Opinion Research Scan E-newsletter – June 2011

Canadians tolerant of minority groups, research finds

Background: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) conducts a yearly survey of residents in 25 countries in order to measure the countries’ social progress. The OECD sampled varying numbers of residents through different sampling methods. More information on this study can be found here.

Key Findings:

• Canadians report the highest community tolerance of minority groups, including but not exclusive to ethnic minorities and migrants, with 84% of Canadians responding positively.
  • The OECD reports that tolerance is higher among Anglophone and Northern European communities; for example, Australians are equally as tolerant as Canadians, with residents of New Zealand, the Netherlands, and Iceland being the next most tolerant (81% for all countries).
  • Relevantly, nearly 1 in 5 (16.7%) of the Canadian population is foreign-born, the sixth-highest proportion among OECD countries. (Luxembourg has the highest population of foreign-born residents, at 37.3%).

Canadians want equal representation of genocides in Canadian Museum for Human Rights: Nanos

Background: The Canadian Museum for Human Rights is a taxpayer-funded museum scheduled to be completed in 2012. Recently, debate has circulated about decisions surrounding permanent exhibits, particularly regarding the Holocaust. This telephone poll, conducted by Nanos Research and contracted by Canadians for Genocide Education and the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association, surveyed Canadians about their preferences. The poll was conducted between March 12th and March 15^th, 2011, and polled 1216 Canadians. The margin of error for this poll is 2.8% with a confidence level of 19 times out of 20. More information on this poll can be found here (PDF, 106 KB).

Key Findings:

• When asked if they would prefer one museum exhibit that covers all genocides equally or one exhibit for a particular genocide (while other genocides would be grouped together in a separate exhibit), 60.3% of Canadians preferred the former.
  • Support for equal coverage of all genocides was highest in Quebec (70.2%) and lowest in the Prairies (51.4%). Of those who would prefer one exhibit for a particular genocide, support was highest in British Columbia (31.9%) and lowest in Quebec (16.9%). Canadians in the Prairies were more unsure of their preference than other provinces (21.6%, compared to between 12.9% and 15.3% in other provinces).
  • The age group most in favour of equal coverage of all genocides was 18-29 (65.5%) and lowest among those 60-plus (55.4%).

Would you prefer that there be one exhibit which covers all genocides equally or that there be one gallery that highlights a particular genocide permanently while all the others are grouped together in a separate exhibit?

Text version: Would you prefer that there be one exhibit which covers all genocides equally or that there be one gallery that highlights a particular genocide permanently while all the others are grouped together in a separate exhibit?

Canadians and Americans wish to preserve their sovereignty

Background: This study, commissioned by the Association for Canadian Studies and conducted by Leger Marketing, measures Canadians’ and Americans’ attitudes surrounding their relationship to each other. The study also used data from the same survey conducted in America by Gallup in February 2011, and a survey conducted by Opinion Research Corporations between February 28th and March 2nd. More information on this study can be found here.

Key Findings:

• When asked if the border between Canada and the United States should be eliminated, only 22% of Canadians said yes, compared with 74% in disagreement.
  • When asked the same question, 16% of Americans said that the border should be eliminated, with 60% in disagreement.
• When asked to agree or disagree with the statement “Canada has a better health care system that the United States”, 40% of Americans agreed, and 24% disagreed.
• When asked if Canada should be neutral when America has conflicts with other countries, 58% of Canadians agreed.

Skilled immigrants effective, say GTA employers

Background: This survey, conducted by Ekos and commissioned by the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council, polled 461 employers in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) who had primary or shared responsibility for hiring staff in their business. The survey was conducted through Ekos’ online panel in spring 2011. More information on this study can be found here.

Key Findings:

• Almost 1 in 5 employers had hired a skilled immigrant:
  • Of those who hired a skilled immigrant to target cultural communities in order to find new business opportunities, 83% found the immigrant effective;
  • Of those who hired a skilled immigrant to help diversify the global client base, 93% found that the immigrant was effective.
• 1 in 10 employers hired a skilled immigrant because they discovered that their competitors benefitted from hiring skilled immigrants.
  • Of those who hired an immigrant for this reason, 81% found that the skilled immigrant was effective.
• Of those who hired skilled immigrants:
  • 38% of the companies had 100 or more staff, and 29% had 1-4 staff;
  • 57% of the companies were private, and 28% were public.
• The most common industries where employers who hired skilled immigrants work were:
  • Professional, scientific and technical services;
  • Finance and insurance; and
  • Arts, entertainment and recreation.

Quebecers divided on immigration levels: CROP

Background: This online survey, conducted by CROP via a web panel, surveyed nearly 1000 Quebec residents following the Quebec government’s decision to cut the number of immigrants it accepts each year to 50,000. The survey was conducted between March 16th and 21st, 2011. More information on this study can be found here.

Key Findings:

• When asked to what extent they agree or disagree that Quebec should increase the number of immigrants it accepts each year, 57% of respondents stated that they strongly or somewhat disagree, compared to only 33% who strongly or somewhat agree. 10% of respondents were unsure.

Differences between multiculturalism and interculturalism unclear for Quebec residents

Background: Interculturalism is a term often used in reference to Quebec’s desired model for cultural diversity, as opposed to the multicultural position typically assumed by the rest of Canada [Note 1]. Leger Marketing conducted a survey of 1000 Quebec residents from May 4th to 6th, 2011 in regards to perceptions of interculturalism. The online survey’s phone equivalent would have a margin of error of 3.9%, 19 times out of 20. More information on this study can be found here.

