Attachment, Learning, Interfaith Relations and Prejudice in Canada Presentation for Canadian Race Relations Foundation JACK JEDWAB ASSOCIATION FOR CANADIAN STUDIES October 17, 2012

Methodology Conducted by the firm Leger Marketing for the Association for Canadian Studies and the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, was done via web panel with 1522 respondents between March 17 and March 19, Across the country an equivalent phone survey would have a margin of error of 2.9 points 19 times out of 20)

Attachment to religion lowest across identities-increases amongst 65 plus TotalA man A woman FrenchEnglishOther Total Weight Tot Numb Canada84%83%86%79%80%82%88%87%89%54%95%89% Prov88%87%88%83%85% 87%90%94%91%88%82% My Lang Group 78%75%81%62%78%77%82%80%85%84%80%65% My Ethnic Comm unity 51%50%53%40%49%58%55%47%54%57%50%47% My Religio us Group 38%34%41%29%32%40%34%37%52%26%39%45%

Strong Attachment to Religion does not imply weaker attachment to Canada I have a very strong, somewhat strong, somewhat weak or very weak sense of attachment to the following: / My Religious Group Very strong Somewhat strong Somewhat weakVery weak I have a very strong, somewhat strong, somewhat weak or very weak sense of attachment to the following: / Canada Very strong72.3%59.0%48.8%51.9% Somewhat strong 18.8%30.8%33.1%28.2% Somewhat weak 6.2%7.1%14.4%11.1% Very weak2.7%3.2%3.7%8.7% Total100.0%

Nor does strong attachment to ethnicity imply weaker attachment to Canada I have a very strong, somewhat strong, somewhat weak or very weak sense of attachment to the following: / My ethnic community Very strong Somewhat strong Somewhat weakVery weak I have a very strong, somewhat strong, somewhat weak or very weak sense of attachment to the following: / Canada Very strong69.0%56.5%47.9%56.5% Somewhat strong 19.0%33.0%32.8%21.4% Somewhat weak 7.5%6.8%15.3%11.2% Very weak4.4%3.8%4.0%10.9% Total100.0%

Canadians can practice freely but rights of women may be affected AGRE ETotalA man A woman FrenchEnglishOther People can practise their religion freely in Canada 91%93%90%91%94%91% 90%84%94% Religion inevitabl y poses a threat to women's rights 45%44%45%49%44%40%42%49%45%55%43%35% Religion brings people together more than it divides them 47%44%49%42%43%47%44%43%58%40%48%51% I want to learn more about religions other than my own 49%48%49%46%56%51%42%48% 40%55%41%

Yes to Religious Pluralism, But… AGRE ETotalA man A woman FrenchEnglishOther There is room for a variety of religions in Canada 82%84%81%84%83%80%83%84%79%74%82%91% We have to take steps to protect our Canadia n religious tradition s from outside influence s 51%48%54%41%53%46%45%53%69%65%51%38%

Those who want to learn more about religions other than their own go in with far less negativity I want to learn more about religions other than my own Negative Strongly agreeSomewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Relations Between Muslims and non- Muslims 39%44%55.6%62.1% Relations Between Jews and non- Jews 28%24.2%30.9%40% Muslims26.9%33.1%54.1%58.3% Canadian Multicultural Policy 22.3%29.2%34.5%48.1% Jews12.3%13.4%21.3%27.7%

Supporters of MC Policy exhibit more positive views of communities Do you have a very positive, somewhat positive, somewhat negative or very negative opinion of the following: / Canadian Multicultural Policy Very Positive and Somewhat Positive view of … Very positive Somewhat positive Somewhat negativeVery negative Immigrants93.0%82.3%51.4%41.0% Aboriginals87.2%77.4%50.5%43.2% Muslims 76.3%60.6%27.3%15.9% Jews 84.6%83.6%64.8%56.8% Francophones 82.5%67.2%42.8%36.5%

Those who want to learn more about other religions more likely to agree that religion unifies I want to learn more about religions other than my own Religion brings people together more than it divides them Strongly agreeSomewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Strongly agree27.1%39.1%20.0%13.8% Somewhat agree11.4%45.7%28.9%14.0% Somewhat disagree8.8%34.4%34.9%21.9% Strongly disagree10.3%22.5%18.3%48.9%

Those who want to learn more about other religions more trusting of Muslims I want to learn more about religions other than my own The following can be trusted a lot, somewhat trusted, trusted a little or not trusted at all: / Muslims Strongly agreeSomewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Trusted a lot41.8%34.2%6.8%17.1% Somewhat trusted14.6%44.0%24.3%17.1% Trusted a little7.1%35.6%34.5%22.8% Not trusted at all3.7%21.5%28.9%46.0%

Those who want to learn more about other religions more trusting of Jews I want to learn more about religions other than my own The following can be trusted a lot, somewhat trusted, trusted a little or not trusted at all: / Jews Strongly agreeSomewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Trusted a lot29.8%38.3%13.6%18.3% Somewhat trusted11.4%41.0%27.3%20.3% Trusted a little6.8%27.7%37.8%27.7% Not trusted at all5.0%20.1%20.9%54.0%

