The Canada Project: What the people have to say Keith Neuman Environics Institute for Survey Research 85 th Annual Couchiching Conference August 6, 2016
The Canada Project Whose voice matters?
Survey research can help address fundamental questions Who we are as individuals and collectively What do we think and believe? What are our priorities and expectations?
What we think about when we think about polls and surveys
Why survey research is important How survey research can make a difference Expands the dialogue to all segments of society, especially those not usually heard from Provides an essential check on how elites and media define public opinion Identifies myths and misperceptions that call for attention Provides the basis for understanding and empathy what it s like to be someone else
Why survey research is important What makes survey research unique 1. Provides an opportunity for individuals to express themselves privately and honestly 2. Harnesses the power of statistics and the scientific method, to produce a collective voice that elevates our understanding beyond anecdote 3. Makes it possible to understand how individuals within the collective are similar or different
Surveys produce just what democracy is supposed to produce equal representation of all citizens. Sidney Verba (1996) 7
What makes our system work, including its economics, is the ethical idea that immigration is inextricably bound to citizenship, and therefore to belonging. John Ralston Saul The Globe and Mail July 23, 2016 8
The Canada Project: How are we doing? 9
Global context today 10
General mood in Canada
How Canadians are doing financially 2013 Pew Research Center - March 2013
Trust in institutions 2013 2016 Edelman Trust Barometer 13
Overall level of happiness World Happiness Report 2013
Very proud to be Canadian 1985-2016 85 79 84 83 82 65 43 45 47 Quebec Rest of Canada 34 1985 1994 2003 2006 2010 2012 2016 Focus Canada (2015)
What makes Canada unique? 2016 Unprompted mentions Multiculturalism/diversity 43 Land/geography 17 Freedom/free country/democracy 14 Friendly/humble/nice people The people (non-specific) 11 10 Weather/climate/cold 7 Peace/peacefulness 7 Bilingualism 3 Natural resources 6 Aboriginal peoples/culture 2 Universal health care 6 Hockey 1 Political system 5 The North/Arctic 1 Tolerence 4 Other 9 Values 3 dk/na 7 Survey on Aboriginal Peoples (2016)
Important symbols of Canadian identity 1997-2015 89 72 60 39 37 30 14 49 88 81 78 65 62 54 42 39 21 1997 2000 2003 2007 2010 2012 2015 Health care system Charter of Rights and Freedoms Public education Multiculturalism Hockey CBC The Queen Canada's Aboriginal Peoples RCMP Focus Canada (2015)
Aspirational values - public consensus 2012 Canada should be a country In which men and women are treated equally in all walks of life 92 7 1 With a political system that encourages average Canadians to let politicians know what they think 76 20 2 With a public health system that covers everyone, that is fully supported through taxes 66 26 7 Where the practices of all religions are respected, provided they fall within the law 67 23 9 Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat/strongly disagree Trudeau Foundation Survey (2012)
Aspirational values - widespread agreement 2012 Canada should be a country With strict laws on crime that place the highest priority on keeping criminals off the streets 59 31 9 With a social safety net that helps everyone facing difficult economic circumstances 51 41 7 Where all citizens either speak, or at least respect, both English and French languages 51 34 13 Where the environment is protected, even if this slows down economic development 49 39 10 Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat/strongly disagree Trudeau Foundation Survey (2012)
Aspirational values - qualified agreement 2012 Canada should be a country That fully welcomes immigrants from all over the world 29 42 28 With a strong military 27 39 33 Where there is not a big difference in income between the wealthy and everyone else 27 36 33 Where taxes are kept as low as possible, even if this may limit the services governments can provide 20 33 44 Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat/strongly disagree Trudeau Foundation Survey (2012)
Citizenship and identity
What makes someone a good citizen 2012 Top mentions (unprompted) Canadians on Citizenship Survey (2012)
What makes you feel like a good citizen 2012 Top mentions (unprompted) Canadians on Citizenship Survey (2012)
What values are most important for immigrants to adopt? 2011 Top mentions (unprompted) By immigrants and native-born Respect for Canada's history and culture English and/or French fluency 29 27 28 25 Tolerance for others 21 18 Respect for the law 16 21 Respect for other religions 5 10 Need to assimilate 8 9 Immigrants Native-born Trudeau Foundation Survey (2011)
