CBC News Poll on Discrimination

November 2014

Methodology
This report presents the findings of an online survey conducted among
1,500 Canadian adults 18yrs+ and is representative of the Canadian
population by age, gender and region based on 2011 Census data.
A subsample of 260 interviews was conducted with visible minorities.
The online survey was conducted by Environics Research Group from
October 22 - 29, 2014

Assessing Comfort Levels

The majority of respondents indicated a high degree of comfort around engaging with people with other ethnic
backgrounds. Being in a romantic relationship is the statement ranked lowest with 45% of Canadians indicating
they are very comfortable.

5 Very comfortable

Someone with a different ethnic

background moved next door to me

Very uncomfortable

58%

Someone of a different ethnic

background married my best friend

57%

49%

45%

12%

23%

11%

20%

21%

54%

21%

22%

21%

Top 2

Bottom
2

3%2%3%

79%

6%

3% 3%4%

79%

6%

DK/NA

21%

56%

Employing someone of a different

ethnic background

Someone of a different ethnic

background married my
child/brother/sister
Being in a romantic relationship with
someone of a different ethnic
background

58%

Working for someone of a different

ethnic background

Voting for someone from a different

ethnic group

11%

3%2% 6%

79%

5%

12%

3%
3% 5%

77%

6%

4% 4% 4%

75%

9%

71%

9%

66%

13%

13%

14%

15%

4% 5% 6%

5% 8%

6%

Q1a. To what extent are you comfortable or uncomfortable with the following statements regarding immigration and multiculturalism? Please use
a scale from 1 to 5 where 5 means you are very comfortable and 1 means you are not very comfortable. All respondents n=1500

Assessing Comfort Levels Demographic Differences

Overall, respondents residing in Quebec and the Prairies indicate somewhat lower comfort levels than those
residing in the Atlantic region or British Columbia.

Description

Top 2 Comfortable

Gender

Age

Region

Total

Men

Women

18-29

30-49

50+

ATL

QC

ON

Prairies

BC

Someone with a different ethnic

background moved next door to
me

79%

79%

79%

84%

77%

79%

86%

76%

82%

72%

84%

Working for someone of a different

ethnic background

79%

79%

79%

82%

80%

77%

83%

78%

81%

73%

81%

Employing someone of a different

ethnic background

79%

78%

79%

81%

79%

77%

83%

76%

80%

74%

83%

Someone of a different ethnic

background married my best friend

77%

76%

79%

82%

77%

75%

86%

76%

78%

71%

83%

Voting for someone from a

different ethnic group

75%

75%

75%

81%

75%

72%

81%

73%

76%

69%

80%

Someone of a different ethnic

background married my
child/brother/sister

71%

71%

71%

75%

71%

69%

76%

69%

72%

65%

78%

Being in a romantic relationship

with someone of a different ethnic
background

66%

70%

62%

69%

69%

62%

72%

63%

65%

64%

73%

Q1a. To what extent are you comfortable or uncomfortable with the following statements regarding immigration and multiculturalism? Please use
a scale from 1 to 5 where 5 means you are very comfortable and 1 means you are not very comfortable. All respondents n=1500

Assessing Comfort Levels Demographic Differences

Respondents who are in the visible minority group as well as those born outside Canada express
higher comfort levels across all the statements we tested.

Description

Visible Minority

Born in Canada

Total

Yes
n=260

No
n=1240

Yes
n=956

No
n=234

Someone with a different ethnic

background moved next door to
me

79%

85%

78%

79%

82%

Working for someone of a different

ethnic background

79%

87%

78%

79%

82%

Employing someone of a different

ethnic background

79%

86%

77%

78%

81%

Someone of a different ethnic

background married my best friend

77%

85%

76%

77%

80%

Voting for someone from a

different ethnic group

75%

83%

73%

74%

77%

Someone of a different ethnic

background married my
child/brother/sister

71%

77%

70%

70%

73%

Being in a romantic relationship

with someone of a different ethnic
background

66%

75%

64%

66%

66%

Q1a. To what extent are you comfortable or uncomfortable with the following statements regarding immigration and multiculturalism? Please use
a scale from 1 to 5 where 5 means you are very comfortable and 1 means you are not very comfortable. All respondents n=1500

Assessing Comfort Levels

The majority of respondents indicate a high degree of comfort with respect to engaging with Aboriginal
Canadians, although expressed comfort levels are marginally softer when compared to the same statements
about people from other ethnic backgrounds.

