The Roots of Perception: How Some Canadian Founding Groups Feel About Others?

The Roots of Perception: How Some Canadian Founding Groups feel about others?

Jack Jedwab

Introduction

In the assessment of intergroup relations Canadians have become increasingly preoccupied with relations between majorities and minorities on the basis of ethnicity, religion, racial identities and aboriginality and very often how rooted Canadians feel about new Canadians. Less attention has been directed more recently at what the rooted or more established groups think of each other and this despite historic animosities which undoubtedly continue to be felt by an important minority of Canadians. That which follows examines how the established groups, English Canadians and French Quebecers feel about each other and their respective opinion about aboriginals, Jews and new Canadians). The survey of 1500 Canadians conducted by the firm Leger Marketing for the Association for Canadian Studies during the week of November 30, 2009 also looks at the degree of contact between the groups and the extent to which such contact influences opinion of the groups.

As observed below in the table summarizing the views of the various groups, French Quebecers have a somewhat more positive opinion of English Canadians than English Canadians do of French Quebecers. Allophones report a much more favourable opinion of English Canadians than do French Quebecers. Aboriginals obtain somewhat less favourable opinion from all three language groups though. Immigrants are viewed more favourably by all three language groups than aboriginals. English Canadians give similar ratings to French Quebecers and Aboriginals. Immigrants get roughly similar ratings from English Canadians and French Quebecers. While Jews rank lowest amongst French Quebecers they have a relatively high ranking in English Canada.

Table 1

Do you have a very favourable, somewhat favourable, somewhat unfavourable or very unfavourable opinion of the following groups?

Total Favourable Opinion / French / English / Other /
English Canadians / 75.0 / 84.0 / 85.5 /
French Quebecers / 89.9 / 60.1 / 63.7 /
Aboriginals / 57.9 / 59.5 / 52.1 /
Jews / 53.8 / 76.5 / 68.7 /
Immigrants / 68.9 / 69.2 / 76.3 /
English Canadians / French / English / Other /
Total Favorable / 75.0 / 84.0 / 85.5 /
Very favourable / 22,6% / 54,0% / 51,5% /
Somewhat favourable / 52,4% / 34,0% / 34,0% /
Somewhat unfavourable / 13,4% / 1,2% / ,5% /
Very unfavourable / 1,5% / ,1% / 1,5% /
I don't know / 7,3% / 5,5% / 9,3% /
I prefer not to answer / 2,7% / 5,2% / 3,1% /
Total / 100,0% / 100,0% / 100,0%
French Quebecers / French / English / Other /
Total favourable / 89.9 / 60.1 / 63.7 /
Very favourable / 51,5% / 23,8% / 25,4% /
Somewhat favourable / 38,4% / 36,3% / 38,3% /
Somewhat unfavourable / 2,7% / 19,3% / 15,0% /
Very unfavourable / 1,5% / 5,7% / 4,7% /
I don't know / 3,7% / 9,1% / 16,1% /
I prefer not to answer / 2,1% / 5,7% / ,5% /
Total / 100,0% / 100,0% / 100,0%

Table

Do you have a very favourable, somewhat favourable, somewhat unfavourable or very

unfavourable opinion of Aboriginals?

