canadian Muslims
say they would trust none of these bodies or individu-
Foreign-born Muslims more recently arrived in
Canada are more likely to say they would rely on
guidance from imams or institutions outside Canada.
Similarly, those who identify themselves as primarily
Muslim (as opposed to primarily Canadian) are more
likely to say they would trust imams or institutions
outside Canada for guidance.
Trust most to offer guidance as a Muslim
Canadian Muslims
By age and years in Canada
December 2006
Total
18 TO 29
YEARS
OF AGE
30 TO 44
YEARS
OF AGE
45 PLUS
YEARS
OF AGE
LESS THAN
5 YEARS
IN CANADA
5 TO 15
YEARS
IN CANADA
16 PLUS
YEARS
IN CANADA
Local Iman or sheikh
30
37
31
18
29
29
26
Imans/institutions outside Canada
21
28
20
13
27
20
19
National religious leaders in Canada
12
10
11
14
7
13
12
4
5
3
5
9
3
2
None
26
13
27
45
20
25
37
dk/na
7
7
8
4
7
9
4
Religious leaders on television
Q.M19
Now I’m going to read you a list of individuals and organizations. Please tell me which one of these you trust the most to offer you guidance as a Muslim …
Local Imam or sheik … National religious leaders in Canada … Religious leaders on television … Imams and institutions outside Canada, such as al-Azhar
or the Saudi Imams of Mecca and Medina.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
99
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
Legal issues related to religious pluralism
Sharia law
Should Canada recognize Sharia law
for settling family disputes?
Just over half of Canadian Muslims believe
Sharia law should be recognized in Canada,
including a clear majority of Muslim women.
Only one in ten Canadians overall share this
view.
December 2006
79
53
34
Sharia law, a traditional Islamic legal code, has been
at the heart of charged debates in both Quebec and
Ontario. Some Muslim groups have sought to have
Sharia law recognized as a legal basis for Muslims to
settle family disputes. This proposal has met with opposition from both Muslims and non-Muslims. Some
have objected that it muddies the division between
Canada’s secular legal system and religion. Others
have argued that the recognition of Sharia law might
compromise the equality rights Canadian Muslim
women are guaranteed by the Charter.
11
Should recognize
Sharia law
Canadian Muslims
Sharia law should
not be recognized
Population-at-large
Q.M18/FC36
Do you believe that Sharia law – that is, traditional Islamic law – should,
or should not, be recognized by Canadian governments as a legal basis
for Muslims to settle family disputes, such as those involving divorce,
custody and inheritance?
Canadian Muslims (34%) believe that Sharia law
should not be recognized by Canadian governments,
the proportion among Canadians at large is eight in
ten (79%).
Some Muslim groups have expressed the sense that
discourse around Sharia was more alarmist than,
for example, discussion of the legal recognition of
traditional Jewish law. The greater concern about
the possible recognition of Sharia law, some claim,
is evidence of Islamophobia. In view of its refusal to
recognize Sharia law, the Ontario government was
forced to end all religion-based arbitration, revoking
earlier provincial government decisions that had
extended government recognition to Jewish and
Catholic arbitration bodies.
Given that much debate on this issue hinges on arguments about gender equality, it is especially notable
that Muslim women (55%) are statistically as likely
as Muslim men (51%) to believe that Sharia law
should be recognized by Canadian governments.
Among Canadian Muslims, other groups expressing
disproportionately strong support for the recognition
of Sharia law by Canadian governments include the
least educated (63%) and least affluent (62%), those
in the 18 to 29 age cohort (59%) and those living
in Ontario (59%). Foreign-born Muslim-Canadians
who have been in the country for a shorter period
also tend to be more likely than average to support
the recognition of Sharia law; those who have lived
Just over half of all Canadian Muslims (53%) believe
Sharia law should be recognized by Canadian governments as a legal basis for settling Muslim family
disputes. Among the population at large, just one
in ten (11%) support such recognition for Sharia
law, making this among the most notable areas of
divergence between the opinions of Canadian Muslims and the population-at-large. While a third of
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
100
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
in Canada for 16 years or more, by contrast, are
notably below average in their support for Sharia
recognition (45%).
IN
CANADA
Headscarf ban
A strong majority of Canadian Muslims oppose
a ban on Muslim headscarves in public places
such as schools. A modest majority of Canadians overall agree.
Among subgroups of the overall Canadian population, there is relatively little variation on this issue,
except by income and education. Trends by income
and education among Canadian Muslims on this
issue parallel trends among the Canadian population at large: those with higher levels of education
and higher incomes are more likely than others to
oppose the recognition of Sharia law by Canadian
governments. Canadians with less than a high school
education are three times as likely (21%) as those
with university degrees (7%) to say that Sharia
law should be recognized. Those earning less than
$30,000 annually are twice as likely (18%) as those
earning $80,000 or more (8%) to favour recognition
of the religious code.
The French government’s 2004 ban on the wearing
of any religious apparel, including jewellery depicting
crucifixes or stars of David and, most famously, Muslim headscarves, sparked considerable international
debate about religious freedom in the public square.
Within France, however, the headscarf ban enjoyed
broad popular support, with 78 percent calling the
ban a good idea.12
Although France is the only European country to
have actually instituted a ban on Muslim headscarves in schools, the measure enjoys some support
elsewhere in Europe. A majority of Germans (54%)
believe the ban is a good idea and just over four in
ten (43%) in Spain agree. Support for such a ban
is weakest in Great Britain, where just three in ten
(29%) believe it is a good idea.
There is some variation among immigrants, with
European immigrants less likely (7%) than non-European immigrants (16%) to believe that Canadian
governments should acknowledge Sharia law as a
legal basis for settling family disputes.
No Canadian political party has proposed – or is
likely to propose – a ban on religious apparel in
schools. Indeed, in a prominent and unanimous 2006
Supreme Court ruling, a Sikh student at a public
school in Quebec was granted the right to carry a
kirpan (a small ceremonial dagger) in contravention
of the school’s zero-tolerance policy on weapons. The
court cited the Charter’s religious freedom provisions
in its ruling. Still, it is worthwhile to consider Canadian attitudes about the prospect of a headscarf ban
in comparison to attitudes in other western countries
with significant Muslim minorities.
12 Pew Global Attitudes Survey. “Islamic Extremism: Common Concern for Muslim and Western Publics.” 14 July, 2005.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
101
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
Most Canadians (55%) believe that banning Muslim
headscarves in public places such as schools is a bad
idea. About a third (36%) see the ban as a good
idea. Among Canadian Muslims, opposition to a
ban on Muslim headscarves is vastly stronger, with
nearly nine in ten (86%) opposing such a ban and
nine percent supporting it.
IN
CANADA
Headscarf ban good idea
2005 - 2006
Populations-at-large
78
53
54
43
36
29
9
Some differences exist across Muslim subgroups, but
substantial majorities across all groups oppose a ban.
Those Muslim-Canadians who are above the Muslim
average in their support for a headscarf ban are older
(12% among those aged 45 or older), have lived in
Canada longer (12% among those living in Canada
16 years or more), and those who self-identify primarily as Canadian (19%). Still, even with these variations, overwhelming opposition to a headscarf ban in
the Canadian Muslim community is evident.
Canadian
Muslims
All
Canada
Quebec
France* Germany* Spain*
Great
Britain*
Q.M17/FC35/Pew (2005)
Some countries have decided to ban the wearing of headscarves by
Muslim women in public places, including schools. Do you think this is
a good idea or a bad idea?
Older Canadians are markedly more likely than
younger Canadians to believe a headscarf ban is a
good idea; 48 percent of those aged 60 or over support a ban, 12 points above the national average.
Among the Canadian general public, the most pronounced differences are regional, with a majority of
Quebecers (53%) supporting a headscarf ban and
just three in ten (31%) outside Quebec agreeing.
Quebec is a strong outlier on this issue; opinion
among the other provinces varies relatively little, ranging from 26 percent in support for a ban in Atlantic
Canada and British Columbia to 31 percent in the
Prairies and 33 percent in Ontario. The regional
variation holds even in urban areas: 54 percent of
Montrealers support a headscarf ban, as compared
to just 28 percent (each) of those living in Toronto
and Vancouver.
Among religious groups, Canadian Catholics are
most supportive of the idea of a headscarf ban, while
Canadians who practice a religion other than Christianity are least likely to support such a ban. Forty-four
percent of Catholics believe a headscarf ban would
be a good idea, as compared to a third of Protestants
(33%) and those with no religious affiliation (33%),
and a quarter (24%) of religious adherents who are
neither Catholic nor Protestant.
Some marked differences emerge on this question
according to ethnic background, with half (52%) of
Canadians citing French or Quebec roots supporting
a headscarf ban, and just a quarter (26%) of Canadians of non-European origin believing a headscarf ban
would be a good idea. Canadians of British (31%)
and other European (34%) origin are slightly under
the national average in their support for a headscarf
ban, while those who cite their ethnicity as simply
Canadian are slightly above average (41%).
Canadians with lower levels of educational attainment
are more likely than more highly educated Canadians
to support a headscarf ban, but even among those
with less than a high school diploma (42%), support
for a ban remains a minority position. Among those
with a university degree, three in ten (32%) believe
a headscarf ban in public places such as schools is
a good idea.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
102
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
Future of Muslims in Canada
Concern about future of Muslims in Canada
Six in ten Muslim-Canadians express concern
about the future of Muslims in Canada, with
the greatest worries about unemployment and
discrimination.
Canadian Muslims
27
In addition to being a religious minority in Canada,
the Canadian Muslim community is roughly 90 percent foreign-born. These two statuses alone would
present Canadian Muslims with some social and
economic challenges, but those challenges have surely
been intensified by the international climate that has
emerged in the wake of the September 11 attacks
on the United States. Over the past several years,
Islam has frequently been broached in discussions
of terrorism, fundamentalism and the unsuccessful
integration of newcomers into Western societies. As a
largely foreign-born minority group that has been the
subject of such scrutiny, and in some cases hostility
(the Canadian public sees Muslims as the minority
group in Canada that is most frequently discriminated
against), Canadian Muslims express concern about
a number of issues related to migration, integration
and discrimination.
35
35
December 2006
35
21
Very
concerned
Somewhat
concerned
All Canada
15
Not too
concerned
16
15
Not at all
concerned
Quebec
Concern about future of Muslims in Canada
Canadian Muslims
December 2006
By discrimination experienced
41
37
32
22
Very
concerned
15
Somewhat
concerned
23
Not too
concerned
7
20
Not at all
concerned
Have experienced discrimination
Have not experienced discrimination
Q.M13
How concerned, if at all, are you about the future of Muslims in this
country – very concerned, somewhat concerned, not too concerned or
not at all concerned?
Despite great pride in Canada and optimism about
the direction of the country, six in ten MuslimCanadians are at least somewhat concerned about the
future of their co-religionists in Canada and a quarter
(27%) say they are very concerned. Fewer than one
in five (16%) say they are not at all concerned about
the future.
Concerns about the future of Muslims in Canada
are most evident among young Muslims, seven in
ten (71%) of whom express concern about Islam’s
future in Canada. Concern is also especially high
among Muslims living in Quebec (70%, with 35%
very concerned) and Canadian Muslims who have
experienced discrimination in the last two years
(78%, with 37% very concerned).
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
103
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
Concern about issues related to
Muslims living in Canada
Canadian Muslims are more concerned about
achieving success in Canadian society – finding
employment and overcoming discrimination
– than about influences such as popular culture, secularization and gender equality.
Canadian Muslims
December 2006
Unemployment
33
Discrimination
Discrimination. When Canadian Muslims consider
life in Canada, two concerns emerge as most pressing: unemployment and discrimination. Three in ten
Canadian Muslims (30%) say they are very worried
about discrimination. Within the Muslim community,
the groups most likely to say they are very worried
about discrimination are Quebecers (44%), foreignborn Muslims with roots in Africa (41%) and young
people (39%).
30
Extremism
26
27
Decline
in religiosity
21
27
16
17
27
22
10
15
36
Influence of popular
culture on youth
Muslim women taking
on modern roles
Women (73%) are more likely than men (61%) to
be at least somewhat concerned about discrimination. This difference is consistent with the finding
that Muslim women are slightly more likely than
Muslim men to report having had an experience of
discrimination in the last two years. These findings
may be explained in part by the fact that the minority
of Muslim women who wear headscarves are more
easily identifiable as Muslim and therefore may be
subject to more discrimination.
32
24
Very worried
Not too worried
Somewhat worried
Not at all worried
23
23
24
16 4
14 2
18 6
27 1
24 3
48 3
dk/na
Q.M20
Please tell me how worried you are about each of the following issues
related to Muslims living in Canada. Are you very worried, somewhat
worried, not too worried, or not at all worried about … A decline in the
importance of religion among Canada’s Muslims … Muslim women in
Canada taking on modern roles in society … The influence of music,
movies, and television on Muslim youth in Canada … Unemployment
among Canadian Muslims … Extremism among Canadian Muslims …
Discrimination against Muslims?
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
104
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
Education and income profile – Canadian
Muslims versus population-at-large
Unemployment. Roughly on par with discrimination as an issue facing Canadian Muslims is unemployment. Although Muslims in Canada are more
highly educated than the population-at-large (45%
hold university degrees, as compared to 33% of all
Canadians), their earnings lag behind the national
average.
December 2006
Two-thirds of Canadian Muslims are at last somewhat worried about unemployment among Canadian
Muslims, and a third (33%) are very worried. Within
the Muslim community, the groups most likely to be
very concerned about unemployment are Quebecers
(46%), those who immigrated to Canada from Africa
(44%), those earning less than $30,000 annually
(43%), and foreign-born Muslims who have been in
the country for 15 years or less (40%).
Extremism. Although the vast majority of Canadian
Muslims say they see little or no support for extremist
groups such as al-Qaeda in their communities, and
very few feel a terrorist attack perpetrated by Muslim-Canadians is likely, nevertheless a slight majority
of Muslims in Canada say they are very (26%) or
somewhat (27%) worried about extremism among
Canadian Muslims.
CANADIAN
MUSLIMS
POPULATIONAT-LARGE
Education
Some elementary
Completed elementary
Some high school
Completed high school
Community college
Some university
Completed university
Post-graduate/professional
1
1
4
13
23
11
23
22
*
1
9
19
27
10
21
12
Income
Under $30,000
$30,000 to $60,000
$60,000 to $80,000
$80,000 to $100,000
$100,000 and over
dk/na
36
26
10
6
7
15
18
26
16
9
15
15
* Less than one percent
Education and income demographics (FC 2006-4)
Popular culture. Although concern about the
influence of popular culture on youth is certainly
not limited to the Muslim community, about half of
Canadian Muslims are either very (22%) or somewhat (27%) concerned about the influence of music,
movies and television on Muslim youth. Remarkably,
younger Muslims themselves express the highest levels
of concern about the influence of popular culture on
Muslim youth in Canada; a quarter of Muslims aged
18 to 29 are very (25%) worried about the influence
of popular culture on Muslim youth. Other groups
that are especially likely to be very worried about
the effects of popular culture on young Muslims are
the least affluent (32%) and least educated (32%),
foreign-born Muslims who have lived in Canada less
than five years (31%), Quebecers (28%) and those
who attend religious services frequently (28%).
There is relatively little variation in the Muslim subgroups saying they are very concerned about extremism (this figure tends to be in the high 20% range
across groups). There are some notable differences,
however, in the proportions of Muslim subgroups
claiming to be at least somewhat concerned about
extremism: women (60%) are more likely than men
(46%) to express moderate worry about extremism in
the Islamic community. Among Muslims born outside
Canada who have lived in this country for 16 years or
more, nearly six in ten (57%) are at least somewhat
worried about extremism among Canadian Muslims.
Among those who have lived in Canada less than five
years, only half (49%) express such worry.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
105
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
however, the idea of Muslim women taking on modern roles in society is the matter of least concern. Just
a quarter of Canadian Muslims are very (10%) or
somewhat (16%) worried about Muslim women in
Canada taking on modern roles in society. Fully half
of Canadian Muslims (48%) say they are not at all
worried about this phenomenon.