5 Very comfortable

Very uncomfortable

Top 2

Bottom
2

4% 3%5%

76%

8%

DK/NA

Working for someone of Aboriginal

background

55%

An Aboriginal family moved next

door to me

53%

21%

12%

5% 3% 5%

75%

9%

Employing someone of Aboriginal

background

54%

21%

12%

4% 3%6%

75%

7%

Someone of Aboriginal background

married my best friend

53%

21%

13%

4%3% 5%

74%

8%

Voting for someone of Aboriginal

background

53%

6% 4% 5%

73%

9%

68%

11%

63%

15%

Someone of Aboriginal background

married my child/brother/sister

Being in a romantic relationship with

someone of Aboriginal background

48%

43%

22%

11%

20%

21%

20%

12%

14%

14%

6% 6% 7%

8%

7%

8%

Q1b To what extent are you comfortable or uncomfortable with the following statements regarding Aboriginal peoples in Canada? Please use a
scale from 1 to 5 where 5 means you are very comfortable and 1 means you are not very comfortable. All respondents n=1500

Assessing Comfort Levels Demographic Differences

There are no differences between age groups or gender. Respondents residing in the Prairies express lower
comfort levels with respect to engaging with Aboriginal Canadians.

Description

Top 2 Comfortable

Gender

Age

Region

Total

Men

Women

18-29

30-49

50+

ATL

QC

ON

Prairies

BC

Working for someone of

Aboriginal background

76%

75%

77%

78%

76%

75%

80%

78%

79%

66%

74%

An Aboriginal family moved next

door to me

75%

73%

76%

78%

75%

73%

77%

76%

80%

61%

74%

Employing someone of Aboriginal

background

75%

73%

77%

76%

75%

74%

77%

75%

79%

67%

71%

Someone of Aboriginal
background married my best
friend

74%

73%

75%

77%

75%

73%

82%

78%

76%

63%

73%

Voting for someone of Aboriginal

background

73%

72%

74%

75%

72%

74%

75%

75%

77%

63%

72%

68%

66%

70%

72%

69%

66%

70%

73%

70%

59%

65%

63%

65%

61%

65%

64%

61%

68%

65%

66%

50%

62%

Someone of Aboriginal
background married my
child/brother/sister
Being in a romantic relationship
with someone of Aboriginal
background

Q1b. To what extent are you comfortable or uncomfortable with the following statements regarding Aboriginal Peoples in Canada? Please use a
scale from 1 to 5 where 5 means you are very comfortable and 1 means you are not very comfortable. All respondents n=1500

Attitudes about Multiculturalism

Three out of four respondents (75%) agree that Canada is a welcoming place for all ethnicities. On the other
hand, the same proportion of Canadians (73%) agrees that immigrants should make their best effort to
assimilate. Over half of Canadians (56%) believe that their country is better off because it has so many distinct
cultures.

5 Strongly agree

I believe Canada is a welcoming

place for all ethnicities

Strongly disagree

46%

Immigrants should make their best

effort to assimilate to Canadian
values and culture

DK/NA

29%

51%

17%

23%

17%

Agree

Disagree

3% 3%2%

75%

6%

4% 3% 2%

73%

7%

I am proud of Canada's multicultural

makeup

39%

26%

20%

6%

7% 2%

65%

12%

I think the blending of cultures is a

good thing for the world

38%

28%

21%

6% 6% 2%

65%

12%

60%

12%

I think multiculturalism is a global

trend
My close circle of friends or
relations includes people from
different ethnic groups

Canada is better off because it has

so many distinct cultures

33%

36%

30%

27%

22%

26%

7% 5% 4%

24%

21%

10%

7% 4%

58%

17%

23%

9%

9% 3%

56%

18%

Q2. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements regarding immigration and multiculturalism? Please use a scale from 1
to 5 where 5 means you strongly agree and 1 means you strongly disagree. All respondents n=1500

Attitudes about Multiculturalism

More than half of respondents agree that immigrants are very important to building a stable Canadian
economic future (55%), while 30% agree that immigrants take away jobs from Canadians. Canadians are
divided when it comes to worrying about their own cultural values being lost as ethnic diversity increases with
40% of respondents expressing agreement and 37% expressing disagreement.

