Are Canadians Political Animals: Elections 2008, Interest and Engagement in Canadian Politics Jack Jedwab Executive Director Association for Canadian Studies September 24, 2008

Are Canadians Political Animals Survey commissioned by the Association for Canadian Studies and conducted by the firm Leger Marketing between September 9 th and 11 th, 2008 via web panel

Highlights Canadians show interest in elections and believe that it will have impact on them Just over half of Canadians Talk Politics Men talk politics more than women Francophones least likely to talk politics with family or friends Francophones least likely to follow elections Francophones most inclined to agree that election doesn’t affect them Francophones feel they have a good understanding of the issues English Canadians most interested in the federal elections Three in ten Canadians would recommend a political career Nearly three in four francophones say they have a strong sense of belonging to Canada

Canada Strongly agreeSomewhat agreeSomewhat disagree Strongly disagree I will be closely following the Canadian federal elections 45,4%30,8%10,1%10,8% I am very interested in the forthcoming Canadian federal elections 40,4%32,0%12,5%12,0% I have a good understanding of the issues in the Canadian federal election 30,6%41,5%13,5%10,6% The outcome of the federal election doesn't affect me personally 13,7%17,8%20,1%43,4% Canadians show interest in elections and believe that it will have impact on them

Canada Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disag ree I often talk about politics with family members 23,0%27,4%18,2%28,0% I often talk about politics with my friends 23,0%27,4%18,2%28,0% I don't like talking about politics 22,0%19,0%23,0%31,8% Just over half of Canadians Talk Politics

Men talk politics more than women Strongly Agree and Somewhat Agree (combined) MaleFemale I often talk about politics with family members I often talk about politics with my friends I don't like talking about politics I am very interested in the forthcoming Canadian federal elections I will be closely following the Canadian federal elections I have a good understanding of the issues in the Canadian federal election The outcome of the federal election doesn't affect me personally I would recommend pursuing a career in politics to a friend or family member

I often talk about politics with family members Language Spoken at Home Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree French 16,9%27,0%23,0%30,4% English 26,2%27,8%16,1%27,3% Other 20,9%26,7%19,5%27,4% Dnk/Refusal 18,2%24,2%15,2%24,2% Total 23,0%27,4%18,2%28,0% Francophones least likely to talk politics

I often talk about politics with my friends Language Strongly agreeSomewhat agreeSomewhat disagree Strongly disagree French 13,8%28,4%24,5%31,5% English 24,0%26,0%16,8%29,7% Other 17,3%27,1%20,9%29,2% Dnk/Refusal 14,7%23,5%14,7%29,4% Total 20,3%26,7%19,2%30,0% Francophones least likely to talk politics with friends

I don't like talking about politics Language Strongly agreeSomewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagre e French 22,0%21,3%28,4%25,6% English 22,7%17,4%19,7%36,3% Other 20,6%21,7%27,8%25,3% Dnk/Refusal 18,2% 30,3% Total 22,0%19,0%23,0%31,8% Most Canadians like talking politics

I will be closely following the Canadian federal elections Language Strongly agreeSomewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagre e French 35,1%36,3%13,1%13,4% English 50,1%29,6%7,1%10,8% Other 44,2%29,0%15,9%8,0% Dnk/Refusal 36,4%21,2%9,1% Total 45,4%30,8%10,1%10,8% Francophones least likely to follow elections

I have a good understanding of the issues in the Canadian federal election Language Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree French 28,2%48,5%13,2%8,0% English 32,6%39,8%12,1%11,9% Other 28,2%39,4%17,3%10,5% Dnk/Refusal 21,2%36,4%18,2%3,0% Total 30,6%41,5%13,5%10,6% Francophones feel they have good understanding of the issues

The outcome of the federal election doesn't affect me personally Language Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagr ee French 15,3%28,7%28,1%24,5% English 12,9%13,3%17,3%52,8% Other 14,5%18,8%21,4%35,9% Dnk/Refusal 12,5%15,6%3,1%46,9% Total 13,7%17,8%20,1%43,4% Francophones most inclined to agree that election doesn’t affect them

I am very interested in the forthcoming Canadian federal elections Language Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree French 31,9%37,4%14,1%14,7% English 44,9%30,4%10,3%11,8% Other 36,7%30,9%18,7%9,7% Dnk/Refusal 37,5%28,1%3,1%9,4% Total 40,4%32,0%12,5%12,0% English Canadians most interested in the federal elections

I would recommend pursuing a career in politics to a friend or family member Language Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree French 11,6%18,7%26,0%40,4% English 12,2%17,0%20,6%43,8% Other 14,5%16,7%25,7%36,2% Dnk/Refusal 12,1%3,0%27,3%21,2% Total 12,5%17,0%22,9%41,1% Three in ten Canadians would recommend a political career

I am a member of a political party Language Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagr ee French 9,8%4,9%8,3%73,3% English 11,6%4,5%10,4%67,1% Other 8,3%6,1%9,0%69,3% Dnk/Refusal 12,1% ,0%63,6% Total 10,6%4,8%9,5%68,8% One in ten Canadians say they are members of a political party

I have a strong sense of belonging to Canada Language Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagr ee French 42,5%29,7%14,7%10,7% English 85,1%9,7%2,0%1,0% Other 71,5%20,9%2,5%1,1% Dnk/Refusal 72,7%6,1% Total 73,0%16,1%4,8%3,3% Nearly three in four francophones say they have a strong sense of belonging to Canada