Secularization. Although most Canadian Muslims
believe there is a growing sense of Islamic identity
in Canada, half say they are either very (21%) or
somewhat (27%) worried about a decline in the
importance of religion among their fellow Muslims.
Young Muslims are the most worried of all groups
about a perceived decline in the importance of
religion among Canadian Muslims: fully six in ten
young Muslims say they are very (28%) or somewhat
(31%) concerned about diminished religiosity among
their fellow Muslims. Other groups who are very worried about the secularization of Muslims in Canada
include the least educated (28%), those who attend
religious services at least weekly (27%), Quebecers
(27%), and foreign-born Muslims who have been in
Canada for 15 years or less (25%).
Notably, Muslim women in Canada are statistically
as likely (28%) as their male co-religionists (23%)
to express at least moderate concern about women
taking on modern roles. Still, nearly half of both
women (47%) and men (49%) say they are not at
all concerned about this issue. Few subgroups are
especially likely to say they are very worried about
Muslim women taking on modern roles in society;
Quebecers (22%), those with a high school education
or less (19%), and those aged 18 to 29 (13%) are
more likely than average to express strong concern,
but this remains firmly a minority position across
groups.
Modern roles for women. Canadians who feel apprehensive about a growing sense of Islamic identity
among Canadian Muslims cite gender inequality as
their main reason. When Canadian Muslims are
offered a slate of concerns about life in Canada,
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
106
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
Constitutional options for Quebec
Seven in ten Quebec Muslims believe Quebec’s
present status in Canada is the best constitutional option for the province, much higher
than the level of support expressed by other
Quebecers.
Constitutional options for Quebec
Quebec Muslims
December 2006
72
There has been considerable debate in Quebec over
the influence of newcomers and minority groups on
Quebec’s separatist movement. Perhaps the most infamous remark on this matter was Jacques Parizeau’s
complaint after the 1995 referendum that “money
and the ethnic vote” had defeated his party’s efforts
toward a pro-sovereignty vote. FOCUS CANADA
data show that, at least among Quebec Muslims,
there is minimal support for Quebec independence,
or any arrangement other than Quebec’s current
status in Canada.
Present
status
7
6
4
Independence
Special
status
Sovereignty
-assocation
11
dk/na
Q.M40
Here are some constitutional options that have been proposed for
Quebec. Which one do you think would be best …?
Subsample: Muslim residents of Quebec
Seven in ten Quebec Muslims (72%) believe that
Quebec’s present status in Canada is the best constitutional option for Quebec, while proportions of
less than 10 percent support independence (7%),
special status (6%) and sovereignty-association (4%).
One in ten Quebec Muslims do not know what the
best constitutional option is for the country. This is
in sharp contrast to the views of the Quebec population overall, as described at the end of the Trends
and Issues section.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
107
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
EXTREMISM AND DOMESTIC TERRORISM
Struggle between extreme and moderate Islam
Over half of Canadians believe there is a
struggle in Canada between moderate Muslims and extremist Muslims. Fewer than half
of Muslims agree, and a large majority of this
group identify as moderates.
Struggle in Canada between moderate
and extremist Muslims
December 2006
56
50
40
As terror perpetrated in the name of Islam has preoccupied much of the world over the last five years, there
has been debate both within and outside the Muslim
world about whether extremism is growing among
Muslims – and even whether extremism threatens to
engulf the international Muslim community. Some
claim that terror perpetrated by Muslims is a fringe
movement that has little to do with Islam per se or the
wider Muslim community. Others argue that terror is
simply the most obvious manifestation of a hardening
and growing extremist movement in Islam – an extremism which moderate Muslims must be prepared
to contend with in their own communities.
28
Canadian Muslims
Population-at-large
Yes, there
is a struggle
No, there is
not a struggle
Struggle in Canada between moderate
and extremist Muslims
Population-at-large
By education
December 2006
Total
Canadians at large are more likely than Canadian
Muslims to believe that there is a struggle afoot in
Canada between moderate and extremist Muslims.
A small majority of the general public (56%) believe
that such a struggle is taking place. About one in six
(16%) do not know whether such a struggle is afoot,
and just over a quarter (28%) believe that there is no
such struggle in the Canadian Muslim community.
56
28
16
Less than high school
49
34
17
High school
50
32
19
Community college
58
Some university
58
University degree
61
Yes, there is a struggle
26
30
12
26
14
dk/na
No, there is not a struggle
Q.M26/FC43
Do you think there is a struggle in Canada between moderate Muslims
and extremist Muslims or don’t you think so?
By contrast, among Muslims only four in ten (40%)
believe that moderate and extremist Muslims are
engaged in a struggle in Canada, while half (50%)
doubt that this is so and one in ten are unsure.
Notably, it is Canadians with higher levels of educational attainment who are most likely to believe that
moderate and extremist Muslims are engaged in a
struggle in Canada. About six in ten Canadians
who have completed at least some post-secondary
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
108
16
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
education believe such a struggle is afoot, as compared to half of those who have completed high
school or less.
IN
CANADA
Struggle in Canada between moderate
and extremist Muslims
Canadian Muslims
December 2006
Among those born outside Canada, there is a marked
difference of opinion about whether Muslims in
Canada are engaged in a struggle between moderation and extremism. Among immigrants with origins
in Europe, six in ten (59%) believe that moderate
and extremist Muslims are engaged in a struggle,
while a quarter (23%) see no struggle and one in
five (18%) do not know. Among non-European immigrants, opinion is divided, with 46 percent seeing
a struggle and 45 percent seeing none. A smaller
proportion of non-European immigrants (9%) offer
no opinion.
By years in Canada
Total
40
Less than 5 years
50
34
5 to 15 years
54
11
53
12
36
16 plus years
10
41 10
49
Yes, there is a struggle
dk/na
No, there is not a struggle
Struggle in Canada between moderate
and extremist Muslims
Canadian Muslims
Some marked differences emerge among Canadian
Muslims on the question of whether, among their
co-religionists in Canada, moderates and extremists
are engaged in a struggle. Muslims who have lived
in Canada the longest are the most likely to believe
that there is a struggle afoot in the Canadian Muslim
community. Among those who have been in Canada
16 years or longer, the proportion seeing a struggle
(49%) lies almost dead centre between the national
average and the Muslim average.
By region
West
December 2006
48
Ont.
44
41
Que.
30
Yes, there is a struggle
8
50 10
56
15
dk/na
No, there is not a struggle
Q.M26
Do you think there is a struggle in Canada between moderate Muslims
and extremist Muslims or don’t you think so?
Muslims with higher incomes are more likely to see a
struggle between moderate and extreme Islam. Half
(50%) of those earning more than $60,000 annually
see such a struggle, as compared to a third (34%)
of those earning less than $30,000 annually. Those
with incomes under $30,000 are only slightly more
likely to state that no struggle is taking place within
the Canadian Muslim community, but considerably
more likely (12% versus 3%) to say they do not know.
Canadian Muslim women (45%) are more likely than
men (35%) to see a struggle between moderation
and extremism.
Views on this issue also vary by sect. Shia Muslims
(48%)13 are more likely than Sunni Muslims (36%)
to believe that a struggle between moderates and
extremists is taking place in Canada. Because Shia
13 Small sample size (n=73) – interpret with caution.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
109
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
CANADA
Canadians overall believe there is little support
for extremist groups such as al-Qaeda among
Canadian Muslims; Canadian Muslims themselves see even less.
Muslims are more heavily concentrated in the west,
this difference may partially explain the higher than
average proportion of Muslims in the Western provinces (48%)14 who see a struggle between moderate
and extreme Islam in Canada. Ontario Muslims
(41%) are more likely than Quebec Muslims (30%)
to believe that such a struggle is taking place among
Muslims in Canada.
Among public voices purporting to represent Muslims
in Canada, there tends to be conflicting representations of attitudes. Leaders of Muslim organizations in
Canada argue that extremism is rare among Muslims,
yet extremists themselves often claim to represent and
fight on behalf of a wider, generally international,
Muslim community. Both Canadian Muslims and
the public-at-large believe that, in fact, support for
extremism among Muslims in this country exists but
is minimal.
Of the minority of Muslims who believe there is
a struggle in Canada between moderate Muslims
and extremist Muslims, eight in ten (80%) say they
personally identify more with the moderates, while
14 percent identify with the extremists. Two percent
identify with neither side and four percent offer no
opinion.
Only a small minority of Canadians (13%) believe
that “most” or “many” Muslims in Canada support
Islamic extremists such as al-Qaeda, while most
believe that support for extremist groups is limited to
just some Muslims (26%), very few (51%) or none
at all (2%).
Identify more with moderates or extremists?
Canadian Muslims
IN
December 2006
80
Perceived support for extremists like al-Qaeda
December 2006
Identify
with
moderates
14
6
Identify
with
extremists
Neither/
dk/na
61
Canadian Muslims
51
Population-at-large
26
Q.M27
Which side do you identify with more in this struggle, moderate Muslims
or extremist Muslims?
Subsample: Those who believe there is a struggle between moderate and
extremist Muslims in Canada
2
13
Most/
many
support
11
Just some
support
11
Very few
support
2
None
15
9
dk/na
Q.M27.1/FC44
In your opinion, how many Muslims in Canada support Islamic extremists
like al-Qaeda? Would you say most, many, just some, or very few?
14 Small sample size (n=85) – interpret with caution.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
110
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
Canadians who believe that large proportions of
Muslims in Canada support extremist groups such as
al-Qaeda tend to have low levels of personal contact
with Muslims and negative impressions of Islam as
a religion. Among Canadians who have frequent
personal contact with Muslims, six in ten (62%)
believe that very few Muslims in Canada support
extremism, while among Canadians who have no
personal contact with Muslims, that proportion is
just four in ten (39%). Among those with a negative
impression of Islam, about a third (36%) believe that
very few Muslims support extremist groups, while a
quarter believe that most or many Canadian Muslims
support such groups. Among those with a positive
view of Islam, however, just six percent believe most
or many Canadian Muslims support extremism, while
fully two-thirds estimate that very few Muslims do.
Perhaps surprisingly, Canadians who think there is
a struggle between moderate and extreme Islam in
Canada are no more likely than those who see no such
struggle to believe that extremism enjoys considerable
support among Canadian Muslims.
Canadians with higher levels of education are less
likely to believe there is widespread support among
Canadian Muslims for extremist groups. Just six
percent of those with university degrees believe that
most (1%) or many (5%) Canadian Muslims support extremists. The proportion among those with
less than a high school diploma is one in five (10%
most, 12% many). Younger Canadians are also less
likely to estimate strong support among Muslims in
Canada for extremism. Canadians aged 18 to 29 are
considerably more likely (59%) than those aged 60
or over (41%) to imagine that “very few” Muslims
in this country support extremism.
Among Canadian Muslims, estimates of support
for extremism are lower still: just two percent believe
that most or many Muslims support extremists like
al-Qaeda, and only one in ten (11%) believe there
is some support. A majority believe very few (61%)
or no (11%) Muslims support extremists.
Muslims who have spent more time in Canada are
also less likely to see much support for extremism
among their co-religionists. Among those who have
lived in Canada for 16 years or longer, eight in ten
(80%) believe that very few or none of their Canadian co-religionists support extremism, while twothirds (67%) of those who have lived in Canada for
less than five years say the same. This difference is
attributable not so much to newer Canadians making
higher estimates of support for extremism in Canada,
as to their greater likelihood of saying they do not
know how many Canadian Muslims support extremist
groups (24%, compared to 9%).
Among Canadian Muslims, the trend by age is reversed, with older Muslims less likely to see extensive
support for Islamic extremists among their co-religionists in Canada: eight in ten Canadian Muslims aged
45 and over (79%) believe that support for groups
like al-Qaeda is limited to very few Muslims in
Canada or none at all, while the proportion among
those aged 18 to 29 is two-thirds (67%).
Compared to four European countries
surveyed by the Pew Global Attitudes Project,
Canadians at large and Canadian Muslims are
the least likely to believe that Muslims in their
country support extremist organizations such
as al-Qaeda. (See table on p.112)
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
111
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
Perceived support among Muslims for extremists like al-Qaeda
2006
MOST
MANY
JUST SOME VERY FEW
NONE
DK/NA
Canada
Muslims
Population-at-large
1
5
1
8
11
26
61
51
11
2
15
9
United States
Population-at-large
8
11
31
39
n/a
13
Great Britain
Muslim
Population-at-large
6
9
6
11
19
31
54
41
n/a
n/a
15
8
France
Muslims
Population-at-large
4
6
5
14
18
37
71
43
n/a
n/a
2
*
Germany
Muslims
Population-at-large
5
4
7
14
16
48
50
29
n/a
n/a
21
4
Spain
Muslims
Population-at-large
4
15
8
26
22
30
46
16
n/a
n/a
20
13
Russia
Population-at-large
8
20
32
28
n/a
13
Egypt
Population-at-large
6
16
30
46
n/a
3
Turkey
Population-at-large
2
11
23
42
n/a
22
Indonesia
Population-at-large
3
11
39
35
n/a
12
India
Population-at-large
16
25
33
17
n/a
9
Pakistan
Population-at-large
14
21
17
15
n/a
33
Jordan
Population-at-large
2
16
33
46
n/a
3
Nigeria
Muslims
Population-at-large
12
11
44
34
28
24
12
14
n/a
n/a
4
18
* Less than one percent
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
112
Q.M27.1/FC44/Pew
In your opinion, how many
Muslims in Canada support
Islamic extremists like al-Qaeda?
Would you say most, many, just
some or very few?
Note: “None” was not an option in
the Pew survey.
International data from Pew
Research Centre, 2006
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
Muslim-initiated terrorism in Canada
Six in ten Canadians feel that a terror attack by
Canadians with a Muslim background is likely
in the near future. Just one in ten Canadian
Muslims share this view.
Likelihood of terrorist attack in
Canada by Muslim Canadians
2006
60
One of the most marked disjunctions between Canadian public opinion overall and opinion among
Canadian Muslims relates to the perceived likelihood
of a Muslim-initiated terrorist attack perpetrated
by Canadians of a Muslim background in the near
future.15
40
3
19
21
8
Very
likely
11
Somewhat
likely
Canadian Muslims
Marked regional differences emerge in Canadians’
opinions of the likelihood of a terrorist attack perpetrated by Canadians with a Muslim background.
Quebecers, despite their generally more negative impression of Islam and greater concern about Muslim
integration, are the least likely to believe that a terrorist attack by Muslims is imminent, while Atlantic
Canadians are the most likely to believe that such an
attack is probable.
26
Not very
likely
Not at
all likely
Population-at-large
Likelihood of terrorist attack in
Canada by Muslim Canadians
Population-at-large
By region
2006
B.C.
18
42
Prairies
18
43
Ont.
Que.
Atl.
23
13
25
27
40
35
20
24
32
47
Very likely
Not very likely
Somewhat likely
Not at all likely
13
9
8
16
19
11
Q.M28/PET74
How likely do you think it is that Canada will experience terrorist attacks
in the near future carried out by Canadians with a Muslim background? Is
it very, somewhat, not very or not at all likely?
15 General population data from a FOCUS CANADA 2000-3 omnibus survey for the Pierre Trudeau Foundation. It bears noting that this
question was posed to the general population in September and October of 2006, shortly after the June arrests of 18 Muslim men in the
Greater Toronto Area on suspicion of terrorist activity, an event which heightened general anxiety about an imminent terror attack. (The
question was posed to Canadian Muslims in December 2006 and January 2007.) Still, even in surveys of the general population prior
to the Toronto arrests, the proportions of Canadians believing a terrorist attack on Canadian soil to be likely was substantially higher than
the proportion of Muslims in this survey.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
113
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
six percent believe an attack to be somewhat likely,
and none believe it is very likely. Those with a shorter
tenure in Canada are more likely to say they do not
know. Similarly, Muslim-Canadians who self-identify
primarily as Canadian are more likely (19%) than
those who self-identify primarily as Muslim (11%) to
see a Muslim-engineered terrorist attack as likely. But
across all Muslim subgroups, overwhelming majorities believe such attacks to be unlikely.