5 Strongly agree

Immigrants are very important to

building a stable Canadian economic
future

25%

I don't distinguish between cultures

25%

I worry that my own cultural values

will be lost as ethnic diversity
increases

I have felt in certain situations that I

should hide my ethnic origin

Strongly disagree

29%

I think government and social

institutions have to do more to help
make multiculturalism work

Immigrants take jobs from

Canadians

26%

8%

10%

24%

24%

27%

23%

22%

16%

DK/NA

27%

17%

14%

10%

20%

23%

10%

14%

20%

54%

Agree

Disagree

8% 3%

55%

17%

10%

10% 5%

49%

19%

12%

10% 3%

47%

22%

23%

3%

40%

37%

24%

3%

30%

44%

17%

64%

10%

8%

Q2. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements regarding immigration and multiculturalism? Please use a scale from 1
to 5 where 5 means you strongly agree and 1 means you strongly disagree. All respondents n=1500

Attitudes towards Multiculturalism Demographic Differences

Overall those aged 18-29 express more positive views on multiculturalism compared to older demographics.
Respondents residing in Quebec as well as the Prairies express somewhat less favourable opinions on
immigration and ethnic diversity.

Description

Top 2 Agree

Gender

Age

Region

Total

Men

Women

18-29

30-49

50+

ATL

QC

ON

Prairies

BC

I believe Canada is a welcoming

place for all ethnicities

75%

75%

75%

79%

74%

75%

70%

76%

77%

70%

76%

Immigrants should make their

best effort to assimilate to
Canadian values and culture

73%

74%

73%

58%

72%

82%

59%

82%

70%

74%

73%

I think the blending of cultures is

a good thing for the world

65%

65%

66%

71%

65%

63%

67%

63%

66%

62%

73%

I am proud of Canada's
multicultural makeup

65%

63%

67%

71%

66%

62%

68%

57%

69%

63%

72%

I think multiculturalism is a global

trend

60%

60%

60%

58%

60%

61%

53%

62%

62%

56%

59%

My close circle of friends or

relations includes people from
different ethnic groups

58%

58%

58%

64%

58%

55%

51%

55%

61%

55%

62%

Canada is better off because it

has so many distinct cultures

56%

56%

56%

63%

55%

53%

59%

48%

61%

52%

61%

Q2. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements regarding immigration and multiculturalism? Please use a scale from 1
to 5 where 5 means you strongly agree and 1 means you strongly disagree. All respondents n=1500

Attitudes towards Multiculturalism Demographic Differences

Respondents in Quebec are more likely to be concerned that their own cultural values will be lost as ethnic
diversity increases. Those residing on Ontario or BC are more likely to believe that immigrants are important for
Canadas economic future.

Description

Top 2 Agree

Gender

Age

Region

Total

Men

Women

18-29

30-49

50+

ATL

QC

ON

Prairies

BC

Immigrants are very important to

building a stable Canadian
economic future

55%

57%

53%

55%

56%

54%

51%

51%

60%

49%

58%

I think government and social

institutions have to do more to
help make multiculturalism work

49%

50%

48%

52%

48%

49%

50%

44%

52%

47%

54%

I don't distinguish between

cultures

47%

49%

46%

47%

46%

49%

50%

46%

48%

43%

53%

I worry that my own cultural values

will be lost as ethnic diversity
increases

40%

38%

41%

36%

38%

43%

30%

47%

37%

41%

37%

Immigrants take jobs from

Canadians

30%

28%

32%

30%

31%

30%

34%

26%

28%

39%

30%

I have felt in certain situations that

I should hide my ethnic origin

17%

18%

17%

22%

21%

12%

14%

17%

20%

20%

11%

Q2. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements regarding immigration and multiculturalism? Please use a scale from 1
to 5 where 5 means you strongly agree and 1 means you strongly disagree. All respondents n=1500