Citizenship potential for immigrants 2011-2015 Can someone born outside Canada be just as likely to be a good citizen as someone born here? 89 95 2011 2015 6 3 4 2 Yes No Depends/ dk/na Focus Canada (2015)
Immigrants identification with Canada versus country of birth 2012 Canadians born abroad 78 13 7 3 Canada Country of birth Both equally Neither/ dk/na Canadians on Citizenship Survey (2012)
Greatest sense of pride in being Canadian/Canadian resident 2012 Top mentions by place of birth Canadians on Citizenship Survey (2012)
Acceptance of difference and diversity
Immigrations levels are too high 1977-2015 61 57 35 38 Agree Disagree 77 80 83 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 97 98 00 02 03 05 06 08 10 11 12 15 Focus Canada (2015)
Immigrants take away Canadian jobs 1985-2015 67 54 36 30 Agree Disagree 85 89 93 94 97 98 00 02 03 05 06 08 10 11 12 15 Focus Canada (2015)
Too many immigrants do not adopt Canadian values 1993-2015 72 65 Agree Disagree 23 30 93 94 97 99 00 02 03 05 06 08 10 11 12 15 Focus Canada (2015)
Society should regard people of the same sex who live together as being the same as a married couple 1992-2016 76 73 72 35 41 30 1992 2000 2004 2008 2014 2016 All Under 35 years old 35 and older Environics Research Canadian Social Values (2016)
Public recognition of racism
Perceived extent of discrimination against groups in Canada 2015 Muslims 51 36 7 2 3 Aboriginal peoples Blacks South Asians Gays/lesbians Jews Chinese 47 37 10 4 2 31 47 17 4 2 30 51 14 3 2 27 50 16 5 3 14 39 32 11 4 13 47 30 7 2 Often Occasionally Rarely Never dk/na Focus Canada (2015)
Groups often subject to discrimination 2004-2015 43 36 32 27 17 11 38 51 47 31 30 27 14 13 2004 2006 2011 2015 Muslims Blacks Gays /Lesbians Chinese Aboriginal Peoples South Asians Jews Focus Canada (2015)
Aboriginal Non-Aboriginal gap in standard of living 2016 59 22 9 4 5 Large gap Moderate gap Small gap None at all Depends/ dk/na Survey on Aboriginal Peoples (2016)
Biggest obstacle to achieving economic and social equality for Aboriginal peoples 2016 26 26 18 17 10 Policies of Canadian governments Aboriginal peoples themselves Attitudes of Canadian public All these equally imp. Other combinations Survey on Aboriginal Peoples (2016)
Treatment of Aboriginal peoples by institutions compared to other Canadians 2016 Health care system 9 53 26 12 Workplace 6 57 23 14 Education system 12 37 42 8 Criminal justice system 7 41 38 13 Treated better Treated the same Treated worse depends/dk/na Survey on Aboriginal Peoples (2016)
Extent of connection between residential schools experience and current challenges facing Aboriginal communities 2016 Those who have heard of residential schools 2008* 18 42 20 9 11 2016 32 41 17 6 3 Great extent Some extent A little Not at all dk/na * 2008 National Benchmark Study, Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada Survey on Aboriginal Peoples (2016)
Support for Aboriginal rights and reconciliation 2016 Increase fundng for Aboriginal education to match other schools Government funding to reserves for clean drinking water/adequate housing Mandatory curriculum in all schools to teach Aboriginal history and culture Government funding to ensure protection of Aboriginal languages Provide Aboriginal communities with full control over natural resources on traditional territories Settling all outstanding land claims, regardless of what this may cost 75 16 3 3 2 75 15 4 4 2 56 31 7 5 2 45 33 11 8 2 31 35 14 15 5 24 36 17 16 6 Strongly support Somewhat support Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose Depends/dk/na Survey on Aboriginal Peoples (2016)
Do individual Canadians have a role in bringing about reconciliation? 2008-2016 2008 42 25 15 12 7 2016 64 20 6 6 4 Yes, feel strongly Yes, do not feel strongly No, do not feel strongly No, feel strongly dk/na * 2008 National Benchmark Study, Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada Survey on Aboriginal Peoples (2016)
Uninformed about Aboriginal peoples Distinct mainstream world views about Aboriginal peoples Positive about Aboriginal peoples Young Idealists Disconnected Skeptics Connected Advocates Informed Critics Dismissive Naysayers Knowledgeable about Aboriginal peoples Survey on Aboriginal Peoples (2016) Negative about Aboriginal peoples
Being Muslim in Canada
Very proud to be Canadian 2016 Muslims and non-muslims 2006 2016 73 83 77 78 83 85 90 74 73 47 TOTAL Quebec Ontario West TOTAL MUSLIMS NON-MUSLIMS Survey of Muslims in Canada (2016)
Satisfied with direction of country today 2016 Muslims and non-muslims 81 89 61 56 2006 2016 MUSLIMS 2006 2016 NON-MUSLIMS Survey of Muslims in Canada (2016)