Among Canadian Muslims, those who are most
likely to believe a terrorist attack is likely in the near
future are those who have lived in Canada the longest;
still, opinion among those with the longest tenure in
Canada remains very different from the national average. Among foreign-born Muslims who have lived in
Canada for 16 years or more, one in five believe that
a terrorist attack perpetrated by Canadian Muslims is
very (5%) or somewhat (13%) likely. Among those
who have been in Canada less than five years, just
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
114
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
Muslims’ responsibility to be vigilant about extremism
Almost nine in ten Muslim-Canadians believe
that ordinary Muslims have a responsibility to
report on potentially violent extremists they
may encounter in their communities.
Degree of responsibility for reporting
potentially violent extremists
Canadian Muslims
December 2006
72
As the relationship between extremism and mainstream Islam is debated both within and outside the
Muslim community, questions about law-abiding
Muslims’ attitudes and responses toward extremism
often arise. Some critics claim that moderate Muslims
are not sufficiently strenuous in their condemnation
of terror carried out in the name of Islam. Others
claim that to suggest law-abiding Muslims bear any
responsibility for the actions of their radical co-religionists is unjust.
A great deal
15
6
Some
None
Q.M29
To what extent do you feel that ordinary, law-abiding Muslim-Canadians
have a responsibility to report on potentially violent extremists they might
encounter in their mosques and communities? Do they have a great deal
of responsibility, some responsibility or have no responsibility at all, for
reporting on such activity?
This research finds not only a large majority of
Muslims condemning extremist violence, but most
agreeing too that ordinary Muslims have a responsibility to report on extremists who might perpetrate
violence. Seven in ten Canadian Muslims (72%) say
that ordinary, law-abiding Muslims have “a great
deal” of responsibility to report on potentially violent
extremists they may encounter in their mosques and
communities. Just seven percent say that Muslims
have no such responsibility (6%) or that “it depends”
(1%).
In terms of tenure in Canada, those Muslims most
likely to say that law-abiding adherents of Islam have
a great deal or responsibility to report on potentially
violent extremists are those who have lived in Canada
longer. Eight in ten Muslims who have lived in
Canada for 16 years or longer express this opinion,
compared to seven in ten among those who have been
in Canada for 15 years or less.
There is a marked regional difference on this issue.
The view that Muslims have a great responsibility to
be vigilant about extremism is much higher among
Ontario Muslims (80%) than among Quebec Muslims (48%). One in five Quebec Muslims (20%)
say that Muslims have no responsibility at all to be
vigilant or that it depends, compared with just three
percent in Ontario and two percent in the western
provinces.
Muslims who attend religious services more frequently
are more likely than those who attend services rarely
to feel a great deal of responsibility for extremism
among their co-religionists. Eight in ten (78%) of
those who attend services at least weekly, and just
seven in ten (69%) of those who attend rarely or
never, say that law-abiding Muslims’ responsibility
to be vigilant about extremism is a great one.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
115
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
Most Canadian Muslims are aware of the arrests of 18 Muslim men and boys in the GTA on
suspicion of terrorist activity. Very few believe
such activity is justified, or have any sympathy
for the feelings or motives behind them.
IN
CANADA
Heard of arrest of 18 Muslim terrorist
suspects in Toronto
Canadian Muslims
December 2006
1
24
Seventy-five percent of Muslims in Canada have
heard about the arrests of a group of Muslim men and
boys in the Greater Toronto Area accused of plotting
terrorist attacks on Canadian targets; 24 percent are
not aware of the arrests.
Yes
No
75
dk/na
Q.M30
Have you heard about arrests of 18 Muslim boys and men in the Greater
Toronto Area earlier this year, who were accused of plotting terrorist
attacks on Canadian targets?
Awareness of the arrests is higher among those with
a longer tenure in Canada; 88 percent of those who
have been in the country for 16 years or longer report
an awareness of the arrests, as compared to seven in
ten of those who have been in Canada for less than
16 years. This disparity is likely a result of longerstanding citizens being more engaged with Canadian
news media.
Justification for terrorist attacks
Canadian Muslims
December 2006
73
Those who attend religious services frequently are
more likely (84%) than those who attend rarely
or never (67%) to report an awareness of the arrests, perhaps pointing to discussion of the arrests
in mosque communities – either in sermons or in
informal discussions among worshippers.
5
7
Attacks
completely
justified
Attacks
somewhat
justified
15
Attacks
not at all
justified
Depends/
dk/na
Q.M31
If these attacks had been carried out, do you think they would have been
completely justified, somewhat justified, not at all justified?
Subsample: Muslim-Canadians who have heard about the arrests
Among those Canadian Muslims who are aware of
these arrests, five percent believe the attacks, if carried
out, would have been completely justified. An additional seven percent believe the attacks would have
been somewhat justified. Three-quarters of Muslims
in Canada (73%) say the attacks would have been
not at all justified, while a substantial proportion say
they do not know (14%) or that it depends (1%).
those aged 18 to 29, 15 percent say the attacks would
have been at least somewhat justified, as compared to
12 percent of those aged 30 to 44 and nine percent
of those aged 45 and older. Less educated Muslims
are also more likely to believe the allegedly planned
attacks would have been justified.16
Younger Muslims are more likely to feel the attacks
would have been at least somewhat justified. Among
16 Small sample sizes, particularly in the oldest group (n=76) and the least educated group (n=61) – caution advised in the interpretation
of these numbers.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
116
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
Muslim-Canadians are more likely than other
Canadians to believe that the federal government’s anti-terrorism legislation infringes on
Canadians’ rights.
In the wake of the September 11 attacks, the effort to
find a balance between security measures to protect
against terror and the personal freedoms essential to
democratic society have preoccupied many countries,
including Canada. A modest majority of Canadians
(63%) believe that the anti-terrorism legislation
passed by the federal government shortly after 9/11
provides the government with the appropriate level
of power and authority to counter terrorist activities,
while three in ten (30%) believe the legislation infringes too much on Canadians’ rights.17
Nine percent of Canadian Muslims who had heard
about the arrests indicate that they have some sympathy with the 18 terror suspects in the GTA, while
an additional two percent expressed ambivalence.
Eight in ten (82%) say that they have no sympathy
at all with those allegedly plotting terrorist attacks on
Canadian targets.
Canada’s anti-terrorism laws
2006
63
Infringes on
rights
82
Yes, have
sympathy
No, do not
have
sympathy
30
6
Depends/
mixed
feelings
dk/na
35
4
December 2006
2
Canadian Muslims
Population-at-large
38
Have sympathy with feelings/motives
of alleged terrorists
9
CANADA
Anti-terrorism legislation
In discussing terror attacks, Muslim commentators
are sometimes accused of softening their condemnation of violence with a “yes, but….” What some
critics view as qualified condemnations are usually
expressions of the frustration Muslims feel at their
treatment either in western societies or in international conflicts. Understanding such frustrations,
Muslim commentators sometimes counter their critics,
is a crucial step in understanding terror. In an effort
to understand whether Muslims who condemn terror attacks acknowledge any sympathy with alleged
would-be terrorists, FOCUS CANADA asked those
who had heard about the arrests, “Whether or not
you think the attacks were justified, do you personally
have any sympathy with the feelings and motives of
those who allegedly wanted to carry them out?”
Canadian Muslims
IN
Appropriate
authority
22
3
Neither/both
5
dk/na
Q.M36/FC63-65
As you may know, the federal government passed anti-terrorism
legislation shortly after the September 11th attacks in 2001. Some say
Canada’s Anti-Terrorism law provides the government with the appropriate
level of power and authority to counter terrorist activities in Canada.
Others say the law infringes too much upon the civil rights of ordinary
Canadians. Which view is closer to your own?
Q.M32
Whether or not you think the attacks were justified, do you personally
have any sympathy with the feelings and motives of those who allegedly
wanted to carry them out?
Subsample: Muslim-Canadians who have heard about the arrests
17 General population data from FOCUS CANADA 2006-3.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
117
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
By comparison, Canadian Muslims are markedly
less likely to express such approval; the proportion of
Muslims believing that Canada’s anti-terror legislation grants the government appropriate authority is
fully 28 points below the national average (35%),
while the proportion believing it goes too far is eight
points higher (38%). Muslims in Canada are more
than four times as likely (22%) as Canadians at large
(5%) to say they do not know whether the power
granted by Canada’s anti-terrorism legislation is
appropriate.
IN
CANADA
Canada’s anti-terrorism laws
Canadian Muslims
By discrimination suffered
December 2006
49
32
30
38
4
Infringes on
rights
Appropriate
authority
5
Neither/both
17
25
dk/na
Have suffered discrimination
Have not suffered discrimination
A key factor influencing the views of Muslims on this
issue is whether they have been the targets of discrimination in the last two years. Among those Canadian
Muslims who say they have had a bad experience
in the last two years related to their race, ethnicity
or religion, fully half (49%) say that Canada’s antiterrorism legislation infringes too much on citizens’
rights, as compared to just a third (32%) of those who
report no discrimination in the last two years. Those
Canadian Muslims reporting discrimination may feel
that the discrimination they experienced was perpetrated under the aegis of anti-terrorism measures,
whether codified in actual legislation or not.
Q.M36
As you may know, the federal government passed anti-terrorism
legislation shortly after the September 11th attacks in 2001. Some say
Canada’s Anti-Terrorism law provides the government with the appropriate
level of power and authority to counter terrorist activities in Canada.
Others say the law infringes too much upon the civil rights of ordinary
Canadians. Which view is closer to your own?
Canadian Muslims with higher incomes are markedly
more likely to believe that the country’s anti-terrorism
legislation infringes too much on citizens’ rights. Fully
half (50%) of those earning more than $60,000 annually, as compared to 30 percent of those earning
less than $30,000 believe that the anti-terror legislation goes too far. The least affluent are not more
likely to say the authority granted by the legislation
is appropriate, but are markedly more likely to say
they do not know.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
118
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
CANADIAN FOREIGN POLICY
Peacekeeping versus peacemaking role in the world
Nine in ten Canadian Muslims think Canada’s
role in the world should focus on peace-building rather than combat roles.
Preferred role for Canadian military
2006
91
80
Canada’s self-image with regard to its military activity changed over the latter half of the 20th century,
from a middle power that “punched above its weight”
when fighting alongside its Anglo-American allies, to
a peacekeeper and “honest broker” whose campaigns
were efforts of mediation more than might. In the first
years of the 21st century, two changes have caused
Canadians to reflect on their military anew. First,
military watchers sounded the alarm about how ever
diminishing funding was curtailing the Canadian
Armed Forces’ ability to contribute meaningfully to
peacekeeping efforts. Second, the post-9/11 climate
has raised questions about both domestic security and
international action.
5
Peacekeeping
16
Canadian Muslims
Population-at-large (CBC)
Active combat
Q.M33/CBC12
When it comes to Canada’s role in the world, some people say that
Canada should focus on a peace-building role in the world. Others say
that Canada should focus on active combat roles with our allied countries.
Which view is closer to your own?
As Canadian soldiers travel to Afghanistan on a
mission that cannot be cleanly defined as either a war
or a peacekeeping mission, Canadians reflect with increasing urgency on their country’s role in the world.
Muslim-Canadians may have additional cause for
reflection, as their adoptive country executes a mission
in a predominantly Muslim country and negotiates its
role in a U.S.-led “war on terror” which has raised
ire in many quarters of the Islamic world.
Support for a peace-building role is high across
Muslim subgroups, with men and women, Muslims
of different sects and regions of origin, and different
tenures in Canada all overwhelmingly favouring this
option.
It is Muslim-Canadians with the lowest levels of
educational attainment, high school or less, who are
least likely (79%) to support the idea of a Canadian
international presence centred on peace-building.
The remainder are split between those who support
a more combat-oriented role (11%) and those unable
to offer an opinion (8%).
While most Canadians overall (four in five) believe
that Canada’s role in the world should be one centred
on peace-building,18 among Muslim-Canadians the
majority supporting a focus on peace-building is even
larger: nine in ten, as opposed to just five percent
supporting active combat with allied countries.
18 General population data from Environics’ CBC-sponsored poll, November 2006.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
119
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
Canada’s mission in Afghanistan
Muslim-Canadians strongly oppose Canadian
participation in military action in Afghanistan,
in comparison to a more divided viewpoint
among the population-at-large.
Approve Canada’s current military action
in Afghanistan
2006
68
Canada’s participation in military action in Afghanistan is the most wrenching foreign policy issue facing
the country. Those who favour the mission do so on
various grounds, from the imperative for Canada to
support its NATO allies to the imperative for Canada
to pursue humanitarian goals in a devastated and
vulnerable country. Among those who oppose the
mission, some simply see the effort as futile, while others object to what they see as Canadian participation
in a poorly planned U.S.-led war on terror.
48
73
50
All Canadian Muslims
22
Quebec Muslims
17
Approve of
current role
in Afghanistan
Population-at-large
Disapprove of
current role
in Afghanistan
Q.M34/FC63-25
Do you approve or disapprove of Canada’s participation in military action
in Afghanistan? Would that be strongly or somewhat?
There is a marked difference in opinion between
Muslim-Canadians and the general public on Canada’s mission in Afghanistan. Less than a quarter of
Muslim-Canadians approve of Canada’s participation in the military action in Afghanistan, and a slim
majority are strongly opposed. Among the general
public, by contrast, opinion is evenly divided, with
half approving the Afghan mission, and half expressing disapproval.19
Meanwhile, opposition to the mission is strongest
among Quebec Muslims, three-quarters of whom
disapprove of the mission – 63 percent strongly so.
Opposition is also higher among older MuslimCanadians (72% among those aged 45 and over) and
recent immigrants to Canada, 73 percent of whom
oppose the Afghan mission.
Among Canadian Muslims, the groups who express
the strongest support for the Afghan mission are those
between the ages of 18 and 29 (27%), those with the
highest incomes (31%) and men (27%).
19 General population data from Environics’ FOCUS CANADA 2006-3.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
120
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
IN
CANADA
Canada’s policy in the Middle East
There is no consensus among Muslims about
the balance of Canada’s policy in the Middle
East but a plurality believe it is currently too
pro-Israel.
Canada’s foreign policy in Middle East
2006
Canadian Muslims
43
32
In the long struggle between Israel and the Palestinians over contested territory, charges of bias are ubiquitous: historians, media commentators, aid workers,
and especially governments tend to face accusations
of partiality. Historically, Canadian foreign policy
regarding Middle East conflict has striven toward
neutrality and an emphasis on human rights.
Population-at-large
48
36
2
Too
pro-Israel
Strikes right
balance
4
Too pro-Arab
18
16
dk/na
Q.M35/FC63-29
Would you say that the Canadian government’s foreign policy in the
Middle East is too pro-Israel, too pro-Arab, or does it strike about the
right balance?
In early July of 2006, as conflict erupted between
Israel and Hezbollah, with Lebanon as the primary
battleground, the Harper government ended a period
of relative silence on Middle East policy and emphatically defended Israel’s bombing of Lebanon as
a measured and appropriate response to Hezbollah
rocket attacks and the kidnapping of Israeli soldiers.
Some critics decried the Harper government’s position, indicating that it marked a departure from
Canada’s traditional neutrality in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The most recent measure of Canadian public opinion
on the federal government’s Middle East policy was
fielded in FOCUS CANADA just after the outbreak
of violence in summer 2006. About half of all Canadians (48%, down from 59% just prior to the July
violence) saw the government as striking “the right
balance” in Middle East policy. A third of Canadians
(32%) saw Canada’s position as being generally too
pro-Israel, while four percent saw it as too pro-Arab.
Nearly one in five (16%) Canadians declined to offer
an opinion on this foreign policy matter.
Canadian Muslims are markedly less likely than
the general public to see Canada’s position as evenhanded. About a third (36%) of Canadian Muslims
believe Canada strikes the right balance with regard
to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, while a plurality of
just over four in ten (43%) see Canada’s policies in
the Middle East as too pro-Israel. Among Muslims
as among the general population, a substantial proportion do not state an opinion on the issue (18%).
