Lilian Ma Canadian Race Relations Foundation Metropolis Conference - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Immigration and citizenship in Canada Public opinion and social trends Lilian Ma Canadian Race Relations Foundation Metropolis Conference Calgary AB March 22, 2018

How inclusive and accepting are Canadians of our increasingly diverse society? Has public opinion changed noticeably over the past year? 2

Demographic trends

More than one in five Canadians is now foreign-born, and this proportion will continue to rise 1871 - 2036 Ac Actual Proj ojected 28� 14,000,000� 30%� Number� Percentage� 27� 25� 12,000,000� 24� 25%� 22� 22�22� 22� 20� 21� 10,000,000� 17� 18� 20%� 18� 16� 15�16� 15� 16� 16� 16� 8,000,000� 14� 13� 13� 15%� 6,000,000� 10%� 4,000,000� 5%� 2,000,000� 0� 0%� 1871� 1881� 1891� 1901� 1911� 1921� 1931� 1941� 1951� 1961� 1971� 1981� 1986� 1991� 1996� 2001� 2006� 2011� 2016� 2021� 2026� 2031� 2036� Statistics Canada – 2016 Census

At least one in five in our 12 largest cities -- and nearly 80% in the Toronto CMA -- are first or second generation Percent of population by generation, Canada, 2016 Statistics Canada – 2016 Census

There is a different mix of diversity in cities across the country Lar Largest Vi Visible Min inorit ity Gr Groups, , Sele Selected CM CMAs, s, 201 2016 Ottawa - Toronto Montréal Van ancouver Cal Calgary Edm dmonton Win innipeg g Ham amilton Gatineau South Asian Black Chinese South Asian Black South Asian Filipino South Asian Chinese Arab South Asian Chinese Arab Filipino South Asian Black Latin Black Filipino Filipino Chinese Chinese Black Chinese American 6 Statistics Canada – 2016 Census

Public opinion about immigration and citizenship

Canadians ’ views about immigrants in 1946 reflected the racist culture and policies of the day . . . 1946 If Canada does allow more immigration, are there any of these nationalities which you would like to keep out? 60 49 34 33 31 25 24 Japanese Jewish German Russian Negro Italian Chinese Canadian Institute for Public Opinion (Gallup)

. . . and continuing into the early1960s 1961 As you know, Canada restricts the admission of non-whites to this country. Do you think this should continue, or do you think there should be fewer restrictions on non-whites? Restrictions should continue 53 Should be fewer restrictions 36 Qualified / No opinion 11 Canadian Institute for Public Opinion (Gallup)

What do Canadians think about immigration today? • Environics Institute and the Canadian Race Relations Foundation partnered to conduct a new national public opinion survey • Part of Environics’ Focus Canada research program that monitors public opinion trends over time • New survey conducted February 5-17, 2018 by telephone, with representative sample of 2,000 Canadians (aged 18 plus) • Updates key opinion indicators last measured in April 2017

Today a majority disagree that there is too much immigration, reflecting a sea change in opinions from the past 1977 - 2018 Agree or disagree: “There is too much immigration in Canada” 60 61 35 35 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 16 17 18 Environics Institute: Focus Canada (February 2018)

Most Canadians view immigrants as helping rather than hurting the economy and job creation 1993 - 2018 Agree or disagree: “The economic impact of immigrants is positive” 80 56 Agree Disagree 39 16 93 98 00 02 03 05 06 08 10 11 12 15 16 17 18 Environics Institute: Focus Canada (February 2018)

A stable plurality reject the idea that many refugee claimants are not legitimate 1987 - 2018 Agree or disagree: “Too many refugee claimants are not legitimate” 79 Agree Disagree Neither/dk/na 45 38 13 17 8 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 97 98 00 02 03 05 06 08 10 11 12 15 16 17 18 Environics Institute: Focus Canada (February 2018)