Do Muslims want to adapt Canadian customs or remain distinct? 2016 Muslims 55 53 2006 2016 23 17 13 16 9 14 Want to adopt customs Want to remain distinct Both equally Depends/ dk/na Survey of Muslims in Canada (2016)
What values are most important for immigrants to adopt? 2016 Muslims and non-muslims Top mentions (unprompted) English or French fluency 23 26 Tolerance/respect for others 15 19 Respect for Canadian history/culture Respect for the law Respect for other religions/cultures Civility/mutual respect 4 9 12 12 13 15 17 22 Muslims Non-Muslims Need to assimilate 9 10 Respect for human rights/freedoms 9 8 Survey of Muslims in Canada (2016)
Estimated number of Canadians hostile to Muslims 2016 Muslims 2006 2016 49 39 27 35 5 5 12 9 9 9 Most Many Just some Very few dk/na Survey of Muslims in Canada (2016)
Most important issues facing Muslims in local community today 2016 Muslims Treatment/discrimination by broader community 35 Interaction between cultures 8 Divisions within Islam/sects 5 Violent extremism/radicalization 4 Unemployment/lack of jobs Influences on youth Events overseas Sex education in schools 3 3 3 3 Other 15 None/don't know 31 Survey of Muslims in Canada (2016)
Experienced discrimination or unfair treatment by others in Canada 2016 Muslims - In past five years 35 Muslims General population* 21 22 22 5 11 13 7 6 11 NET (any reason) Because of your religion Because of your ethnicity/culture Because of your language Because of your sex * Source: Statistics Canada (2013 General Social Survey) Survey of Muslims in Canada (2016)
Will next generation of Muslims face more or less discrimination? 2016 Muslims Will face more discrimination, by age cohort 35 29 41 34 32 21 15 19 Will face more Will face less Will face the same dk/na 18 to 34 35 to 44 45 to 59 60 or older Survey of Muslims in Canada (2016)
Being an Urban Aboriginal Person
How Aboriginal Peoples believe they are seen by non-aboriginals 2009 Urban Aboriginal Peoples 71 Impressions today Change over past few years 40 41 14 11 16 Generally positive Neither positive nor negative Generally negative Better Same Worse Urban Aboriginal Peoples Survey (2010)
How urban Aboriginal Peoples feel they are seen by others 2009 Urban Aboriginal Peoples Addiction problems 74 Lazy/lack motivation 30 Uneducated/lack intelligence/stupid Poor/on welfare/ social assistance Unemployed/can t keep a job Homeless/panhandlers/bums 20 20 18 13 What do you believe are the most common stereotypes that non-aboriginal people hold about Aboriginal people, if any? Live off/abuse the system 12 Criminals/gang members Don t pay taxes/get everything for free 12 12 Urban Aboriginal Peoples Survey (2010)
... and experience discrimination 2009 Urban Aboriginal Peoples % Agree % Disagree I think others behave in an unfair/negative way toward Aboriginal people I have been teased/insulted because of my Aboriginal background 89 9 70 28 Urban Aboriginal Peoples Survey (2010)
How they are treated by the country s justice system 2009 Urban Aboriginal Peoples 57 39 Thinking now about your experiences with the justice system, would you say you were generally treated fairly or unfairly?* Treated fairly Treated unfairly Urban Aboriginal Peoples Survey (2010)
and how this treatment relates to being Aboriginal 2009 Urban Aboriginal Peoples 50 25 To what extent do you think you were treated unfairly because you are an Aboriginal person?* 14 Definitely Likely Unlikely Definitely not 7 Urban Aboriginal Peoples Survey (2010)
How Urban Aboriginal peoples embrace pluralism 2009 Urban Aboriginal Peoples and other urban Canadians There is room for a variety of languages and cultures in this country Urban Aboriginal people 77 16 4 2 Urban non-aboriginal people 54 32 8 4 Totally agree Agree somewhat Disagree somewhat Totally disagree Urban Aboriginal Peoples Survey (2010)
Concluding thoughts
Why survey research is important How are we doing? Multiculturalism and acceptance of diversity is a well established aspiration for most Canadians Most newcomers are doing their part once they arrive The rest of us sometimes struggle with the reality of those who look and act differently Some differences are more comfortable than others; Some are more comfortable than others with difference Social norms matter, and Canadians are law-abiding
Looking into the future The centre is holding for now What could change? significant economic downturn/disruption dramatic world events with global consequences erosion of central institutions (public education) As yet unclear what generational change will mean, but it will mean changes
Support for government by the people Tolerance of others who are different OECD + other countries - 2010 Canada Source: Gallup World Poll (2010) Community Tolerance Index 63
Keith Neuman, Ph.D. The Environics Institute for Survey Research keith.neuman@environics.ca www.environicsinstitute.org