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
121
M USLIM S
A N D
M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M
Perhaps surprisingly, Muslims who have lived in
Canada the longest are the most likely to feel that
Canadian Middle East policy is biased toward Israel.
Among Muslims who have lived in Canada for 16
years or more, a majority (54%) see Canada’s position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as too pro-Israel
while just three in ten (30%) believe Canada strikes
the right balance. Those who are relatively new to
Canada, having lived in the country for less than five
years, are not much more likely to feel Canada strikes
the right balance in Middle East policy; rather, they
are significantly more likely to express no opinion
(26%), likely as a result of unfamiliarity with Canadian policy vis-à-vis the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
IN
CANADA
Canada’s foreign policy in Middle East
Canadian Muslims
By years in Canada
December 2006
54
38
33
37
41
30
26
2
Too pro-Israel
Strikes right
balance
Less than 5 years
1
2
Too pro-Arab
5 to 15 years
18
14
dk/na
16 plus
Q.M35
Would you say that the Canadian government’s foreign policy in the
Middle East is too pro-Israel, too pro-Arab, or does it strike about the
right balance?
Among the Muslim-Canadian subgroups most
likely to see Canada’s position as too pro-Israel are
Muslims living in Quebec (53%), men (46%),
those with the highest incomes (56%), those who
attend religious services regularly (48%) and older
Muslims (50%).
Those Canadian Muslims who are more likely to
see Canadian policy as striking the right balance
between Israel and the Arabs include those who attend religious services rarely or never (41%), younger
Muslims (42%) and those with the lowest levels of
education (46%).
No more than a handful of Muslims in any group
see Canada’s position on the Middle East as too
pro-Arab.
Religious attendance is also a significant correlate
of opinion on Canadian Middle East policy. Half
(48%) of Canadian Muslims who attend religious
services at least once a week believe that Canada
is biased toward Israel, as compared to just a third
(34%) of those who attend religious services rarely
or never.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
122
SECTION FOUR
THE
Provincial Scene
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
S C E N E
PROVINCIAL OVERVIEW
T
he findings from this quarter ’s FOCUS
CANADA survey reveal that health care continues to be the leading issue in most provinces, and
is a major issue even when it does not lead the agenda (with the exception of Newfoundland/Labrador). At the same time, unemployment and natural
resource issues (fishing and farming) are of significant public interest in a number of provinces. Over
the last quarter, provincial government satisfaction
is stable in most provinces; in line with the personal
popularity of their premiers, Newfoundland/Labrador and Manitoba continue to lead the country in
this area, while satisfaction is lowest in Quebec and
Nova Scotia.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
125
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
S C E N E
Most important issue
Health care continues to be the leading provincial issue across most of the country, but
unemployment continues to hold public attention in Atlantic Canada.
and Newfoundland/Labrador, where it continues
to be eclipsed by unemployment, and where it has
fallen behind natural resource and population mobility issues. Since October, the proportion mentioning health care has declined in British Columbia,
Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Newfoundland/
Labrador, and has increased in Quebec and New
Brunswick. The proportions mentioning unemployment are up in Manitoba, Newfoundland/Labrador, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Although
the environment has moved to the top of the public
agenda on the national level, it is not as great a provincial concern in most provinces.
Just as health care is identified as the most important issue facing Canada today, it is also cited as
the leading provincial issue in most provinces. The
exceptions include: New Brunswick, where it is in
a close second place, behind unemployment; Nova
Scotia, where it shares the top of the province’s public agenda with the economy and unemployment;
Most important issue facing the province
Top mentions
December 2006
Health care
Environment/pollution
Unemployment
Economy/interest rates
Poverty/homelessness
Education issues
Taxes
Deficit/public debt/gov’t spending
Social issues/cuts to social programs
Governance/leadership issues
Farming/fisheries/forestry
Crime/law and order
Hydro/energy/electricity
National unity/Quebec
Infrastructure/roads/transit
Housing costs/property issues
Aboriginal/native issues
Industry/labour/unions
Population issues
Sustainable growth/urban sprawl
Job-/wage-related
Gas prices
* Less than one percent
†
B.C.
24
7
6
3
11
3
2
4
1
4
3
2
1
–
*
3
3
2
–
–
–
–
ALB.
13
6
3
6
4
5
2
4
2
5
3
3
1
–
3
6
1
3
–
5
1
2
SASK.
14
2
10
11
2
6
3
*
1
2
9
1
–
–
–
–
3
1
5
–
3
1
MAN.
21
4
9
5
1
3
1
2
2
1
5
7
1
–
7
1
4
2
2
–
–
–
Caution – small sample sizes
Q.3
What would you consider to be the most important issue facing your province today?
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
126
ONT.
25
12
8
4
2
4
5
3
3
4
*
2
3
–
2
*
1
*
*
*
*
1
QUE.
26
9
3
7
4
3
3
4
3
10
2
–
*
7
*
*
*
*
–
*
1
*
N.B.†
22
6
27
8
2
2
–
–
2
1
1
2
3
–
–
–
–
–
3
–
6
3
N.S.†
19
7
19
18
–
3
4
3
6
2
1
4
–
–
–
–
–
1
3
–
–
–
NFLD.†
4
–
41
6
1
*
–
3
3
4
9
–
–
–
–
–
–
1
9
–
1
–
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
S C E N E
Government satisfaction
Canadians’ satisfaction with their provincial
government is stable in most provinces since
October. The government of Newfoundland/
Labrador continues to lead the country in
terms of residents’ satisfaction, followed by
Manitoba, while the governments in Quebec
and Nova Scotia receive the lowest ratings in
the country.
Provincial government satisfaction
December 2006
B.C.
14
Alb.
This quarter’s survey finds a wide range in the
degree of satisfaction with provincial governments.
Remaining at the top of the list are Newfoundland/
Labrador and Manitoba, where three-quarters or
more each express satisfaction with their provincial
government. In New Brunswick and Alberta, about
two-thirds of residents each give their provincial government a positive rating, as do six in ten residents
each in British Columbia, Ontario and Saskatchewan.
34
Sask.
11
Man.
11
Ont.
45
N.B.*
13
13
39
56
45
12
20
65
8
18
21
50
12
Nfld./Lab.*
21
34
7
Que.
N.S.*
46
16 7
22
18
28
19
14
8
30
33
15
55
Very satisfied
Somewhat dissatisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Very dissatisfied
10 1
* Caution – small sample size
Q.81
Would you say that you are very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat
dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with your present provincial government?
One-half of residents express satisfaction with their
provincial government in Quebec and Nova Scotia, which are the lowest ranked governments in
the country. Since October, overall satisfaction has
declined significantly in Nova Scotia and Alberta
and more modestly in Ontario. Satisfaction in Newfoundland/Labrador, New Brunswick, Quebec,
Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia is
essentially unchanged since October.
Looking at the year-to-year change in satisfaction,
a number of provincial governments have gained
ground over the past 12 months, with the largest
increases occurring in New Brunswick and Quebec.
There has been a decline in satisfaction in Nova
Scotia, while the level in Ontario, Alberta and
Manitoba is similar to that found a year ago.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
127
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
S C E N E
Provincial report card
Report card ratings have generally declined in
New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan
and Alberta, and results are mixed in the remaining provinces.
Looking only at the highest rating in each area,
Newfoundland/Labrador leads in the areas of federal-provincial relations, protection of the environment, Aboriginal and native issues, running an honest and ethical government, crime and justice, and
shares first place ranking with Alberta in the area of
debt and deficit reduction. Alberta also receives the
highest rankings in the areas of economic development and taxation. Manitoba leads in the areas of
education and social programs, while New Brunswick is highest-ranked in the area of health care.
Approval ratings have declined in most areas in
Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan,
and Alberta, while the remaining provinces receive
mixed report cards.
A comparison of approval ratings across the provinces on the 11 portfolio areas included in the survey shows that Newfoundland/Labrador garners the
highest approval ratings in Canada, placing either
first or second in 10 areas. It is followed by New
Brunswick, placing first or second in five areas, and
Alberta and Manitoba, placing first or second in
four areas.
Nova Scotia scores lowest in six areas – environmental protection, education, social programs, debt
and deficit reduction, taxation, and crime and justice. Saskatchewan receives the lowest ranking in
federal-provincial relations and economic development, and shares last place ranking with Ontario
and British Columbia in the area of running an
Provincial report card
Approve
December 2006
B.C.
ALB.
SASK.
MAN.
ONT.
QUE.
N.B.*
N.S.*
NFLD.*
Federal-provincial relations
60
62
46
68
52
54
65
64
76
Economic development
65
74
44
58
57
54
57
51
69
Protection of environment
43
47
52
56
38
49
48
36
65
Health care
27
48
49
42
39
35
52
32
49
Education
42
45
57
65
54
45
64
34
49
Social programs
39
54
51
66
51
51
59
36
59
Debt/deficit reduction
53
78
44
47
43
47
50
35
78
Taxation
48
61
49
54
40
40
44
35
60
Aboriginal and native issues
52
51
35
47
28
43
48
48
64
Running an honest, ethical gov’t
47
68
47
60
47
48
68
48
72
Crime and justice
42
45
46
49
45
41
57
38
68
* Caution – small sample size
Q.82
Generally speaking, do you approve or disapprove of the way your current provincial government is handling ...?
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
128
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
S C E N E
six in ten approve of their provincial premier in Saskatchewan, about half approve of their provincial
premiers in British Columbia and Ontario, and just
over four in ten express approval of their premier in
Nova Scotia. Four in ten Quebec residents express
approval of their premier.
honest and ethical government. British Columbia
also receives the lowest ranking in the area of health
care. Ontario continues to receive the lowest ranking
in Aboriginal and native issues.
Federal-provincial relations and economic development are seen as well-handled areas in most provinces. Health care remains among the lowest-ranked
areas in most provinces.
Across most of the country, the premiers’ personal
popularity runs below the overall satisfaction ratings for governments. The exceptions are Alberta
and Saskatchewan, where the proportions are almost even. The approval rating of New Brunswick’s
Shawn Graham is far higher than that garnered by
his predecessor last December, while that for Nova
Scotia’s Rodney MacDonald is much lower than
that received by his predecessor a year ago.
Approval of the premier
Newfoundland/Labrador’s Danny Williams
continues to lead all premiers; Quebec’s Jean
Charest has seen his popularity rise, but he
remains the least popular premier. Since
October, approval ratings have also risen
for British Columbia’s Gordon Campbell,
Manitoba’s Gary Doer and Saskatchewan’s
Lorne Calvert, while Nova Scotia’s Rodney
MacDonald has lost ground.
Premier approval
December 2006
B.C.
50
47
Alb.
Approval ratings for Ontario’s Dalton McGuinty
and Newfoundland/Labrador’s Danny Williams
have remained stable over the past quarter. Quebec’s
Jean Charest, British Columbia’s Gordon Campbell, Manitoba’s Gary Doer and Saskatchewan’s
Lorne Calvert have seen increases in popularity,
while Rodney MacDonald of Nova Scotia has experienced a decline in his personal standing with
residents.
65
Sask.
58
35
Man.
71
Ont.
24
47
Que.
46
40
N.B.*
55
64
N.S.*
20
43
Nfld./Lab.*
46
80
Approve
Newfoundland/Labrador’s Danny Williams remains Canada’s most popular premier, with approval from eight in ten constituents. Seven in
ten Manitobans express approval of Gary Doer.
New premiers – Alberta’s Ed Stelmach and New
Brunswick’s Shawn Graham – are popular with
two-thirds of the residents in their provinces. About
9
16
Disapprove
* Caution – small sample size
Q.118
Do you approve or disapprove of the way [name of premier] is handling
his job as premier of [province]?
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
129
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
S C E N E
O N TA R I O
O
cized Minister Smitherman for not moving quickly
enough to prevent radiation overdoses.
n November 6, the Ontario government announced more than $41 million in capital
funding for the province’s public hospitals for critical upgrades and repairs. The funding is provided
through the government’s Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund, which allows hospitals to decide where
to invest the funds and carry out projects quickly.
Every hospital in the province will receive a minimum of $150,000.
An amendment to the Ontario Human Rights Code
that prevents seniors from facing age discrimination
at work and bans mandatory retirement went into
effect on December 12. Mandatory retirement has
already been banned in Quebec, Alberta, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island and all three territories.
Jim Bradley, the minister responsible for seniors,
stated that older workers should be evaluated on
their performance and not on assumptions about
their age. The province estimates that 4,000 of the
100,000 residents (on average) who turn 65 each
year will take advantage of the change. Some union
leaders are worried that the government may be paving the way to increase the age at which people can
access government pensions, as this is what occurred
in both the United States and the United Kingdom
following those countries’ bans on mandatory retirement.
Also on the health care front, the Ontario government on December 12 introduced an omnibus bill
that aims to strengthen the rights of patients and
make other changes to the health care system. Some
highlights of the bill include: the creation of a research centre for infectious diseases, similar to the
U.S. Centers for Disease Control; streamlining patient complaints; and changing the power of health
profession regulatory bodies (23 in the province,
all with different systems and standards on dealing
with complaints) by establishing a new authority
that would have the ability to order interim suspensions for practitioners, if a preliminary investigation
believes that continued practice poses a serious risk
to the public.
In early December, Ontario’s integrity commissioner
issued a report recommending a raise for provincial
politicians or risk that the Ontario legislature would
become a “farm team” for the House of Commons.
On December 12, the government introduced legislation to allow the pay increase, and announced
that the sitting of the legislature would be extended
to ensure the bill passed before the Christmas break.
The premier stated that the increase was fair and
justifiable, and decreased the gap between Ontario
provincial politicians and their federal counterparts
from 40 percent to 25 percent. The pay increase was
supported by the Progressive Conservatives but was
criticized by the NDP. Organizations such as the
National Citizens’ Coalition and the Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation also criticized the pay increase
and accused the government of trying to push the
In early December (a few days before the current
survey was conducted), the Ontario Auditor General unearthed millions in charges on taxpayer-funded
credit cards that were not backed up by credit card
slips or other paperwork.
In his report, the Auditor General also raised the
problem of children getting CT scans being exposed to radiation levels that should only be used on
adults. Health Minister George Smitherman said
a safety committee is looking into the problem and
that the information from the report has been sent to
all Ontario hospitals. Opposition leaders have criti-
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
130
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
S C E N E
Most important issue
legislation through quickly in the hopes that voters
would forget this action before the next election.
Health care remains high on the public agenda, but has lost some salience since October
after rebounding in the previous quarter.
Public satisfaction with the McGuinty government
has declined after rebounding in the previous quarter, and Ontarians’ assessments of the government’s
handling of key policy areas has stabilized or declined in nearly all areas (with the exception of education, which is up noticeably). Mr. McGuinty’s
personal popularity has levelled off after declining
for two consecutive quarters, but he continues to run
lower than that of his government.
When Ontarians are asked to name the most important problem facing their province (asked unprompted), one-quarter (25%, down 3 points from
October) identify health care. Health care has been
the top-rated issue over the past five years, surpassed
only briefly by concerns about terrorism in the third
quarter of 2001.
In second place, environment/pollution – a key issue
that is receiving much media attention – is mentioned
by one in ten (12%, up 3 points). Other issues include unemployment (8%, up 3), taxes (5%), education (4%, down 4), issues related to government
and leadership (4%, down 3), and economy/interest
rates (4%).
Most important issue facing Ontario today
Top mentions December 2006
Health care
25
Environment/pollution
12
Unemployment
8
Taxes
5
Education
4
Economy/interest rates
4
Governance/leadership issues
4
Q.3
In your opinion, what is the most important problem facing your province
today?
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
131
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
S C E N E
Government satisfaction
Provincial report card
Approval of the McGuinty government has
declined after rebounding in the previous
quarter.
The McGuinty government receives a mixed
report card for its handling of key policy areas, with a significant decline in its performance on taxation, and a noticeable increase
in its handling of education.
After rebounding in the previous quarter, public
satisfaction with the McGuinty government has declined and is back to the level found in June. The
current survey finds that a modest majority (57%)
of Ontarians now say they are satisfied with the government at Queen’s Park; this proportion is down
seven points from October, which marked a high
point for the McGuinty government.