Canadians now define country’s identity by its multicultural diversity 2016 Unprompted mentions “ What makes Canada unique? ” Multiculturalism/diversity 43 Land/geography 17 Freedom/free country/democracy 14 Friendly/humble/nice people 11 The people (non-specific) 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 1 The North/Arctic Tolerance 4 Other 9 Values 3 dk/na 7 Environics Institute: Survey on Aboriginal Peoples (2016)

There is near consensus that being born abroad is no impediment to being a good citizen in Canada 2011 - 2016 “Can someone born outside Canada be just as likely to be a good citizen as someone born here?” 95 91 89 2016 2011 2015 6 5 4 4 3 2 Yes No Depends/dk/na Environics Institute: Focus Canada (2011 - 2016)

At the same time, a majority believe that some immigrants are not adopting Canadian values 1993 - 2018 Agree or disagree: “Too many immigrants do not adopt Canadian Values” 72 51 Agree Disagree 43 23 93 94 97 99 00 02 03 05 06 08 10 11 12 15 16 17 18 Environics Institute – Focus Canada (February 2018)

But this concern may be unfounded: Muslims & non-Muslims generally agree on the important values which immigrants need to adopt 2016 Surveys of Muslims and non-Muslims What values are most important for immigrants to adopt? (unprompted mentions) 23 English or French fluency 26 19 Tolerance/respect for others 15 17 Respect for Canadian 22 history/culture 13 Respect for the law 15 Muslims 12 Respect for other Non-Muslims 12 religions/cultures 9 Civility/mutual respect 4 9 Need to assimilate 10 9 Respect for human 8 rights/freedoms Environics Institute: Survey of Muslims in Canada (2016)

Worldwide, Canadians are among the most positive in viewing their city as a good place for immigrants to live Gallup World Poll Canada and OECD Average 2017 Your city/area is a good place for immigrants to live 92 85 65 62 Canada OECD Avg. 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Canada ranks first among OECD countries on cities as good place for immigrants to live Gallup World Poll 2017 OECD City/area is a good place for immigrants to live CANADA 92 Germany 78 Norway 87 Belgium 74 New Zealand Chile 86 71 Iceland 86 France 69 Ireland 85 Austria 68 Portugal 84 Switzerland 68 Australia 83 Italy 65 Luxembourg 83 Turkey 59 Spain 82 South Korea 58 USA 81 Mexico 57 United Kingdom 81 Japan Slovakia 30 49 Netherlands Greece Estonia 80 45 24 Sweden 80 Israel Latvia 23 41 Denmark 80 Poland 21 Slovenia 39 Finland Hungary 78 Czech Republic 35 20 Slovakia

Canadians are among the most accepting of immigrants across OECD countries and worldwide Gallup World Poll Migrant Acceptance Index Selected OECD Countries 2016 - 2017 Iceland Germany 8.26 7.09 New Zealand 8.25 United Kingdom 6.61 CANADA Italy 6.49 8.14 Migrant acceptance index : A good thing that immigrants: Australia South Korea 7.98 6.49 • Live in your country Sweden France 7.92 6.46 • Become your neighbour Israel 7.87 Japan 6.42 • Marry a close relative Norway Belgium 7.73 6.16 Netherlands Austria 7.46 6.06 Spain 7.44 OECD average 5.79 Turkey 3.27 USA Mexico 4.15 7.27 Czech Republic 2.26 Switzerland 7.21 Greece 3.34 Hungary Denmark Poland 1.69 7.09 3.31

Concluding insights

Why survey research is important How are we doing? • Acceptance, if not celebration, of diversity is a well established aspiration for most Canadians • Many Canadians sometimes struggle with the reality of those who look or act differently • In broad terms, public opinion remains more positive than negative about current levels of immigration and refugee settlement – despite incidents at home and trends in other countries • Canadians stand out world-wide as among the most accepting of immigrants – and this contributes to positive outcomes for both immigrants and everyone else

environicsinstitute.org