Aboriginals / French / English / Other /
Total Favorable / 57.9 / 59.5 / 52.1 /
Very favourable / 14,3% / 22,7% / 22,7% /
Somewhat favourable / 43,6% / 36,8% / 29,4% /
Somewhat unfavourable / 21,6% / 18,0% / 19,1% /
Very unfavourable / 4,0% / 6,5% / 4,1% /
I don't know / 12,5% / 10,2% / 21,6% /
I prefer not to answer / 4,0% / 5,7% / 3,1% /
Total / 100,0% / 100,0% / 100,0%
Immigrants / French / English / Other /
Total Favorable / 68.9 / 69.2 / 76.3 /
Very favourable / 16,5% / 26,4% / 35,6% /
Somewhat favourable / 52,4% / 42,8% / 40,7% /
Somewhat unfavourable / 18,0% / 12,1% / 10,3% /
Very unfavourable / 3,0% / 4,0% /
I don't know / 7,3% / 9,1% / 12,9% /
I prefer not to answer / 2,7% / 5,6% / ,5% /
Total / 100,0% / 100,0% / 100,0%
Jews / French / English / Other /
Total Favorble / 53.8 / 76.5 / 68.7 /
Very favourable / 15,3% / 38,7% / 33,3% /
Somewhat favourable / 38,5% / 37,8% / 35,4% /
Somewhat unfavourable / 16,8% / 3,2% / 2,1% /
Very unfavourable / 7,0% / 1,4% / 3,1% /
I don't know / 18,7% / 13,4% / 22,1% /
I prefer not to answer / 3,7% / 5,5% / 4,1% /
Total / 100,0% / 100,0% / 100,0%

Proximity

Contact- Often and Occasionally / French / English / Other /
English Canadians / 55.0 / 94.9 / 94.3 /
French Quebecers / 94.8 / 40.2 / 42.8 /
Aboriginals / 21.1 / 47.3 / 22.5 /
Jews / 15.3 / 51.7 / 47.9 /
Immigrants / 56.4 / 73.9 / 88.1 /
Jews / French / English / Other /
Often / 3,7% / 17,8% / 23,2% /
Occasionally / 11,6% / 33,9% / 24,7% /
Often and Occasionally / 15.3 / 51.7 / 47.9 /
Rarely / 32,9% / 24,2% / 24,7% /
Never / 42,4% / 9,5% / 13,4% /
I don't know / 8,8% / 13,3% / 13,9% /
I prefer not to answer / ,6% / 1,4% /
Total / 100,0% / 100,0% / 100,0%
French Quebecers / French / English / Other /
Often / 86,3% / 13,2% / 23,7% /
Occasionally / 8,5% / 27,0% / 19,1% /
Often and Occasionally / 94.8 / 40.2 / 42.8 /
Rarely / 3,7% / 39,2% / 26,8% /
Never / 1,2% / 16,5% / 30,4% /
I don't know / ,3% / 3,1% /
I prefer not to answer / 1,1% /
Total / 100,0% / 100,0% / 100,0%
Aboriginals / French / English / Other /
Often / 4,6% / 15,2% / 9,2% /
Occasionally / 16,5% / 32,1% / 13,3% /
Often and Occasionally / 21.1 / 47.3 / 22.5 /
Rarely / 38,1% / 35,5% / 40,5% /
Never / 38,7% / 12,3% / 34,9% /
I don't know / 2,1% / 3,6% / 2,1% /
I prefer not to answer / 1,3% /
Total / 100,0% / 100,0% / 100,0%
English Canadians / French / English / Other /
Often / 27,5% / 89,3% / 80,9% /
Occasionally / 27,5% / 5,6% / 13,4% /
Often and Occasionally / 55.0 / 94.9 / 94.3 /
Rarely / 33,6% / 1,9% / 3,6% /
Never / 11,0% / 1,3% / 2,1% /
I don't know / ,3% / ,8% /
I prefer not to answer / 1,1% /
Total / 100,0% / 100,0% / 100,0%
Immigrants / French / English / Other /
Often / 20,7% / 37,6% / 53,6% /
Occasionally / 35,7% / 36,3% / 34,5% /
Often and Occasionally / 56.4 / 73.9 / 88.1 /
Rarely / 29,6% / 16,4% / 6,7% /
Never / 13,4% / 6,4% / 3,1% /
I don't know / ,6% / 2,3% / 2,1% /
I prefer not to answer / 1,1% /
Total / 100,0% / 100,0% / 100,0%

Contact and Opinion

As revealed below contact English and French can be a determining factor in improving attitudes between persons identifying with the two groups. In each instance the more often respondents reported contact with the other the more likely they were to express a favourable opinion. From a policy standpoint this suggests that programs supporting contact between language groups or with aboriginals produce more favourable relationships.