Over the past quarter, public satisfaction with the
Ontario government’s handling of key policy areas
has stabilized or declined in nearly all areas. The
highest level of satisfaction continues to be found in
the area of economic development (57%), as well
as in education (54%). Half of Ontarians approve
of the government’s handling of federal-provincial
relations and social programs. Four in ten or more
each approve of the government’s performance on
Ontario government satisfaction
1993 - 2006
70
64
57
40
35
26
Satisfied
Dissatisfied
D D O O O O O O O Ja Mr Jl O Ja Mr Jn S D Ap Jl O D Mr Jl O D Mr Jn O D
93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 02 02 02 03 03 03 03 03 04 04 04 04 05 05 05 05 06 06 06 06
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
132
Q.81
Would you say that you are very
satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat
dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with your
present provincial government?
Note: Prior to December 2003, figures
based on eligible Ontario voters; as of
December 2003, figures based on all
Ontario respondents.
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
S C E N E
up 17 from March). Satisfaction has fallen noticeably for taxation (down 12), with modest declines
(of between 3 and 4 points) in the areas of running
an honest and ethical government, debt and deficit
reduction, economic development, and protection of
the environment. Approval scores have remained essentially unchanged in five areas – federal-provincial
relations, social programs, crime and justice, health
care, and Aboriginal and native issues.
running an honest and ethical government, crime
and justice, debt and deficit reduction, taxation,
health care and protection of the environment. The
government continues to receive its least positive assessment in the area of Aboriginal and native issues
(28%).
An area of strength for the government is its handling
of education (54%, up 10 points since October and
Ontario report card
Approve
1994 - 2006
O
94
O
95
O
96
O
97
O
98
O
99
O
00
O
01
O
02
D
03
D
04
MR
05
JL
05
O
05
D
05
Mr
06
Jn
06
O
06
D
06
Economic development
22
36
35
41
48
56
63 62
63
62
51
54
60
59
53
54
63
60
57
Education
33
36
25
21
26
26
28
30
46
–
–
–
46
50
37
50
44
54
Federal-provincial
relations
37
51
44
47
46
51
57
59
55
70
54
52
57
57
58
54
54
53
52
Social programs
–
–
–
31
44
33
46
47
41
54
42
48
50
53
51
49
49
51
51
Running honest/
ethical gov't
–
–
–
–
–
35
51
56
49
56
43
38
46
45
47
54
51
51
47
Crime and justice
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
39
36
45
45
45
Debt and deficit
reduction*
14
38
47
46
58
46
56
64
55
48
39
30
42
47
45
43
46
47
43
41
Taxation
–
–
32
30
41
37
50
55
47
41
33
34
41
49
40
39
42
52
40
Health care
38
38
28
22
26
25
30
30
27
42
28
26
36
37
32
33
38
39
39
Protection of environment
50
49
45
39
37
33
38
39
40
53
45
39
42
46
42
43
42
41
38
Aboriginal and
native issues**
27
25
23
–
–
25
39
38
42
46
39
38
44
49
38
33
28
30
28
* Prior to October 1999, Deficit reduction
** Prior to January 2000, Indian and native issues
Q.82
Generally speaking, do you approve or disapprove of the way your current provincial government is handling ...?
Note: Prior to December 2003, figures based on eligible Ontario voters; as of December 2003, figures based on all Ontario respondents.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
133
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
S C E N E
Approval of the premier
After losing ground over the two previous quarters,
approval of Dalton McGuinty has levelled off. The
latest survey shows 47 percent approve of the way
Dalton McGuinty is handling his job as premier, up
two points from October but 18 points higher than
his personal low point found in July 2004. Similar
to most premiers, Mr. McGuinty continues to run
lower than his government in popularity.
Just under half of Ontarians continue to approve of Dalton McGuinty’s performance as
premier. His popularity has levelled off after
declining for two consecutive quarters.
Ontario premier approval
1995 - 2006
50
48 47
45 46
36
14
Approve
Disapprove
dk/na
7 8
O O O O O O O Ja Mr Jl O Ja Mr Jn S D Ap Jl O D Mr Jl O D Mr Jn O D
95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 02 02 02 03 03 03 03 03 04 04 04 04 05 05 05 05 06 06 06 06
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
134
Q.118
Do you approve or disapprove of the way
Dalton McGuinty is handling his job as
premier of Ontario?
Note: Prior to 2005, asked of eligible
voters only; as of 2005, asked of all
Ontario respondents
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
S C E N E
QUEBEC
I
n mid-November, bar owners in Quebec went to
the Quebec Superior Court to seek an injunction
to grant them a reprieve from the province’s smoking
ban, which went into effect on May 31. The law
bans smoking in restaurants, bars and other places,
but permits it on terraces attached to businesses.
One of the plaintiffs in the case has stated that threequarters of the 8,000 bars in the province have been
adversely affected economically from the smoking
ban. On November 20, a judge rejected their request for an injunction, but the bar owners promise
to continue the fight, with the next step being a constitutional challenge of the law next spring.
On December 18, in an evaluation of the last session of the legislature, Premier Charest (in what
has been portrayed as an election speech) stated
that Quebec was doing better than it was before the
Liberals took power in 2003. He stated that the unemployment rate has dropped to eight percent from
9.3 percent, the number of people in the workforce
had increased to 200,000, there were 50,000 fewer
people on social assistance, and the province’s credit
rating has improved on foreign markets (resulting in
an annual savings of $50 million in interest on the
provincial debt). He also stated that more money
was available for families, roads and infrastructure,
but did not make any reference to the government’s
unfilled campaign promise to cut taxes. Premier
Charest said that, in 2007, his government will intensify negotiations with Ottawa to deal with the fiscal imbalance, work to get junk food out of schools,
come up with a strategy to help the elderly, settle the
issue of post-secondary education financing with the
federal government, and hold a commission on the
future of agriculture and a forum with Aboriginal
Peoples.
On November 26, hundreds of parents protested on
the streets of Montreal, denouncing the government
for inequality in the $7-a-day day care system. The
parents complained that their children were being
treated as second-class citizens because private day
care receives less funding than government-run centres. Private day care centres in the province have
charged additional fees because they receive $7 less
per day in government subsidies per child. More
than half of the private day care centres in the province have been visited by government inspectors and
about 100 of them were sent warnings that if they
did not reduce their fees to $7 per day by December
6, they could risk losing their provincial subsidies
and licences. Quebec’s private day care association
filed a law suit in August to ensure that the private
day cares are allowed to charge extra fees, but the
case before the Quebec Superior Court is not expected to be heard until February 2007. A group
of Quebec parents is also taking the government to
court for the right to pay more than $7 per day for
their children’s day care services.
Public confidence in the Charest government has
levelled off, following a sizeable increase in the previous quarter. Similarly, public approval of its handling of key policy areas has also levelled of in most
areas, after increasing across the board in October.
Premier Charest’s personal popularity has improved
for two consecutive quarters, but he continues to be
the least popular premier in the country. Both government satisfaction and premier approval ratings
are above the levels recorded a year ago.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
135
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
S C E N E
Most important issue
Health care continues to top the public agenda in Quebec, and its salience has increased
over the past quarter.
Most important issue facing Quebec today
Top mentions
December 2006
Health care
When Quebecers are asked to name the most important problem facing their province, one-quarter
identify health care (26%, up 5 points since October); this remains below the high point recorded
in October 2004. In a distant second place are issues related to government and leadership (a total
of 10%), including the provincial government in
general, poor government and leadership, and government and politics, and the environment (9%, up
3).
26
Governance/leadership issues
10
Environment/pollution
9
Economy/interest rates
7
National unity/Quebec
7
Poverty/homelessness
4
Deficit/public debt/gov’t spending
4
Q.3
In your opinion, what is the most important problem facing your province
today?
Also mentioned are issues of the economy and interest rates (7%) and national unity (7%). After a noticeable increase in the previous quarter (most likely
related to the collapse of a bridge in Laval, Quebec
while that survey was in field), concern over infrastructure, roads and transit (less than 1%, down 6
points) has fallen back to the level found in June.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
136
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
S C E N E
Government satisfaction
ue to be satisfied with their provincial government,
down one point from October, but well above the
36-percent level recorded a year ago. This marks
the first time since the government came into power
that it has registered back-to-back satisfaction levels
at the majority level.
Public approval of the Charest government
has levelled off since October, after a sizeable
increase in the previous quarter.
Satisfaction with the Charest government has levelled off following strong growth over the previous
three months. One-half of Quebecers (51%) contin-
Quebec government satisfaction
1994 - 2006
61
52 51
45 47
31
Satisfied
Dissatisfied
D O O O O O O O Ja Mr Jl O Ja Mr Jn O D Ap Jl O D Mr Jl O D Mr Jn O D
94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 02 02 02 03 03 03 03 03 04 04 04 04 05 05 05 05 06 06 06 06
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
137
Q.81
Would you say that you are very
satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat
dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with your
present provincial government?
Note: Prior to December 2003, figures
based on eligible Quebec voters; as of
December 2003, figures based on all
Quebec respondents.
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
S C E N E
Provincial report card
Approval of the Charest government’s handling of most policy areas has levelled off after
increasing across the board in the previous
quarter, but approval is up noticeably in most
areas since the first quarter of 2006.
relations, economic development, social programs,
protection of the environment, and running an honest and ethical government, and just under half approve in the areas of debt and deficit reduction, and
education. About four in ten each approve of its
handling of Aboriginal and native issues, crime and
justice, and taxation. The government continues
to receive low marks for its handling of health care
(35%). Approval scores have remained stable in
most areas, except for marginal increases for social
programs (up 4 points), and Aboriginal and native
issues (up 3), and a marginal decline for health care
(down 3).
Along with the overall satisfaction with the Charest
government, public assessment of the government’s
handling of most policy areas has remained stable
over the past quarter, after increasing across the
board in the previous quarter. However, approval ratings have improved noticeably since March
2006. About half of Quebecers approve of the
Quebec government’s handling of federal-provincial
Quebec report card
Approve
1994 - 2006
O
94
O
95
O
96
O
97
O
98
O
99
O
00
O
01
O
02
D
03
D
04
MR
05
JL
05
O
05
D
05
Mr
06
Jn
06
O
06
D
06
Federal-provincial
relations
33
35
35
38
42
38
41
44
45
56
49
41
42
46
45
52
49
52
54
Economic development
40
31
33
46
53
41
59
60
64
52
49
38
44
43
47
41
41
52
54
Social programs
–
–
–
33
41
27
45
46
49
43
45
35
45
39
40
39
36
47
51
Protection of environment
50
58
62
64
64
60
56
58
61
59
51
40
49
46
48
38
40
48
49
Running honest/
ethical gov't
–
–
–
–
–
47
58
59
54
56
46
35
40
44
46
43
33
48
48
Debt and deficit
reduction*
18
19
38
47
61
58
59
60
58
50
45
30
41
39
40
38
35
46
47
Education
53
42
39
42
33
24
39
44
46
55
41
24
35
33
35
32
31
43
45
Aboriginal and
native issues**
20
25
28
–
–
30
38
39
45
57
35
30
41
38
42
33
25
40
43
Crime and justice
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
51
34
39
42
41
Taxation
–
–
24
20
26
15
25
29
33
29
25
24
30
33
34
25
27
41
40
Health care
55
42
33
20
20
13
26
26
28
34
27
25
37
36
39
36
29
38
35
* Prior to October 1999, Deficit reduction
** Prior to January 2000, Indian and native issues
Q.82
Generally speaking, do you approve or disapprove of the way your current provincial government is handling ...?
Note: Prior to December 2003, figures based on eligible Quebec voters; as of December 2003, figures based on all Quebec respondents.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
138
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
S C E N E
Approval of the premier
performance as premier of the province, up five
points since October and up 14 from June, and at
the highest level in over two years. The premier’s
personal popularity continues to run lower than that
of his government, but is 13 points above the level
recorded a year ago. However, Mr. Charest remains
the least popular premier in the country.
Four in ten Quebecers approve of Jean
Charest’s performance as premier; and his
popularity has increased over the past two
quarters.
Approval of Premier Charest’s performance has
improved for two consecutive quarters. Four in ten
(40%) Quebecers now approve of Mr. Charest’s
Quebec premier approval
1996 - 2006
67
59
35
22
55
40
Approve
Disapprove
11
dk/na
6 6
O O O O O O Ja Mr Jl O Ja Mr Jn O D Ap Jl O D Mr Jl O D Mr Jn O D
96 97 98 99 00 01 02 02 02 02 03 03 03 03 03 04 04 04 04 05 05 05 05 06 06 06 06
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
139
Q.118
Do you approve or disapprove of the
way Jean Charest is handling his job as
premier of Quebec?
Note: Prior to 2005, asked of eligible
voters only; as of 2005, asked of all
Quebec respondents
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
S C E N E
B R I T I S H C O LU M B I A
n December 2, B.C.’s Health Minister
George Abbott reached a deal with the province’s first private emergency health care facility that
secured a promise that the facility will adhere to the
Canada Health Act. The False Creek Urgent Care
Centre, which was opening on December 1, was
going to charge fees for medically necessary procedures, in contravention of the Canada Health Act.
The day before the opening, the government authorized the province’s Medical Services Commission
to send inspectors to the clinic, and if it was found
to be breaking the law, the Commission would seek
an injunction to shut it down. However, in the deal
reached with the clinic, patients will not be charged
a fee and will instead use their health care card.
O
On December 19 (while the current survey was
in field), B.C. Education Minister Shirley Bond
announced that the province’s school boards will
receive $470 million in increased funding, which
she characterized as “…the single largest increase
in education funding ever.” The increase includes:
$20 million in operating funding announced earlier in 2006, $196 million to fully fund negotiated
agreements reached with employees in the education
sector, and $254 million in one-time funding for negotiated settlements. Although enrolment in public
schools in 2006-07 declined by 12,336 students
from the previous year, funding grew from $4.027
billion in 2005-06 to more than $4.47 billion in
2006-07.
Also on the health front, Health Minister George
Abbott announced on December 21 that the government was providing an additional $25 million
to provincial health authorities. This spending included: $12.5 million in spending on more than
850 hip and knee joint replacement surgeries, $7.5
million to address wait time priorities, and $5 million to improve health system response to increased
demands on critical care facilities.
Public approval of the B.C. government has held
stable over the past two quarters. Report card ratings in key policy areas remain mixed, with satisfaction down noticeably in the areas of taxation
and federal-provincial relations. Premier Gordon
Campbell’s personal popularity has rebounded after
declining in the previous quarter. Moreover, both
government satisfaction and premier approval are
up from the levels found a year ago.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
140
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
S C E N E
Most important issue
Most important issue facing
British Columbia today
Health care continues to top the public agenda, but its salience has declined noticeably.
Top mentions December 2006
When British Columbians are asked to name the
most important problem facing their province, onequarter (24%) mention health care, down 10 points
from October. One in ten mention poverty and
homelessness (11%, up 5). Also mentioned are issues of the environment (7%), unemployment (6%,
up 5), government and leadership issues (4%), and
public debt and deficit (4%). A number of other
issues are identified, but none by more than three
percent of the population.
Health care
24
Poverty/homelessness
11
Environment/pollution
7
Unemployment
6
Governance/leadership issues
4
Deficit/public debt/gov’t spending
4
Q.3
In your opinion, what is the most important problem facing your province
today?
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
141
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
S C E N E
Government satisfaction
Provincial report card
Satisfaction with the Campbell government
has remained stable over the past six months.
The Campbell government receives a mixed
report card for its handling of key policy areas; approval of the government’s handling is
down noticeably in the areas of taxation and
federal-provincial relations.
Public confidence in the B.C. government has held
stable over the past six months. The current survey finds that six in ten British Columbians (60%)
now say they are satisfied with the government, up
two points since October; and on par with the level
recorded in July 2005 following the last provincial
election.
The B.C. government continues to receive mixed
reviews for its performance in key policy areas. Six
in ten or more each approve of the government’s
handling of economic development and federal-provincial relations, and about one-half each approve in
the areas of debt and deficit reduction, Aboriginal
and native issues, taxation, and running an honest
and ethical government.
