Opinion Research Scan E-newsletter – March 2011

Transatlantic Trends: Immigration 2010

Background: This public opinion survey is conducted yearly in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain. Developed by the German Marshall Fund of the United States, this survey measures perceptions surrounding immigration in relation to the economy, the political arena, policy, and integration. In each country approximately 1000 men and women aged 18 and older were interviewed using randomized telephone interviews. Data was collected in August and September 2010 and for national samples, the maximum margin of error is +/-3% (at the 95% confidence level). The full report can be found here.

Key Findings:

• Canadians are far more likely than respondents from the other countries studied to see immigration as an opportunity, rather than a threat (only 27% of Canadians see it as a problem, compared to respondents from other countries, whose results range from 39-65%).
• Less than half (46%) of Canadians closely follow news about immigration in Canada, making it less likely than respondents from all other countries to do so. In the United States, 62% of respondents report closely following immigration news.
• Compared to respondents from other countries, Canadians are least concerned about illegal immigration (52% — up 2% from 2009), and least likely to feel that illegal immigration increases crime in society (49% disagree).
• Only 13% of Canadians feel that immigrants take away jobs from native Canadians, compared to 29% of Americans who feel this way.
• Canadians feel that the two most important preconditions for obtaining citizenship are respect for institutions and laws, and sharing cultural values (see chart below; note that respondents selected two options).
   
  
  Text version: Top two preconditions to obtaining Canadian citizenship
   
• A strong majority (80%) of Canadians feel that legal immigrants who come to Canada to work should be given the opportunity to stay in Canada permanently.
• Canadians are more likely than respondents from other countries to feel that immigrants are integrating well into society (65%). Less than half (45%) feel that Muslim immigrants are integrating well, a number which is more than or equal to results from other countries. Canadians are also more likely to feel that children of immigrants are integrating well (87%, 66% for children of Muslim immigrants).

Quebec Identity in 2011: Attachments, Identity and Diversity

Background: This study, commissioned by the Association for Canadian Studies (ACS), focuses on the ways in which Quebeckers identify with their province, language, and country. The ACS was interested in examining through this study the perceived contrast between Quebec and the rest of Canada. The survey was conducted via web panel with 1224 Quebecers in December 2010. The margin of error is 2.9% 19 times out of 20. More information on this study can be downloaded here.

Key Findings:

• In considering identifiers to which Canadians feel attached, Francophones are more likely to feel attached to Quebec than Anglophones or Allophones (93% compared to 74% and 85% respectively).
• 70% of Canadians outside Quebec report feeling “very attached” to Canada, compared to only 24% of Canadians in Quebec.
• 39% of Francophone Quebeckers identify as being Quebeckers before Canadians, whereas this is only true for 12% of Anglophone Quebeckers; this latter group is more likely to identify themselves as Canadian first (45%). Allophone Quebeckers are most likely to identify as being equally Quebecker and Canadian (26%) (see chart below).
   
  
  Text version: Identification by first language
   
• Francophone Quebeckers are more likely than their Anglophone and Allophone counterparts to feel that there are too many immigrants to Quebec, and that immigrants should be encouraged to become more like the Quebec population (see chart below). However, the opinions of Quebeckers aged 18-24 diverge from those of their elders. This group is more likely to feel that people of different backgrounds contribute to culture (54%), and less likely to feel that there are too many immigrants, or that immigrants should give up their traditions (44% and 42% respectively).

Is Racism on the Rise?

Background: A Four-Country Survey of Opinion on Racism and Prejudice in 2010: Canada, the United States, Germany and Spain, conducted by Leger Marketing, and commissioned by the Association for Canadian Studies, examines Canadians’ perceptions regarding racism. The survey was also conducted in the United States, Germany, and Spain. The survey was conducted with a demographically representative sample of 1707 adults, and longitudinal comparison was based on prior data collected by the ACS in January 2010. More information on this study can be obtained here.

Key Findings:

• A majority (65%) of Canadians agree that visible minorities and whites are treated equally in their place of work; by province, Quebec is most likely to feel this way (70%). Across the four countries surveyed, Germans are the most likely to agree with the statement (66%).
• 38% of Canadians report witnessing a racist incident in their workplace in the past year, with Canadians aged 18-24 most likely to have witnessed an incident (58%). Regionally, Albertans were more likely to witness a racist incident (45%).
• Nearly half (46%) of Canadians agree that racism is on the rise, including 14% who strongly agree that this is the case. This sentiment is most popular in Alberta and Ontario (54% and 48% agreeing, respectively).
• A strong majority (72%) of Canadians are not opposed to interracial marriage, and this number increases with younger Canadians (80% of those aged 18-24, compared to 65% of those aged 65 and up). Opposition to interracial marriage is the lowest in Canada among the countries studied (13% in Canada, 20% in Germany, 32% in the United States, and 33% in Spain).
• 45% of Canadians feel that the federal government is the institution best suited to combating discrimination. Respondents in Quebec are more likely to feel that the provincial government is best suited for the task (36%, compared to 33% support for the federal government).