As observed below, some 43% of Canadians strongly agree that they have heard negative comments about Muslims over the past year compared with 31% in the case of Aboriginals and 25% in the case of Jews. I have heard negative comments about…in the past year Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Muslims43.5%38.8%11.1%6.5%100.0% Aboriginals31.2%37.6%20.7%10.4%100.0% Jews24.7%34.4%26.4%14.5%100.0%

People least likely to agree that discrimination towards black people not their fault If there is discrimination against … it is mainly their fault Total Muslims42%28%41%38%39% 62% Jews26%20%30%25%26%24%28% Black People19%24%20%17% 16%20%

Most Canadians possess negative view of relations between Muslims and non-Muslims Relations Between Muslims and Non-Muslims TotalMaritimesQCONMB/SKABBC TOTAL positive 38%57%26%42% 35% Very positive8%12%4%11%9%10%6% Somewhat positive 30%45%22%31%33%32%29% TOTAL negative 51%30%66%47% 49%50% Somewhat negative 33%23%38%32%27%30%41% Very negative18%7%28%15%20%19%9% I prefer not answering 11%13%7%11% 9%15%

Young people more optimistic around relations between Muslims and non-Muslims Relations Between Muslims and Non-Muslims FrenchEnglishOther TOTAL positive 56%35%34%43%38%29%25%44%38% Very positive24%4%7% 5%8%5%9%10% Somewhat positive 32%31%27%35%34%22%20%35%28% TOTAL negative 31%51%54%47%53%64%66%46%52% Somewhat negative 20%37%41%30% 38% 31%34% Very negative11%14% 17%24%26%28%14%17% I prefer not answering 13%14%12%11%8%7%9%11%10%

Those who were the most likely to have heard negative comments about Muslims were the most likely to hold negative opinions about them. But those with moderate exposure to such comments held negative views to the same degree as those who heard very little negative remarks about Muslims. Do you have a very positive, somewhat positive, somewhat negative or very negative opinion of the following: / Muslims I have heard negative comments about Muslims in the past year Somewhat negativeVery negativeTotal Negative Strongly agree33.2%22.6%55.8% Somewhat agree29.6%7.3%36.9% Somewhat disagree17.3%12.5%29.8% Strongly disagree18.4%17.3%35.7%

I have heard negative comments about Muslims in the past year Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Age43.5%38.8%11.1%6.5%100.0% years of age48.9%38.3%6.1%6.7%100.0% years of age45.3%38.1%12.6%4.0%100.0% years of age37.2%38.3%18.5%6.0%100.0% years of age38.6%41.5%9.2%10.8%100.0% years of age44.9%33.0%15.4%6.6%100.0% years of age46.3%45.8%4.9%3.0%100.0% N egative comments about Muslims have been heard to roughly equal degrees across the age spectrum

Quebecers most negative about relations between Jews and non-Jews Relations Between Jews and Non-Jews TotalMaritimesQCONMB/SKABBC TOTAL positive 59%67%38%67%61%63%64% Very positive 15%23%6%19%14%18%13% Somewhat positive 44%43%32%49%47%45%51% TOTAL negative 30%20%52%23%26%31%21% Somewhat negative 23%18%36%18%20%22%20% Very negative 7%2%16%5%6%9%1% I prefer not answering 10%13%9%10%13%6%15%

Young Canadians somewhat less likely to be positive about relations between Jews and non-Jews Relations Between Jews and Non-Jews French Englis hOther TOTAL positive 69%50%55%57%59%68%39%67%62% Very positive 23%13%12%14%11%19%8%17% Somewhat positive 46%37%43%44%48%49%31%50%45% TOTAL negative 19%36%31% 34%28%51%23%27% Somewhat negative 9%30%25%23%24%22%35%19%21% Very negative 10%6% 7%10%6%16%5%7% I prefer not answering 11%14% 12%7%4%10% 11%

In the case of Jews, those who were more exposed to negative comments were more likely to hold negative opinions about the group Do you have a very positive, somewhat positive, somewhat negative or very negative opinion of the following: / Jews I have heard negative comments about Jews in the past year Somewhat negativeVery negativeTotal Negative Strongly agree16.5%8.5%25.0% Somewhat agree18.9%3.1%22% Somewhat disagree10.4%2.5%12.9% Strongly disagree5.9% 11.8%

Of the following, rank in order where you think racism and prejudice is most present First ChoiceTotal Internet49%55%53%47%45%51%44% Radio or Television 19% 14%22%20%17%19% Amongst Friends and Family Members 11%13% 10%11%6%11% My Place of Work of School 8%7%5%9% 10%8%

Of the following, rank in order where you think racism and prejudice is most present First Choice Total French English Allophones Internet49%39%53%46% Radio or Television19%23%17%18% Amongst Friends and Family Members 11%15%10%8% My Place of Work of School8% 7%12%

Exposure to prejudice does not always result in acceptance of it Negative Opinion of the Following … (Combined somewhat and very) Strongly Agree I have heard negative remarks about … Of the following, rank in order where you think racism and prejudice is most present First Choice Muslims Jews Muslims Jews Internet Newspapers Radio or Television Amongst Friends and Family Members My Place of Work of School In My Neighbourhood