British Columbia government satisfaction
1993 - 2006
58 60
55
39 39
36
Satisfied
Dissatisfied
D D O O O O O O O Ja Mr Jl O Ja Mr Jn O D Ap Jl O D Mr Jl O D Mr Jn O D
93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 02 02 02 03 03 03 03 03 04 04 04 04 05 05 05 05 06 06 06 06
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
142
Q.81
Would you say that you are very
satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat
dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with your
present provincial government?
Note: Prior to December 2003, figures
based on eligible British Columbia voters;
as of December 2003, figures based on
all British Columbia respondents.
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
S C E N E
and justice, and running an honest and ethical government. Satisfaction has fallen noticeably in the
areas of taxation (down 13 points) and federal-provincial relations (down 10), with modest declines in
the areas of health care, economic development, and
debt and deficit reduction (the latter two have been
showing a downward trend over the past two quarters). Approval scores have remained essentially
unchanged in the areas of Aboriginal and native
issues, education and social programs.
About four in ten each approve of the government’s
handling of protection of the environment, education, crime and justice, and social programs. The
government continues to receive its lowing rating for
its performance on health care (27%).
Since October, approval scores have risen in three
areas, declined in five and remained essentially unchanged in three. There have been modest increases
in the areas of protection of the environment, crime
British Columbia report card
Approve
1994 - 2006
O
94
O
95
O
96
O
97
O
98
O
99
O
00
O
01
O
02
D
03
D
04
MR
05
JL
05
O
05
D
05
Mr
06
Jn
06
O
06
D
06
Economic development
45
37
32
40
21
21
29
59
45
52
51
58
68
61
73
72
72
68
65
Federal-provincial
relations
48
42
44
49
34
28
50
69
53
64
52
57
66
59
66
70
68
70
60
Debt and deficit
reduction*
19
16
14
19
16
17
19
59
44
46
45
59
58
57
63
59
66
56
53
Aboriginal and
native issues**
33
19
27
–
–
23
30
42
39
40
35
38
51
46
49
47
47
50
52
Taxation
–
–
23
21
18
18
25
58
46
45
41
47
56
50
54
47
52
61
48
Running honest/
ethical gov't
–
–
–
–
–
11
25
68
49
41
29
34
51
33
46
46
49
44
47
Protection of environment
50
58
56
59
41
42
50
50
39
48
36
33
52
41
47
57
45
39
43
Education
38
30
38
27
24
27
38
55
34
34
32
24
46
26
35
43
39
42
42
Crime and justice
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
41
37
52
38
42
Social programs
–
–
–
30
35
25
37
55
36
36
27
30
47
37
38
45
36
38
39
Health care
49
46
45
43
22
23
20
39
23
23
18
22
42
28
30
30
33
32
27
* Prior to October 1999, Deficit reduction
** Prior to January 2000, Indian and native issues
Q.82
Generally speaking, do you approve or disapprove of the way your current provincial government is handling ...?
Note: Prior to December 2003, figures based on eligible British Columbia voters; as of December 2003, figures based on all British Columbia respondents.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
143
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
S C E N E
Approval of the premier
British Columbians are divided in their satisfaction,
with 50 percent now expressing satisfaction with
the job he is doing as premier (up 6 points from
October and above the 45-percent level recorded 12
months ago), compared to 47 percent who say they
are dissatisfied (down 4).
Public approval for Premier Gordon Campbell
has rebounded since October, after declining
in the previous quarter.
After declining in the previous quarter, approval ratings for Premier Gordon Campbell have rebounded.
British Columbia premier approval
1996 - 2006
60
51 50
44
47
27
16
Approve
Disapprove
dk/na
5 3
O O O O O O Ja Mr Jl O Ja Mr Jn O D Ap Jl O D Mr Jl O D Mr Jn O D
96 97 98 99 00 01 02 02 02 02 03 03 03 03 03 04 04 04 04 05 05 05 05 06 06 06 06
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
144
Q.118
Do you approve or disapprove of the way
Gordon Campbell is handling his job as
premier of British Columbia?
Note: Prior to 2005, asked of eligible
voters only; as of 2005, asked of all
British Columbia respondents
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
S C E N E
A L B E RTA
O
n December 2, Ed Stelmach won the leadership of the Alberta Progressive Conservative
Party and became the province’s new premier, replacing long-time Premier Ralph Klein, who announced his retirement last fall. He was sworn in
on December 14, and his cabinet was sworn in a
day later.
up formal public hearings to see if the province is
getting enough royalty money from its oilsands.
Public confidence in the Alberta government has
declined noticeably over the past three months, reversing an upward trend dating back to the end of
2005. Premier Stelmach receives a similar rating
to that of his government, with about one-quarter
of Alberta residents unable to yet judge his performance. The decline in confidence in the government
has extended to most policy areas, with the most
notable declines in the areas of taxation, federalprovincial relations, debt and deficit reduction, and
crime and justice.
In a speech on December 4, Premier Stelmach
spoke about the direction of his government policy.
His government’s key priorities included attracting
more workers for the province’s booming economy,
spending more on infrastructure and strengthening
housing. He also promised to follow through on a
review of Alberta’s oil royalty structure, by setting
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
145
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
S C E N E
Most important issue
Most important issue facing Alberta today
Health care continues to lead the public agenda in Alberta but its salience has declined,
while concern over sustainable growth and
urban sprawl, and poverty and homelessness
has grown over the past quarter.
Top mentions
December 2006
Health care
When Albertans are asked to name the most important problem facing their province, just over one in
ten (13%) identify health care (down 6 points since
October and at its lowest level since quarterly tracking began on this question in April 2004). There
have been increases in the salience of sustainable
growth and urban sprawl (5%, up 5 since October)
and poverty and homelessness (4%, up 4), most
likely related to the booming economy in the province, which has resulted in negative impacts, such as
a high cost of living and booming development to accommodate all of the people moving to the province
for employment.
13
Housing cost/property issues
6
Environment/pollution
6
Economy/interest rates
6
Education issues
5
Sustainable growth/urban spread
5
Governance/leadership issues
5
Poverty/homelessness
4
Deficit/public debt/gov’t spending
4
Q.3
In your opinion, what is the most important problem facing your province
today?
Other issues include the environment (6%),
economy/interest rates (6%), housing costs (6%),
government and leadership issues (a total of 5%),
education (5%), and public debt and deficit (4%).
A number of other issues are mentioned, but none
by more than three percent of the population.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
146
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
S C E N E
Government satisfaction
ward trend dating back to the end of 2005. Seven
in ten Albertans (68%) are now satisfied with the
Alberta government, down 10 points from October
and back to the level recorded a year ago. Dissatisfaction has increased by six points to 25 percent.
Seven in ten Albertans now express satisfaction with the Alberta government, down noticeably over the past quarter.
Public satisfaction with the Alberta government has
declined noticeably since October, reversing an up-
Alberta government satisfaction
1993 - 2006
78
68
46
44
25
19
Satisfied
Dissatisfied
D D O O O O O O O Ja Mr Jl O Ja Mr Jn O D Ap Jl O D Mr Jl O D Mr Jn O D
93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 02 02 02 03 03 03 03 03 04 04 04 04 05 05 05 05 06 06 06 06
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
147
Q.81
Would you say that you are very
satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat
dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with your
present provincial government?
Note: Prior to December 2003, figures
based on eligible Alberta voters; as of
December 2003, figures based on all
Alberta respondents.
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
S C E N E
Provincial report card
two-thirds or more approve of its handling of economic development, and running an honest and
ethical government. Six in ten each approve of the
government’s performance on federal-provincial relations and taxation. About half each approve of its
handling of social programs, Aboriginal and native
issues, health care, the environment, crime and justice, and education.
The Alberta government continues to receive
strong marks for its handling of debt/deficit
reduction and economic development, but
approval ratings are down in six areas, most
notably taxation, federal-provincial relations,
debt/deficit reduction, and crime and justice.
The provincial government continues to receive
strong ratings for the job it is doing in many issue
areas, but for two consecutive quarters the overall
report card shows a downward trend in approval.
Albertans remain most positive about the way their
government is performing in the area of debt and
deficit reduction (78%). Strong majorities of about
Since October, approval ratings have declined most
noticeably for taxation (down 13 points), federalprovincial relations (down 10), debt and deficit
reduction (down 9), and crime and justice (down
8). Smaller declines have occurred in the areas of
Alberta report card
Approve
1994 - 2006
O
94
O
95
O
96
O
97
O
98
O
99
O
00
O
01
O
02
D
03
D
04
MR
05
JL
05
O
05
D
05
MR
06
JN
06
O
06
D
06
Debt and deficit
reduction*
52
73
76
80
80
83
81
88
81
79
77
90
86
85
91
83
90
87
78
Economic development
49
64
72
85
72
83
80
83
78
80
72
81
77
80
80
80
85
76
74
Running honest/
ethical gov't
–
–
–
–
–
55
62
75
61
68
50
61
64
59
69
65
69
72
68
Federal-provincial
relations
63
70
69
79
65
79
64
76
64
63
45
58
53
60
63
54
72
72
62
Taxation
–
–
67
71
66
67
63
78
63
59
52
61
66
66
66
60
72
74
61
Social programs
–
–
–
52
49
55
52
59
55
55
45
53
51
55
56
56
60
52
54
Aboriginal and
native issues**
30
51
44
–
–
35
41
53
56
53
41
54
53
48
49
48
54
42
51
Health care
28
22
38
32
33
41
39
43
36
41
39
39
53
44
47
42
45
47
48
Protection of environment
52
60
62
51
51
56
56
61
54
62
47
50
52
52
50
49
55
48
47
Crime and justice
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
54
43
56
53
45
Education
24
31
38
28
29
40
45
40
44
40
40
45
51
52
56
44
50
49
45
* Prior to October 1999, Deficit reduction
** Prior to January 2000, Indian and native issues
Q.82
Generally speaking, do you approve or disapprove of the way your current provincial government is handling ...?
Note: Prior to December 2003, figures based on eligible Alberta voters; as of December 2003, figures based on all Alberta respondents.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
148
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
S C E N E
Approval of the premier
running an honest and ethical government, and education. There has been a noticeable increase in approval of the government’s handling of Aboriginal
and native issues (up 9), and there has been essentially no change on economic development, social
programs, the environment and health care.
Two-thirds of Albertans approve of the job being done by new Premier Ed Stelmach, while
most of the rest are unable to yet judge his
performance.
Newly selected Premier Ed Stelmach receives a
similar rating to that of his government. Two-thirds
(65%) express approval of the way the premier is
handling his job, similar to the 68-percent rating
given to his predecessor Ralph Klein in October.
One-quarter (26%) have not yet made up their
mind about his performance.
Alberta premier approval
1993 - 2006
68
65
48
41
28
11
Approve
Disapprove
dk/na
26
5
9
D D O O O O O O O Ja Mr Jl O Ja Mr Jn O D Ap Jl O D Mr Jl O D Mr Jn O D
93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 02 02 02 03 03 03 03 03 04 04 04 04 05 05 05 05 06 06 06 06
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
149
Q.118
Do you approve or disapprove of the
way Ed Stelmach is handling his job as
premier of Alberta?
Note: Prior to 2005, asked of eligible
voters only; as of 2005, asked of all
Alberta respondents
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
S C E N E
MANITOBA
The November 15 Speech from the Throne included a number of significant new initiatives and
commitments including: a $4-billion commitment
to improve and maintain highways over the next 10
years; a 60-percent tax rebate on tuition fees for all
post-secondary students who stay and work in the
province; restoring the 50-50 cost-sharing formula
with municipal governments for public transit; the
introduction of a green energy manufacturing tax
credit; a $2,000 rebate on the purchase of hybrid
vehicles; a commitment to build the 1,250-megawatt
Conawapa dam; to double the province’s current
immigration level over the next decade; and legislative changes to modernize the Employment Standards Code.
On December 14, Premier Gary Doer signed a
clean air deal with California Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger. The agreement includes pledges
to support Manitoba’s efforts to adopt legislation
to set goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, explore the opportunity for Manitoba to participate in
trading in carbon credits, promote more trade partnerships in low- and no-emission technology, and to
continue an exchange of best practices in areas such
as renewable energy, residential and commercial
building efficiency, waste reduction, and new transportation and agricultural initiatives.
On December 21 (while the current survey was still
in field), Finance Minister Greg Selinger released
the province’s second quarter financial report for fiscal year 2006-07, which reported a budget surplus
of $2.5 million, after a $110-million payment on the
debt. The province will draw from its Fiscal Stabilization Fund to cover the unanticipated costs of fire
and flood suppression, and for increased spending
on highways and bridges, improvements to the child
welfare system, and funding for farmers and the
health care system.
On December 13, the Manitoba government announced changes to impaired driving laws, which
it states will make them the toughest in the country.
Under the new changes, the period in which novice
drivers who enrol in the province’s graduated licensing program will not be allowed to drink at all when
they are driving increases from three years to five.
If these drivers are caught violating the zero blood
alcohol restriction, they face an immediate 24-hour
suspension of their licences and must attend a hearing where further penalties may be imposed. If they
are caught with blood alcohol content over .08 or if
they refuse to provide a breath sample, they could
face even harsher penalties, such as a month-long
vehicle impoundment or the possibility of fines or
jail time. The changes also crack down on Manitoba
drivers charged in the United States, who will now
face the same sanctions that would apply if they
committed the offence in Canada. The province
says its tough drunk driving laws have paid off in
that the number of deaths or injuries related to alcohol is at its lowest rate in four years.
Satisfaction with the Doer government has remained
stable over the past six months. This quarter’s report
card remains mixed, with notable increases in social
programs, education, and crime and justice, and
declines in debt and deficit reduction, economic development and federal-provincial relations. Premier
Doer’s personal popularity has improved over the
past quarter, and he continues to be among the most
highly rated premiers in Canada. However, his approval rating is below the level recorded a year ago.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
150
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
S C E N E
Most important issue
Concern over health care has declined since
October, and the salience of unemployment is
up to the highest level ever.
Most important issue facing Manitoba today
Top mentions December 2006
Health care
When Manitobans are asked to name the most important problem facing their province today, two in
ten (21%) mention health care, down five points
from October and at its lowest level since July 2005.
The salience of unemployment (9%, up 9) is up
over the past quarter and is at the highest level recorded since this question was first asked in April
2004. Other issues include: infrastructure/roads/
transit (7%), crime, law and order (7%), economy
and interest rates (5%), farming, fisheries or forestry
issues (5%), the environment (4%) and Aboriginal
issues/land claims (4%). A range of other issues are
identified, but none by more than three percent of
the population.
21
Unemployment
9
Infrastructure/roads/transit
7
Crime/law and order
7
Farming/fisheries/forestry
5
Economy/interest rates
5
Aboriginal/land claims
4
Environment/pollution
4
Q.3
In your opinion, what is the most important problem facing your province
today?
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
151
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
S C E N E
Government satisfaction
Provincial report card
Satisfaction with the Doer government has
remained stable over the past two quarters,
with three-quarters of Manitobans satisfied
with their provincial government.
Approval of the Doer government’s handling
of key policy areas continues to be mixed, with
notable increases in social programs, education, and crime and justice, and declines in
debt and deficit reduction, economic development and federal-provincial relations.
Public confidence in the Manitoba government has
remained stable over the past six months, and it
remains one of the most popular governments in
the country. Three-quarters of Manitobans (76%)
say they are satisfied with the overall performance
of the provincial government, up two points from
October.
Majorities of Manitobans continue to approve of the
government’s handling of most policy areas. The
highest ratings are found in the areas of federal-
Manitoba government satisfaction
1993 - 2006
74 76
61
35
22 23
Satisfied
Dissatisfied
D D O O O O O O O Ja Mr Jl O Ja Mr Jn O D Ap Jl O D Mr Jl O D Mr Jn O D
93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 02 02 02 03 03 03 03 03 04 04 04 04 05 05 05 05 06 06 06 06
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
152
Q.81
Would you say that you are very
satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat
dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with your
present provincial government?
Note: Prior to December 2003, figures
based on eligible Manitoba voters; as
of December 2003, figures based on all
Manitoba respondents.