Assessing Comfort Levels Demographic Differences

Respondents who belong to a visible minority group as well as those born outside Canada are significantly
more likely to embrace multiculturalism

Description

Visible Minority

Born in Canada

Total

Yes
n=260

No
n=1240

Yes
n=956

No
n=234

I believe Canada is a welcoming

place for all ethnicities

75%

80%

74%

74%

78%

Immigrants should make their

best effort to assimilate to
Canadian values and culture

73%

72%

74%

73%

76%

I think the blending of cultures is

a good thing for the world

65%

79%

62%

63%

74%

I am proud of Canada's
multicultural makeup

65%

80%

62%

63%

77%

I think multiculturalism is a global

trend

60%

73%

57%

57%

72%

My close circle of friends or

relations includes people from
different ethnic groups

58%

74%

54%

55%

71%

Canada is better off because it

has so many distinct cultures

56%

73%

52%

53%

70%

Q2. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements regarding immigration and multiculturalism? Please use a scale from 1
to 5 where 5 means you strongly agree and 1 means you strongly disagree. All respondents n=1500

Assessing Comfort Levels Demographic Differences

Respondents who belong to a visible minority group as well as those born outside Canada are significantly
more likely to embrace multiculturalism

Description

Visible Minority

Born in Canada

Total

Yes
n=260

No
n=1240

Yes
n=956

No
n=234

Immigrants are very important to

building a stable Canadian
economic future

55%

78%

50%

49%

80%

I think government and social

institutions have to do more to
help make multiculturalism work

49%

68%

45%

46%

64%

I don't distinguish between

cultures

47%

59%

45%

45%

58%

I worry that my own cultural values

will be lost as ethnic diversity
increases

40%

30%

42%

42%

29%

Immigrants take jobs from

Canadians

30%

23%

32%

32%

21%

I have felt in certain situations that

I should hide my ethnic origin

17%

31%

15%

15%

28%

Q2. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements regarding immigration and multiculturalism? Please use a scale from 1
to 5 where 5 means you strongly agree and 1 means you strongly disagree. All respondents n=1500

Subjects of Discrimination Top of mind responses

When asked, which group they believe is most likely to experience discrimination in Canada, 24% of
respondents mentioned Muslims and another 14% said people from Arab or Middle Eastern countries.

Muslims

23.9%
14.3%

Arabs/West Asians/Middle Eastern

Aboriginal Peoples
Blacks
Africans
Somali

Indian/Pakistani/Bangladesh/South Asian
Asians
Chinese
Caucasians/Canadians
Jews
Latin American

Francophones
Other
All/All visible minorities/Non-Caucasians/immigrants
None
I dont know/No response

16.1%
5.3%
1.7%
0.9%
5.9%
3.3%
1.2%
1.9%
0.5%
0.3%
0.2%
4.2%
2.5%
4.1%
13.8%

Q3. Which ethnic or cultural group do you think is most likely to experience discrimination in Canada? Base: All respondents n=1500
Includes first mention of open ended question only. Note this study was fielded closely following the events in Ottawa on Oct 22

Perceived Subjects of Discrimination

The majority of respondents indicated that they think Muslims and Arabs / West Asians are at least sometimes
discriminated against. While Anglophones and Francophones were seen as the least discriminated against, a
full one-third of respondents still think they are at least sometimes discriminated against.