Neighbourhoods and Diversity in the Mosaic and Melting Pot

Background: This survey, conducted by Leger Marketing and commissioned by the Association for Canadian Studies, looks at ethnic backgrounds in Canadian and American neighbourhoods. Data was collected in August and September 2010 via web panel, and surveyed 1707 Canadians and 1048 Americans. An equivalent telephone survey would have a margin of error of 3.9 %, 19 times out of 20. More information on the survey can be obtained here.

Key Findings:

• French Canadians are more likely to report living in neighbourhoods where most people share their ethnic background (71% agree that this is the case, compared to only 52% of English Canadians and 22% of Allophone Canadians). 40% of French Canadians “strongly agree” with this statement, compared to only 17% of English Canadians and 7% of Allophone Canadians.
• When asked if they would prefer to live in a neighbourhood where most people share their ethnic background, 53% of French Canadians agreed. This number is much lower among English and Allophone Canadians (37% and 23% in agreement respectively).
• For both questions, French Canadians were also more likely to agree than any demographic of the United States population (whether of White, African-American or Hispanic/Spanish/Latino descent).

Potential Elements of Perimeter Security Deal Garners Strong Support

Background: This survey was conducted in early February by Harris/Decima to explore Canadians’ perceptions of our relationship with the United States. Data was gathered between February 3 and February 7, 2011, with 1000 Canadians via an online survey. A sample of the same size has a margin of error of 3.1%, 19 times out of 20. The press release for this survey can be viewed here.

Key Findings:

• 75% of Canadians are in favour of shared intelligence gathering between Canada and the United States, including 23% who strongly support this idea.
• Seven in ten Canadians support a bilateral agency to oversee the building of a border infrastructure.
• Nearly 60% of Canadians oppose requiring visas to cross the Canada-US border; of this number, 29% are in strong opposition.
• 61% of Canadians feel that our relations with the US are either “excellent” (8%) or “good” (53%), with males, Albertans, and those with higher household incomes feeling most positively.
• 62% of Canadians feel that Canada-US relations are the same as they were five years ago, while 21% feel that relations have improved over this time.
• Half of Canadians (50%) view border security or crossing as an excellent (8%) or good (42%) aspect of Canada-US relations.

Canadians have Reservations about Aspects of Perimeter Security Deal

Background: This survey was conducted with an Ipsos online panel from February 14-21 to explore Canadians’ views on the proposed perimeter agreement with the United States. The press release for this survey can be viewed here. N.B. Results from online polls are not considered representative of the views of all Canadians, as a result, margins of error are not reported.

Key Findings:

• Sixty percent (10% strongly; 50% somewhat) of Canadians are in favour of an “integrated North American Community” or trading bloc; support is highest in Quebec (65%) and Alberta (64%) and lowest in Saskatchewan/Manitoba (48%).
• Another 63% believe that an “entry-exit” system, whereby Canada and U.S. officials are kept apprised of cross-border traffic in both directions, is an acceptable security measure; support rises with household income (57% for those earning under $30k vs. 66% for those earning over $60k).
• At the same time, over two-thirds (68%) of Canadians believe that Canada will compromise too much power to the States over decisions about immigration, privacy and security.
• A strong majority (91%) of Canadians believe these negotiations should take place in public.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement?

Canada will compromise too much power over decisions about immigration, privacy and security to get a perimeter security agreement

Text version: Identification by first language

Canadians becoming more polarized on religion

Background: Canadian sociologist Reginald Bibby’s Beyond the Gods and Back: Religion’s Demise and Rise and Why it Matters provides an analysis of Canadians’ religious tendencies. The book is a compilation of public opinion data from Canada and abroad. N.B. Data tables from the polls contained within this book have not yet been released.

Key Findings:

• 7% of Canadians report being atheists, compared to 4% in the United States. Regionally, British Columbia reports the highest number of atheists at 14%.
• Just over one quarter (26%) of Canadians attend a religious institution once a week, making attendance levels comparable to those in Australia (23%) and the Netherlands (26%), as opposed to the United States (43%).
• 63% of Canadians feel that “life is enhanced by religion,” while this rings true for over 80% of the American population.
• Less than one fifth of Canadians (18%) agree that atheists are not suitable for public office, compared to nearly one third (32%) of Americans who agree.

CIC’s 2010 Annual Tracking Survey: Perceptions of Immigration and Immigration Levels

Background: CIC’s 2010 Tracking Survey was conducted in March 2010, with results published in October 2010. This survey aims to explore attitudes and perceptions regarding Canada’s immigration system and the number of immigrants and refugees coming into Canada, and the impact of immigration on Canada, among other topics. The full survey report can be viewed here.

Key Findings:

• The number of Canadians who said that there were “too many” immigrants has almost halved since 1996, from roughly 46% to 23%. This number is also a decrease from 2009.
• 71% of Canadians feel that immigration has a positive impact on Canada, compared to 68% in 2007.
• The proportion of Canadians stating that immigration has a positive impact on their community has increased by 8 percentage points since 2009 (58%, compared to 50%).