English
Opinion of French Quebecers / Often / Occasionally / Rarely / Never /
Very favourable / 45,0% / 31,4% / 19,0% / 11,4% /
Somewhat favourable / 37,8% / 42,4% / 41,0% / 19,3% /
Somewhat unfavourable / 13,5% / 16,6% / 22,3% / 22,1% /
Very unfavourable / ,9% / 3,5% / 4,8% / 16,4% /
I don't know / 1,8% / 2,6% / 7,5% / 22,9% /
I prefer not to answer / ,9% / 3,5% / 5,4% / 7,9% /
Total / 100,0% / 100,0% / 100,0% / 100,0% /
French
Opinion of English Canadians / Often / Occasionally / Rarely / Never /
Very favourable / 38,2% / 21,1% / 14,7% / 13,5% /
Somewhat favourable / 48,3% / 53,3% / 58,7% / 43,2% /
Somewhat unfavourable / 6,7% / 11,1% / 18,3% / 18,9% /
Very unfavourable / 1,1% / 1,1% / ,9% / 5,4% /
I don't know / 3,4% / 8,9% / 6,4% / 13,5% /
I prefer not to answer / 2,2% / 4,4% / ,9% / 5,4% /
Total / 100,0% / 100,0% / 100,0% / 100,0% /

Aboriginals

English
Opinion of Aboriginals / Often / Occasionally / Rarely / Never /
Very favourable / 41,1% / 28,0% / 17,4% / 7,7% /
Somewhat favourable / 33,3% / 43,2% / 37,6% / 31,7% /
Somewhat unfavourable / 12,4% / 18,1% / 20,8% / 22,1% /
Very unfavourable / 7,8% / 1,1% / 8,7% / 12,5% /
I don't know / ,8% / 5,5% / 13,1% / 15,4% /
I prefer not to answer / 4,7% / 4,1% / 2,3% / 10,6% /
Total /
French
Opinion of Aboriginals / Often / Occasionally / Rarely / Never /
Very favourable / 31,3% / 25,9% / 13,0% / 8,6% /
Somewhat favourable / 43,8% / 50,0% / 50,4% / 34,4% /
Somewhat unfavourable / 18,8% / 14,8% / 17,1% / 30,5% /
Very Unfavorable / ------/ 3,7% / 3,3% / 5,5% /
I don't know / 6,3% / 5,6% / 7,3% / 19,5% /
I prefer not to answer / 8,9% / 1,6% /
/ 100,0% /
Allophone
Opinion of Aboriginals / Often / Occasionally / Rarely / Never /
Very favourable / 52,9% / 16,0% / 19,0% / 23,5% /
Somewhat favourable / 35,3% / 48,0% / 39,2% / 11,8% /
Somewhat Unfavorable / ------/ 32,0% / 25,3% / 11,8% /
Very unfavourable / ------/ ------/ ------/ 2,9% /
I don't know / 5,9% / 4,0% / 7,6% / 42,6% /
I prefer not to answer / 5,9% / ------/ 8,9% / 7,4% /
/ 100,0% /
Total /

Immigrants

English
Opinion of Immigrants / Often / Occasionally / Rarely / Never /
Very favourable / 34,0% / 17,6% / 13,1% / 16,4% /
Somewhat favourable / 35,8% / 42,2% / 34,3% / 32,7% /
Somewhat unfavourable / 12,6% / 20,6% / 27,0% / 16,4% /
Very unfavourable / 6,0% / 6,5% / 8,0% / 9,1% /
I don't know / 6,3% / 9,2% / 13,9% / 14,5% /
I prefer not to answer / 5,3% / 3,9% / 3,6% / 10,9% /
Total /
French
Opinion of Immigrants / Often / Occasionally / Rarely / Never /
Very favourable / 50,0% / 26,3% / 17,3% / 9,1% /
Somewhat favourable / 25,0% / 44,7% / 46,9% / 27,3% /
Somewhat unfavourable / 16,7% / 13,2% / 21,4% / 27,3% /
Very unfavourable / 8,3% / ======/ 3,1% / 15,9% /
I don't know / 5,3% / 8,2% / 15,9% /
I prefer not to answer / 10,5% / 3,1% / 4,5% /
Total /