Often

Sometimes

Muslims

Never

55%

Arabs / West Asians

39%

34%

Blacks

39%

23%

South Asians

11%

Chinese

10%

Francophones

5%

Anglophones

5%

82%

5% 4%

73%

5% 4%

70%

34%

39%

26%

10% 3% 5%

30%

43%

29%

84%

21%

46%

13%

7% 4% 5%

17%

47%

41%

7% 6%

57%

8% 5%

53%

10%

32%
41%

Often +
Sometimes

DK/NA

29%

43%

Aboriginal Peoples

Jews

Rarely

15%
24%

6%
10%
3%

Q4. For each of the following groups, please tell me whether you think they are often, sometimes, rarely or never the subject of discrimination in
Canadian society today. Base: All respondents n=1500; Francophones asked in Eng Canada only, Anglophones asked in Quebec only

52%
34%
31%

15

Perceived Subjects of Discrimination Demographic Differences

Perceptions of which groups experiences discrimination vary between demographic groups as well as across
the regions

Description

Often/Somtimes

Gender

Age

Region

Total

Men

Women

18-29

30-49

50+

ATL

QC

ON

Prairies

BC

Muslims

84%

82%

87%

82%

85%

85%

85%

89%

84%

81%

81%

Arabs / West Asians

82%

79%

84%

80%

83%

81%

84%

85%

81%

80%

79%

Aboriginal Peoples

73%

72%

74%

67%

70%

79%

79%

66%

70%

82%

81%

Blacks

70%

67%

73%

67%

69%

72%

72%

78%

70%

62%

63%

South Asians

57%

55%

59%

58%

57%

58%

62%

43%

63%

54%

71%

Chinese

53%

54%

53%

59%

55%

50%

61%

41%

57%

48%

67%

Jews

52%

51%

54%

44%

50%

59%

56%

65%

53%

38%

46%

34%

38%

30%

28%

32%

38%

N/A

32%

30%

38%

31%

31%

32%

25%

33%

32%

Francophones (outside
Quebec only)

Anglophones (Quebec only)

31%

Q4. For each of the following groups, please tell me whether you think they are often, sometimes, rarely or never the subject of discrimination in
Canadian society today. All respondents n=1500; Francophones asked in Eng Canada only, Anglophones asked in Quebec only

16

Perceived Subjects of Discrimination Demographic Differences

Respondents who are not a member of a visible minority group as well as those born in Canada are more likely
to think that Arabs, Aboriginal Peoples, Jews and Francophones experience discrimination at least sometimes.

Often + Sometimes

Visible Minority

Born in Canada

Total

Yes
n=260

No
n=1240

Yes
n=956

No
n=234

Muslims

84%

80%

85%

87%

74%

Arabs / West Asians

82%

75%

83%

85%

69%

Aboriginal Peoples

73%

66%

75%

75%

65%

Blacks

70%

73%

69%

71%

67%

South Asians

57%

58%

57%

58%

55%

Chinese

53%

55%

53%

54%

50%

Jews

52%

45%

54%

55%

42%

Francophones (outside Quebec only)

34%

23%

36%

36%

23%

Anglophones (Quebec only)

31%

N/A

32%

32%

N/A

Q4. For each of the following groups, please tell me whether you think they are often, sometimes, rarely or never the subject of discrimination in
Canadian society today. All respondents n=1500; Francophones asked in Eng Canada only, Anglophones asked in Quebec only

17

Perceived Subjects of Discrimination Trending over time

Note: Due to changes in methodology differences between the 2014 survey and previous waves should
be viewed with caution

Often + Sometimes
2014

2010

2006

2004

Muslims

84%

72%

76%

80%

Arabs / West Asians

82%

N/A

N/A

N/A

Aboriginal Peoples

73%

72%

74%

75%

Blacks

70%

62%

70%

68%

South Asians

57%

N/A

N/A

N/A

Pakistanis or Indians

N/A

69%

73%

73%

Chinese

53%

52%

47%

48%

Jews

52%

50%

52%

56%

Francophones (outside Quebec only)

34%

46%

40%

46%

Anglophones (Quebec only)

31%

42%

30%

32%

Q4. For each of the following groups, please tell me whether you think they are often, sometimes, rarely or never the subject of discrimination in
Canadian society today. All respondents n=1500; Francophones asked in Eng Canada only, Anglophones asked in Quebec only

18