Key Findings:

• 53% of Quebec residents agreed that “The difference between multiculturalism and interculturalism are not clear to” them. This level of agreement applies to 55% of the Francophone population, and 45% of the non-Francophone population.
• Respondents were asked to state their level of agreement to the following statement: “The government of Quebec should support the preservation and enhancement of the muliticultural heritage of Quebecers”. 76% of the overall population agreed with this statement (broken down, 77% of the Francophone population and 71% of the non-Francophone population agreed).

CIC examines Canadians’ beliefs regarding entry documents

Background: These omnibus questions, in a survey conducted by Harris/Decima, measure Canadians’ perceptions surrounding entry documents. The research was conducted between December 9th and 12th, 2010, and polled 1,013 Canadians. The margin of error for this study is 3.1%, at the 95% confidence level. More information on this study can be found here.

Key Findings:

• The majority (84%) of Canadians believe they are required to present an identity document when entering Canada from abroad.
• Those who believe an identity card is required were asked which specific documents must be presented upon entering Canada:
  • 94% said passport
  • 20% driver’s licence
  • 13% birth certificate
  • 6% Visa
   
  Those who believe an identity card is required were asked which specific documents must be presented upon entering Canada
  
  Text version: Those who believe an identity card is required were asked which specific documents must be presented upon entering Canada
   
• Almost 9 in 10 (88%) believe that presenting an identity document should be required upon entering Canada.
• Two-thirds (69%) of respondents had traveled outside Canada in the past 5 years; among those respondents, 83% had been to the United States and 64% had been elsewhere.
• When the respondents who had traveled outside Canada in the past 5 years were asked what documents they presented upon entering Canada, the first document mentioned was:
  • Passport /ePassport 87%
  • Driver’s licence 4%
  • Birth certificate 2%
  • Nothing/no document required 2%
    • Note: multiple mentions were permitted, with second mention – 92% Passport/ePassport, 16%  driver’s licence, 8% birth certificate, 4% citizenship card, 3% permanent resident card, 2% enhanced driver’s licence.
• The vast majority (93%) presented the same document that they used to enter another country on the same trip.
• Among those who had traveled outside Canada in the past 5 years, another vast majority (93%) agreed that Canada should require people, including Canadians, to have a document such as a passport or enhanced driver’s licence to verify their identity when entering Canada.

Immigrants express high levels of positive identification as citizens of Canada

Background: Tara Gilkinson and Geneviève Sauvé of the Research and Evaluation Branch analyzed data from the 2006 World Values Survey (WVS) to examine how residents of Canada (recent immigrants, earlier immigrants and Canadian-born individuals) identify with Canada. The WVS presents a national representative sample of Canadians 18 years of age and older. The report is due to be published soon. More information on the World Values Survey can be found here.

Key Findings:

• Recent immigrants, earlier immigrants and the Canadian-born were asked whether they strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree with the statement: “I see myself as …a citizen of the world/a citizen of North America/a citizen of Canada as a whole/a citizen of my province or region/a member of my local community”.
  • The vast majority of respondents agree or strongly agree that they view themselves as a citizen of Canada as a whole (96.6% of the Canadian-born population, 96.2% of earlier immigrants, and 95.4% of recent immigrants).
  • 98.1% of the Canadian-born respondents, 92.9% of earlier immigrants, and 90.4% of recent immigrants either ‘agree’ or ‘strongly agree’ that they view themselves as a citizen of their province or region.
  • 91.5% of Canadians, 87.7% of earlier immigrants, and 86.9% of recent immigrants ‘agree’ or ‘strongly agree’ that they perceive themselves to be a member of their local community.
• However, when looking at differences between the three groups (Canadian-born, earlier immigrant, and recent immigrant population), the results show a decreased tendency for recent immigrants to “strongly agree” with any collective identity.
  • Recent immigrants have the highest rate of negatively responding that they view themselves as a citizen of their province or region, Canada as a whole and as a citizen of North America while the Canadian-born population have the lowest levels of responding that they ‘disagreed’ or ‘strongly disagreed’.
• Findings show that earlier immigrant and recent immigrant respondents who strongly identify with their community are significantly more likely to identify as citizens of Canada. This suggests that micro-community identification may play a significant role in influencing macro-community identification.

Assessment of Settlement Services Options/Outcomes and Alternative Service Delivery Models

Background: CIC conducted research to evaluate stakeholders’ attitudes surrounding settlement service options, gain stakeholder input on an interim assessment tool for newcomers, and explore alternative service delivery models for newcomer services. A total of twelve focus groups were held in three cities (Halifax, Ottawa, and Calgary); in each city, separate focus groups were conducted with representatives from five key stakeholder groups (SPOs, private learning centres and employers, newcomers, general public). More information on the research can be found here.

Key Findings:

• There was not a strong awareness or deep understanding of the full spectrum of services offered to newcomers, particularly among the general public. And, even among newcomers themselves, there was not a well developed sense that the system works in a holistic, integrated fashion.
• Virtually all participants responded positively to the notion of bringing greater consistency to the needs assessment and settlement planning process. However, moving in this direction necessitates appropriate levels of funding to ensure that those referred can access services in a timely fashion.
• The interim online needs assessment tool was very well received across all stakeholder groups, although many suggestions were offered by way of improvements or enhancements. In its current form, it is viewed as more informational and targeted to individuals who are probably less in need of assistance, given the high language level that most feel is required in order to be able to easily navigate through the site and use the information provided.
• There was general support for greater private sector participation in the settlement services delivery system (though concerns were expressed, primarily by SPOs), principally to increase the availability of services to newcomers (i.e. reduce waiting lists) and/or provide more convenient access to services (i.e. at better times and more convenient locations for newcomers).
• Most were positively disposed to the idea of providing incentives to employers and believed that the successful transition into the workplace was a critical step towards ensuring a successful outcome for the newcomer.