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
S C E N E
Since October, approval ratings have gone up in
some key areas, with the largest increases in social
programs (up 14 points), education (up 10), and
crime and justice (up 7). There has been a modest
increase in the area of Aboriginal and native issues.
There have been noticeable declines in the areas of
debt and deficit reduction (down 10), economic development (down 9) and federal-provincial relations
(down 5). A modest decline is found in the area of
running an honest and ethical government. Approval is essentially unchanged in the areas of protection
of the environment, taxation and health care.
provincial relations (68%), social programs (66%)
and education (65%). About six in ten each approve
of the government’s handling of running an honest
and ethical government, economic development and
protection of the environment. About one-half each
approve of its performance in the areas of taxation,
crime and justice, debt and deficit reduction, and
Aboriginal and native issues. Four in ten approve of
the government’s handling of health care.
Manitoba report card
Approve
1994 - 2006
O
94
O
95
O
96
O
97
O
98
O
99
O
00
O
01
O
02
D
03
D
04
MR
05
JL
05
Federal-provincial
relations
46
55
53
57
60
40
74
66
76
84
61
69
73
Social programs
–
–
–
36
36
33
46
57
61
68
47
66
54
Education
36
33
24
24
22
31
46
57
54
63
51
63
63
Running honest/
ethical gov't
–
–
–
–
–
39
63
70
67
77
54
70
Economic development
37
45
42
58
52
37
45
60
53
67
53
Protection of environment
52
50
55
54
55
38
54
58
62
75
57
Taxation
–
–
38
35
32
13
34
50
43
56
Crime and justice
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Debt and deficit
reduction*
24
39
47
53
55
38
41
56
51
O
05
D
05
Mr
06
Jn
06
O
06
D
06
65
78
75
64
73
68
60
67
53
57
52
66
55
67
54
61
55
65
62
60
79
75
65
63
60
67
56
64
57
64
55
67
58
64
59
58
62
65
54
55
56
34
56
52
51
39
47
51
55
54
–
–
–
–
41
40
49
42
49
55
51
54
43
46
49
45
45
57
47
Aboriginal and
native issues**
30
–
–
–
–
32
39
44
43
54
45
51
49
44
59
49
43
44
47
Health care
34
29
19
18
10
23
37
33
41
48
41
57
43
45
44
40
39
42
42
* Prior to October 1999, Deficit reduction
** Prior to January 2000, Indian and native issues
Q.82
Generally speaking, do you approve or disapprove of the way your current provincial government is handling ...?
Note: Prior to December 2003, figures based on eligible Manitoba voters; as of December 2003, figures based on all Manitoba respondents.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
153
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
S C E N E
Approval of the premier
Seven in ten Manitobans approve of the job
Premier Gary Doer is doing as premier, up
since October.
Premier Gary Doer continues to be one of the most
popular premiers in the country, and his approval
ratings have improved over the past quarter. Seven
in ten (71%) now express approval of his job performance (up 5 points from October, but below the
77-percent level recorded a year ago).
Manitoba premier approval
1993 - 2006
66
71
56
38
Approve
Disapprove
dk/na
28
6
24
5 5
D D O O O O O O O Ja Mr Jl O Ja Mr Jn O D Ap Jl O D Mr Jl O D Mr Jn O D
93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 02 02 02 03 03 03 03 03 04 04 04 04 05 05 05 05 06 06 06 06
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
154
Q.118
Do you approve or disapprove of the way
Gary Doer is handling his job as premier
of Manitoba?
Note: Prior to 2005, asked of eligible
voters only; as of 2005, asked of all
Manitoba respondents
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
S C E N E
S A S K AT C H E WA N
I
immigration to the province, and enhance the settlement and integration services for newcomers.
On November 21, the Government of Saskatchewan announced approximately $22.5 million in
spending to help schools across the province to
make major upgrades. About $10.8 million will be
used for 66 improvement projects in Saskatchewan
schools, $5.9 million will be used for the construction of schools, and $2.7 billion will be used to cover
construction inflation costs.
In early December, the Government of Saskatchewan announced a new province-wide recycling
program for electronics. Saskatchewan residents
will be able to drop-off unwanted computers, monitors, printers and televisions at any of the 71 facilities across the province. Beginning on February 1,
2007, all purchases of computers, monitors, desktop
printers and televisions will include an “eco-fee”
(ranging from $5.00 to $12.00 for computers and
related components, and $15.00 to $45.00 for televisions) that will be collected to fund the program.
This program will make Saskatchewan the first
province in the country with an industry-led e-waste
recycling program.
n November, the Saskatchewan government announced that it is establishing legislation – the
Fuel Tax Accountability Act – that will ensure that
on-road fuel tax revenue from gasoline and diesel
fuel (after rebates and refunds) will go toward funding of the province’s highway system. The fuel tax
has remained unchanged at 15 cents per litre since
1993, and exceeds $300 million.
Satisfaction with the Saskatchewan government has
levelled off, following a sharp rise in the previous
quarter. Approval ratings for the government’s handling of policy are down noticeably in most areas,
notably in the areas of running an honest and ethical
government, federal-provincial relations, debt/deficit
reduction, social programs, protection of the environment, Aboriginal and native issues, and economic development, and up in the area of crime and
justice. Following three quarters of stability, Premier
Lorne Calvert’s popularity has improved.
On November 27, the Saskatchewan government
announced that it is providing $115,000 to help International Medical Graduates (IMGs) prepare for
licensing examinations, residency training or practice
in the province. The government is partnering with
the University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine
to establish this program, which when fully implemented will be comprehensive, integrated, and flexible and unique to Saskatchewan. This is part of a
series of initiatives being undertaken by the government to address shortages of key health providers,
and is also part of the initiative to support increased
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
155
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
S C E N E
Most important issue
Health care remains at the top of the public
agenda, with economy and interest rates, unemployment and farming/forestry/fishing in a
close second place.
Most important issue facing
Saskatchewan today
Top mentions
December 2006
Health care
When Saskatchewan residents are asked to name
the most important problem facing their province,
health care (14%) remains at the top of the list. One
in ten each mention economy/interest rates (11%),
unemployment (10%) and farming/forestry/fishing
(9%). There have been increases in the proportions
who identify education issues (6%, up 5 points) and
population issues (5%, up 5). A number of other
issues are cited, but none by more than three percent
of the population.
14
Economy/interest rates
11
Unemployment
10
Farming/fisheries/forestry
9
Education
6
Population issues
5
Q.3
In your opinion, what is the most important problem facing your province
today?
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
156
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
S C E N E
Government satisfaction
About six in ten Saskatchewan residents remain satisfied with the Calvert government.
off since October. Just under six in ten (56%) Saskatchewan residents now express satisfaction with
the performance of their government, down three
points from October, but 10 points higher than the
46-percent level recorded a year ago.
Following a sharp rise over the previous quarter,
satisfaction with the Calvert government has levelled
Saskatchewan government satisfaction
1993 - 2006
59
56
46
44
41
40
Satisfied
Dissatisfied
D D O O O O O O O Ja Mr Jl O Ja Mr Jn O D Ap Jl O D Mr Jl O D Mr Jn O D
93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 02 02 02 03 03 03 03 03 04 04 04 04 05 05 05 05 06 06 06 06
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
157
Q.81
Would you say that you are very
satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat
dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with your
present provincial government?
Note: Prior to December 2003, figures
based on eligible Saskatchewan voters; as
of December 2003, figures based on all
Saskatchewan respondents.
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
S C E N E
Provincial report card
improved noticeably in the area of crime and justice
(up 6), and there has been a modest improvement
for health care. Ratings are essentially unchanged in
the area of education.
Approval of the Calvert government’s performance in most policy areas is down noticeably
since October.
Public satisfaction with the Saskatchewan government’s handling of policy areas has declined in most
areas since October. Ratings are down notably for
running an honest and ethical government (down
14 points), federal-provincial relations (down 14),
debt/deficit reduction (down 13), social programs
(down 11), protection of the environment (down
10), Aboriginal and native issues (down 10) and
economic development (down 6). There has been a
modest decline in the area of taxation. Ratings have
The government receives its strongest rating in the
area of education (57%). Majorities also approve
of its handling of protection of the environment and
social programs. One-half or fewer approve of its
performance in the areas of taxation, health care,
running an honest and ethical government, federal-provincial relations, crime and justice, debt and
deficit reduction, and economic development. The
government receives its lowest rating in the area of
Aboriginal and native issues (35%).
Saskatchewan report card
Approve
1994 - 2006
O
94
O
95
O
96
O
97
O
98
O
99
O
00
O
01
O
02
D
03
D
04
MR
05
JL
05
O
05
D
05
Mr
06
Jn
06
O
06
D
06
Education
44
38
44
43
40
34
44
51
69
53
49
48
55
47
Protection of environment
50
46
63
55
60
53
66
65
64
73
67
59
63
65
51
45
48
56
57
62
60
57
62
52
Social programs
–
–
–
43
49
46
50
60
68
52
55
56
54
50
56
46
54
62
51
Health care
35
31
32
33
25
24
30
31
31
45
38
38
39
46
46
42
36
46
49
Taxation
–
–
28
29
34
36
36
45
46
42
33
34
38
34
30
37
40
53
49
Running honest/
ethical gov't
–
–
–
–
–
33
62
73
64
47
56
60
50
52
66
67
54
61
47
Crime and justice
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
50
36
40
40
46
Federal-provincial
relations
57
54
60
64
63
55
70
66
54
56
59
58
56
61
47
56
59
60
46
Debt and deficit
reduction*
48
41
59
61
62
56
55
62
51
38
41
48
42
54
47
48
56
57
44
Economic development
41
39
50
60
51
43
45
49
52
34
39
43
45
35
37
28
45
50
44
Aboriginal and
native issues**
33
36
32
–
–
37
37
48
36
36
38
37
39
41
40
35
42
45
35
* Prior to October 1999, Deficit reduction
** Prior to January 2000, Indian and native issues
Q.82
Generally speaking, do you approve or disapprove of the way your current provincial government is handling ...?
Note: Prior to December 2003, figures based on eligible Saskatchewan voters; as of December 2003, figures based on all Saskatchewan respondents.
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
158
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
S C E N E
Approval of the premier
After three quarters of stability, approval of Premier
Lorne Calvert has improved slightly. The current
survey finds that 58 percent now approve of the
job being done by Premier Calvert (up 5 points
from October, and 11 points higher than the 47%
recorded a year ago).
Six in ten Saskatchewan residents approve of
the job being done by Premier Lorne Calvert,
and his popularity is up following three quarters of stability.
Saskatchewan premier approval
1993 - 2006
58
53
47
45
30
22
35
Approve
Disapprove
dk/na
3
7
D D O O O O O O O Ja Mr Jl O Ja Mr Jn O D Ap Jl O D Mr Jl O D Mr Jn O D
93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 02 02 02 03 03 03 03 03 04 04 04 04 05 05 05 05 06 06 06 06
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
159
Q.118
Do you approve or disapprove of the
way Lorne Calvert is handling his job as
Premier of Saskatchewan?
Note: Prior to 2005, asked of eligible
voters only; as of 2005, asked of all
Saskatchewan respondents
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
S C E N E
AT L A N T I C C A N A D A
his section summarizes public attitudes in Atlantic Canada toward provincial governments,
their policies and premiers. Owing to small sample
sizes, some of the results reported should be interpreted with caution.
T
to be unemployment (41%, up 10 points from October). About one in ten each mention farming/
fishing/forestry (9%) and population issues (9%,
up 9). The proportion who identify health care as
the most important issue facing their province has
tumbled over the past quarter (4%, down 13).
Newfoundland/Labrador
Public assessment of the Williams’ government remains stable, with nine in ten (88%) continuing to
express satisfaction with the performance of their
provincial government. This figure is unchanged
from October, but above the 82-percent level recorded a year ago and 17 points higher than that
found in July 2005.
On November 2, Minister of Innovation, Trade
and Rural Development Trevor Taylor and Minister
of Business Kevin O’Brien, announced that the
provincial government is making a multi-million dollar investment in a new, fully redundant fibre optic
telecommunications link into the national networks.
The government will invest $15 million over the
next two fiscal years on this project. Currently, Newfoundland/Labrador is the only province that relies
on a single carrier for its out-of-province telecommunications needs. Minister Taylor stated that the
government needed “to act now to bring Newfoundland/Labrador up to the same standards as the rest
of the country.”
Although overall satisfaction with the provincial
government is stable, approval scores on policy issues suggest a mixed response. Ratings are up in
the areas of economic development, taxation, crime
and justice, and federal-provincial relations. There
has been a marked decline in the area of protection of the environment, and smaller declines in the
areas of Aboriginal and native issues, and education. Ratings are essentially unchanged for health
care, social programs, debt and deficit reduction,
Auditor General John Noseworthy reported on December 13 that Newfoundland/Labrador posted a
record surplus of about $199 million (well above
the $77 million that had been expected). However,
along with the positive economic news, Mr. Noseworthy stated that the government will have to improve on that surplus every year for at least two
generations to pay down its debt. The province’s
debt (including unfunded pension liabilities) stands
at $11.7 billion, which makes it on a per capita basis the highest in Canada.
Most important issue facing
Newfoundland and Labrador today
Top mentions
December 2006
Unemployment
41
Population issues
9
Farming/fisheries/forestry
9
Economy/interest rates
Unemployment remains the top issue on the province’s public agenda, and its salience has grown
noticeably, while attention given to health care has
almost whittled away. Newfoundlanders are most
likely to identify the top issue facing the province
6
Health care
4
Governance/leadership issues
4
Q.3
In your opinion, what is the most important problem facing your province
today?
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
160
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
S C E N E
After declining in the previous quarter, public approval for Premier Danny Williams has levelled off
since October. Eight in ten (80%) continue to approve of his job performance, down two points from
October, but above the 73-percent level recorded a
year ago. Premier Williams continues to be the most
popular premier in the country.
and running an honest and ethical government. Majorities approve of the government’s performance
in most policy areas (opinion on health care and
education is divided). The government receives its
highest ratings in the areas of debt and deficit reduction, and federal-provincial relations, and its lowest
ratings in the areas of education and health care.
Newfoundland and Labrador government satisfaction
1993 - 2006
88 88
56
40
Satisfied
12 11
Dissatisfied
D D O O O O O O O Ja Mr Jl O Ja Mr Jn O D Ap Jl O D Mr Jl O D Mr Jn O D
93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 02 02 02 03 03 03 03 03 04 04 04 04 05 05 05 05 06 06 06 06
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
161
Q.81
Would you say that you are very
satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat
dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with your
present provincial government?
Note: Prior to December, 2003 figures
based on eligible Newfoundland voters;
as of December 2003, figures based on
all Newfoundland respondents.
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
S C E N E
New Brunswick
New Brunswick’s Auditor General Mike Ferguson
reported that the former Conservative government
spent money dedicated to one fiscal year in another
fiscal year to avoid forecasting a deficit. Money that
was set aside for new construction on university
campuses and a child care trust fund in the 200506 fiscal year was not spent until 2006-07. This
gave the government a large surplus in their March
2006 budget and allowed it to increase spending
in virtually every government department, make tax
cuts and offer $100 million in energy relief. Mr.
Ferguson stated that if the money set aside for these
areas had been spent in the year they were slated,
the Conservatives would have been running a deficit
rather than a surplus going into the election.
Most important issue facing
New Brunswick today
On December 13, new Liberal Premier Shawn
Graham announced that he was cutting in half the
price of nursing home care for seniors in the province. Starting on January 1, residents of nursing
homes will pay $70 per day for room and board.
The premier also announced that his government
will increase the amount of subsidized home care
support (from 170 to 215 hours per month). Premier Graham stated that “this brings our rates in line
with other provincial jurisdictions…New Brunswick
is simply playing catch-up to other provinces.”
October, concern about education and the environment has declined.
Top mentions
December 2006
Unemployment
27
Health care
22
Economy/interest rates
8
Environment/pollution
6
Job-/wage-related
6
Q.3
In your opinion, what is the most important problem facing your province
today?
