Environics Institute Releases Study Results On Canadian Opinions Surrounding Immigration And Minorities

As part of its ongoing Focus Canada research program the Environics Institute partnered with Canadian Race Relations Foundation to update its ongoing tracking of Canadian public opinion on immigration and inclusion.

Key takeaways from the report’s areas of focus included:

Immigration and refugees

Public opinion continues to be more positive than negative in terms of support for current immigration levels and the legitimacy of refugees, with sentiments a bit less polarized than before.

Many Canadians continue to say too many immigrants are not adopting Canadian values, but this view continues to wane. Worldwide, Canadians are among the most accepting of immigrants in their country.

Treatment of minority groups

Most Canadians believe there is ongoing discrimination in Canada against ethnic and racial groups, especially Muslims and Indigenous Peoples, and to a lesser extent Black people, South Asians, Jews and Chinese people. The perceived extent of such mistreatment has declined somewhat since 2015, reversing an earlier trend.

Muslims in Canada

Canadians remain largely divided in their opinions about Islam, with views worsening noticeably in Alberta (and to a lesser extent Ontario) over the past year. A plurality continues to think that most Muslims want to remain distinct rather than integrate into Canadian society.

Read the full report

View the data tables

Read The Globe and Mail’s coverage

Listen to CBC’s Pollcast: How do Canadians view immigration?

Study Methodology

The research consisted of a national survey conducted by telephone (including cell phones) with a representative sample of 2,000 Canadians aged 18 plus conducted February 5 – 17, 2018 (The margin of sampling error is +/-2.2% in 19 out of 20 samples).

Learn more about the Environics Institute

Learn more about the Canadian Race Relations Foundation

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