Following a sharp rise in confidence in the previous quarter, public satisfaction with the new Liberal government in New Brunswick has levelled off.
Seven in ten (69%) New Brunswickers remain satisfied with their provincial government, unchanged
from October, but well above the 50-percent level
recorded a year ago.
Approval scores for the new government are down
in seven areas, up in one and unchanged in three.
Following dramatic increases in most areas in the
previous quarter, approval scores have shown a reversal and are now down dramatically. Since October, there have been dramatic declines in the areas of
debt and deficit reduction (down 19 points), protection of the environment (down 14), taxation (down
14), crime and justice (down 12), and Aboriginal
and native issues (down 11), and marginal declines
for running an honest and ethical government, and
federal-provincial relations.
The current survey finds that unemployment remains in the top position on the public agenda,
followed closely by health care, and the salience
of both these issues has increased since October.
When New Brunswickers are asked to name the
most important problem facing their province, about
three in ten identify unemployment (up 8 points).
Two in ten mention health care (up 10). Smaller
proportions cite the economy and interest rates, the
environment and job-/wage-related issues. Since
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
162
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
S C E N E
There has been a dramatic increase in the area of
education (up 22 points). Approval ratings have
remained essentially unchanged for economic development, health care and social programs.
the government’s handling of debt and deficit reduction, protection of the environment, and Aboriginal
and native issues, and just over four in ten approve
of its performance on taxation.
The New Brunswick government receives its highest ratings in the areas of running an honest, ethical
government, federal-provincial relations and education. Majorities also approve of its performance in
the areas of social programs, economic development,
crime and justice, and health care. Half approve of
Premier Shawn Graham is enjoying a honeymoon
period with New Brunswickers, with two-thirds
(64%) approving of his performance as premier.
This figure is 16 points higher than the last rating
given to his predecessor Bernard Lord.
New Brunswick government satisfaction
1993 - 2006
69 69
60
34
22
18
Satisfied
Dissatisfied
D D O O O O O O O Ja Mr Jl O Ja Mr Jn O D Ap Jl O D Mr Jl O D Mr Jn O D
93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 02 02 02 03 03 03 03 03 04 04 04 04 05 05 05 05 06 06 06 06
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
163
Q.81
Would you say that you are very
satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat
dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with your
present provincial government?
Note: Prior to December 2003 figures
based on eligible New Brunswick voters;
as of December 2003, figures based on
all New Brunswick respondents.
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
S C E N E
Nova Scotia
After rebounding in the previous quarter, public
satisfaction with the MacDonald government has
declined noticeably. A small majority (53%) of
Nova Scotians now express satisfaction with their
provincial government, down 13 points from October and far below the 75-percent level recorded 12
months ago.
On November 23, the Nova Scotia government introduced legislation to control how, when and where
private health services are delivered. The legislation, known as the Health Facilities Licensing and
Equitable Access to Insured Services Act, is part
of the government’s plan to protect and strengthen
Nova Scotia’s public health care system. It establishes clear rules for regulating, monitoring and setting standards for providing insured and uninsured
services by private health facilities. It allows private
facilities to provide uninsured diagnostic and minor
surgical services, as long as they are licensed and
allow for audits and inspections, and also regulates
private facilities that provide insured services.
The decreased public approval of the Nova Scotia
government extends to most policy areas. Approval
of the government’s performance in specific policy
areas is down in nine out of 11 areas since October, following a positive report card in the previous
quarter. Since October, approval scores are down
notably in the areas of debt and deficit reduction,
protection of the environment, social programs, crime
and justice, taxation, running an honest and ethical government, and health care, with more modest
declines in the areas of education, and Aboriginal
and native issues. In two areas – federal-provincial
relations and economic development – approval has
remained essentially unchanged.
In his first State of the Province address on November 29, Premier Rodney MacDonald outlined the
province’s future direction, stating that the province
would be making IT investments to place the province at the technological forefront. He stated that,
by the end of 2009, all Nova Scotians would have
broadband Internet service, regardless of where they
live. This initiative is being undertaken to address
the significant challenge faced by the province of trying to get younger residents to stay in the province,
as many are leaving the province for opportunities in
other parts of Canada or abroad.
Most important issue facing
Nova Scotia today
Top mentions
Health care, the economy and unemployment are
virtually tied at the top of the public agenda in Nova
Scotia, and concern over unemployment has increased over the past quarter. When Nova Scotians
are asked to name the most important problem facing their province, two in ten each mention health
care, unemployment and the economy. Smaller proportions cite the environment and social issues/cuts
to social programs, and both are up marginally since
October. Concern about education and gas prices
has fallen marginally over the past quarter.
December 2006
Health care
19
Unemployment
19
Economy/interest rates
18
Environment/pollution
7
Social issues/
cuts to social programs
6
Crime/law and order
4
Taxes
4
Q.3
In your opinion, what is the most important problem facing your province
today?
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
164
T H E
P R O V I N C I A L
Majorities of Nova Scotians now express approval
of the government’s performance in only two areas
– federal-provincial relations and economic development. About half approve of its handling of Aboriginal and native issues, and running an honest
and ethical government, while about four in ten each
approve of its performance on crime and justice,
protection of the environment, social programs, debt
and deficit reduction, and taxation. The government
receives its lowest ratings in the areas of education
and health care.
S C E N E
Premier Rodney MacDonald’s personal approval
rating has fallen below the 50-percent mark. Just
over four in ten (43%) now express approval of
his performance as premier, down 16 points from
October, and at the lowest level recorded for a Nova
Scotia premier since January 2003.
Nova Scotia government satisfaction
1993 - 2006
66
48
53
45
42
32
Satisfied
Dissatisfied
D D O O O O O O O Ja Mr Jl O Ja Mr Jn O D Ap Jl O D Mr Jl O D Mr Jn O D
93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 02 02 02 03 03 03 03 03 04 04 04 04 05 05 05 05 06 06 06 06
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
165
Q.81
Would you say that you are very
satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat
dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with your
present provincial government?
Note: Prior to December 2003, figures
based on eligible Nova Scotia voters; as
of December 2003, figures based on all
Nova Scotia respondents.
Methodology
M E T H O D O L O G Y
MAIN SURVEY
ing a database of active phone ranges. These ranges
are made up of a series of contiguous blocks of 100
contiguous phone numbers and are revised three
to four times per year after a thorough analysis of
the most recent edition of an electronic phonebook.
Each number generated is put through an appropriate series of validation procedures before it is retained as part of a sample. Each number generated
is looked up in a current electronic phonebook database to retrieve geographic location, business indicator and “do not call” status. The postal code for
listed numbers is verified for accuracy and compared
against a list of valid codes for the sample stratum.
Non-listed numbers are assigned a “most probable”
postal code based on the data available for all listed
numbers in the phone exchange. This sample selection technique ensures both unlisted numbers and
numbers listed after the directory publication are
included in the sample.
The results of the main FOCUS CANADA survey
are based on 2,045 telephone interviews conducted
between December 8 and 30, 2006: 256 in the
Atlantic provinces, 500 in Quebec, 604 in Ontario, 457 in the Prairie provinces and 228 in British
Columbia.
Questionnaire
The pre-coded questionnaire included questions for
the core report as well as comissioned client questions which are not published in the report. The
questionnaire was pre-tested in both English and
French.
Sample selection
The sampling method was designed to complete
approximately 2,020 interviews within households
randomly selected across Canada. It is drawn in
such a way that it represents the Canadian population aged 18 years or older, with the exception of
those Canadians living in the Yukon, Northwest
Territories or Nunavut and those living in institutions (armed forces barracks, hospitals, prisons).
A total of 67,589 telephone numbers were drawn.
From within each multiperson household contacted,
respondents 18 years of age and older were screened
for random selection using the “most recent birthday” method. The use of this technique produces
results that are as valid and effective as enumerating
all persons within a household and selecting one
randomly.
The sampling model relies on stratification of the
population by 10 regions (Atlantic, Montreal
CMA, the rest of Quebec, Toronto CMA, the rest of
Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Vancouver CMA and the rest of British Columbia) and
by four community sizes (1,000,000 inhabitants or
more, 100,000 to 1,000,000 inhabitants, 5,000
to 100,000 inhabitants, and under 5,000 inhabitants). Quotas are also maintained to ensure the appropriate distribution by age and gender.
Telephone interviewing
Field supervisors were present at all times to ensure
accurate interviewing and recording of responses.
Ten percent of each interviewer’s work was unobtrusively monitored for quality control in accordance
with the standards set out by the Marketing Research and Intelligence Association (MRIA).
Environics uses RDD sampling methods (random
digit dialling) technique. Samples are generated us-
A minimum of five calls were made to a household
before classifying it as a “no answer.”
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
169
M E T H O D O L O G Y
Margin of error
Completion results
The margin of error for a stratified probability sample of this size is estimated to be ±2.2 percentage
points, 19 times out of 20. The margin of error is
greater for results pertaining to regional or socio-demographic subgroups of the total sample.
Total sample dialled
67,589
Unresolved numbers (U)
24,281
Busy
Completion results
A total of 2,045 interviews were completed. The
adjacent table presents the disposition of all contacts.
11,939
Answering machine
11,831
Resolved numbers (Total minus Unresolved)
43,308
Out of scope (Invalid/non-eligible)
16,160
Non-residential
1,444
Not-in-service
12,997
Fax/modem
The effective response rate for the survey is five
percent. This is calculated as the number of responding partici-pants (completed interviews, disqualifications and over-quota participants – 2,444),
divided by unresolved num-bers (busy, no answer
– 24,281) plus non-responding households or individuals (refusals, language barrier, missed callbacks
– 24,704) plus responding participants (2,444)
[R/(U+IS+R)].
511
No answer
1,719
In scope non-responding (IS)
24,704
Refusals – household
10,891
Refusals – respondent
5,816
Language barrier
1,481
Callback missed/respondent not available
6,184
Break-offs (interview not completed)
In scope responding (R)
332
2,444
Disqualified
0
Quota filled
299
Completed
2,045
Response rate [R / (U + IS + R)]
1 This response rate calculation is based on a formula recently developed by MRIA in consultation with the Government of Canada
(Public works and Government Services).
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
170
5%
M E T H O D O L O G Y
Respondent distribution by analysis criteria
N=2,045
BEFORE
WEIGHTING
%
AFTER
WEIGHTING
N= 2,045
%
2001
CENSUS2
23,040,960
%
Men
1,007
49
48
48
Women
1,038
51
52
52
18 - 29
228
11
19
20
30 - 44
545
27
30
31
45 - 59
667
33
25
26
60 and over
548
27
22
22
TOTAL SAMPLE
APPROX
MARGIN OF
ERROR1
Gender
Age group
Regions
Atlantic provinces
6.1
256
13
8
8
Newfoundland
11.9
(68)
(3)
(2)
(2)
Prince Edward Island
19.6
(25)
(1)
(1)
(*)
Nova Scotia
11.0
(80)
(4)
(3)
(3)
New Brunswick
10.8
(83)
(4)
(3)
(3)
Quebec
Montreal Region
Ontario
Toronto Region
4.4
500
24
24
24
6.7
(217)
(11)
(11)
(11)
4.0
604
30
38
38
6.0
(270)
(13)
(17)
(17)
Prairie provinces
4.6
457
22
17
17
Manitoba
8.8
(125)
(6)
(4)
(4)
Saskatchewan
8.6
(130)
(6)
(3)
(3)
Alberta
6.9
(202)
(10)
(10)
(10)
6.5
228
11
13
13
British Columbia
* Fewer than one percent
1 For a strict probability sample of this size, 19 times in 20
2 Canadians aged 18 or over in 2001, excluding those in the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
171
M E T H O D O L O G Y
Respondent distribution by analysis criteria
TOTAL SAMPLE
N=2,045
BEFORE
WEIGHTING
%
AFTER
WEIGHTING
N= 2,045
%
2001
CENSUS
%
Immigrant population – place of birth
Europe
142
7
7
82
Other countries (excl. U.S.)
135
7
8
102
1,000,000 and over
587
29
33
331
100,000 to 999,999
530
26
25
251
5,000 to 99,999
428
21
20
201
Less than 5,000
500
24
21
211
French
440
22
21
222
English
1,491
73
73
672
1,143
56
58
695
82
4
4
3
633
31
29
3
Under $30,000
395
19
18
316
$30,000 to $59,999
533
26
26
316
$60,000 to $79,999
331
16
16
156
$80,000 and over
470
23
24
236
Community size
Language (most often spoken at home)
Employment status
In the work force4
Homemaker
Other (student, retired, disability pension)
Income
1
2
3
4
5
6
Canadians of all ages excluding Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut 2001
Canadians of all ages 2001
Report/omnibus categories are not comparable to those of Statistics Canada
Self-employed persons not included in report/omnibus category
Total population 15 years of age and older 2001
Based on total private households 2001
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
172
M E T H O D O L O G Y
SURVEY OF CANADIAN MUSLIMS
Some of the findings of this report are also based on
a separate survey of 500 adult Canadian Muslims
conducted between November 30, 2006 and January 5, 2007.
A total of 54,561 telephone numbers were drawn.
From within each qualified multiperson household
contacted (i.e., household whose members’ religious
affiliation is Muslim), respondents 18 years of age
and older were screened for random selection using the “Most recent birthday” method. The use
of this technique produces results that are as valid
and effective as enumerating all persons within a
household and selecting one randomly. All standard
interviewing procedures were followed.
Sample selection
The sample frame for this survey consisted of households in the 10 provinces of Canada located within
Census Canada dissemination areas (DAs) identified from current census data as having a high
representation of people reporting their religious
affiliation as Muslim. The sample was derived from
telephone numbers assigned within the boundaries
of these selected DAs. Quotas were utilized to allocate interviews by region in order to ensure representation from all regions. The final sample was
then weighted by age, gender and region based on
population data. The final sample was distributed
as follows.
Atlantic Provinces
UNWEIGHTED
N
WEIGHTED
N
MARGIN OF
ERROR (%)
15
3
25.3
Quebec
130
107
8.6
Ontario
270
301
6.0
Prairies
50
43
13.9
British Columbia
35
45
16.6
Margin of error
The margin of error for a sample of this size is estimated to be ±4.4 percentage points, 19 times out
of 20. The margin of error is greater for results pertaining to regional or socio-demographic subgroups
of the total sample.
Continued ...
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
173
M E T H O D O L O G Y
Completion results
Completion results
A total of 500 interviews were completed. The
adjacent table presents the disposition of all
contacts.
The effective response rate for the survey is 34 percent.2 This is calculated as the number of responding participants (completed interviews, disqualifications and over-quota participants – 14,464),
divided by unresolved numbers (busy, no answer
– 10,672) plus non-responding households or individuals (refusals, language barrier, missed callbacks
– 17,449) plus responding participants (14,464)
[R/(U+IS+R)].
Total sample dialled
54,561
Unresolved numbers (U)
10,672
Busy
105
No answer
4,542
Answering machine
6,025
Resolved numbers (Total minus Unresolved)
43,889
Out of scope (Invalid/non-eligible)
11,976
Non-residential
Not-in-service
750
10,486
Fax/modem
740
In scope non-responding (IS)
17,449
Refusals – household
11,126
Refusals – respondent
2,537
Language barrier
Callback missed/respondent not available
1,992
1,745
Break-offs (interview not completed)
In scope responding (R)
Disqualified
49
14,464
13,960
Quota filled
4
Completed
500
Response rate [R / (U + IS + R)]
2 This response rate calculation is based on a formula recently developed by MRIA in consultation with the Government of Canada
(Public works and Government Services).
ENVIRONICS
FOCUS CANADA 2006-4
174
34%
(1,1) -1- fc64 report-cover.indd 3/1/2007 1:55:44 PM
Ottawa
336 Maclaren Street
Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0M6
tel 613•230•5089
fax. 613•230•3836
Toronto
33 Bloor Street East, Suite 900
Toronto, Ontario M4W 3H1
tel. 416•920•9010
fax. 416•920•3299
Calgary
999 – 8th Street SW, Suite 630
Calgary, Alberta T2R 1J5
tel. 403•229•0711
fax. 403•228•9165
www.environics.net