Jews

Opinion of Jews / English / French / Allophone /
/ Often / Occasionally / Often / Occasionally / Often / Occasionally /
Very favourable / 60,0% / 45,5% / 50,0% / 26,3% / 68,9% / 18,8% /
Somewhat favourable / 32,7% / 41,6% / 25,0% / 44,7% / 28,9% / 45,8% /
Somewhat unfavourable / ,7% / 1,7% / 16,7% / 13,2% / 2,2% / 2,1% /
Very unfavourable / 2,0% / ,7% / 8,3% / ======/ ------/
I don't know / 4,7% / 6,6% / 5,3% / 29,2% /
I prefer not to answer / 3,8% / 10,5% / 4,2% /

Contact by Province and Age

The highest rate of contact with French Quebecers outside of Quebec was in the Maritimes followed by Ontario. With immigrants it was highest in Ontario followed by Alberta and BC. Contact with Jews was lowest in Quebec followed by Alberta and the Maritimes.

Do you have contact with the following groups often, occasionally, rarely or never? / Province
TOTAL often + occasionally / I prefer not to answer + I don't know / Maritimes / QC / ON / MB/SK / AB / BC
Jews / 42% / 14% / 36% / 25% / 54% / 53% / 36% / 41%
French Quebecers / 53% / 4% / 57% / 98% / 43% / 26% / 27% / 33%
English Canadians / 85% / 3% / 96% / 58% / 95% / 96% / 89% / 91%
Aboriginals / 37% / 5% / 29% / 20% / 34% / 70% / 46% / 55%
Immigrants / 72% / 4% / 65% / 60% / 79% / 70% / 75% / 75%

Contact with Jews and Aboriginals increases on the basis of age.

Do you have contact with the following groups often, occasionally, rarely or never? / Age
TOTAL often + occasionally / I prefer not to answer + I don't know / 18-24 / 25-34 / 35-44 / 45-54 / 55-64 / 65+
Jews / 42% / 14% / 30% / 34% / 41% / 42% / 53% / 51%
French Quebecers / 53% / 4% / 56% / 51% / 55% / 53% / 57% / 48%
English Canadians / 85% / 3% / 76% / 77% / 86% / 85% / 89% / 95%
Aboriginals / 37% / 5% / 26% / 29% / 32% / 44% / 46% / 40%
Immigrants / 72% / 4% / 74% / 75% / 78% / 72% / 67% / 65%

Opinion

As to province of residence it is in Alberta and BC where French Quebecers get the lowest rating of favourable opinion. Aboriginals and immigrants are also lowest in Alberta. Jews are lowest in Alberta and Quebec.

Province
TOTAL FAVOURABLE (somewhat favourable + very favourable) / I prefer not to answer + I don't know / Maritimes / QC / ON / MB/SK / AB / BC
Jews / 69% / 22% / 71% / 56% / 78% / 77% / 58% / 68%
Aboriginals / 56% / 19% / 58% / 57% / 59% / 58% / 45% / 54%
Immigrants / 70% / 14% / 68% / 71% / 72% / 76% / 60% / 67%
French Quebecers / 65% / 15% / 61% / 90% / 60% / 61% / 47% / 55%
English Canadians / 84% / 12% / 81% / 78% / 89% / 86% / 80% / 83%

As to favourable opinion in the case of most groups it is with age that view improve.

Age
TOTAL FAVOURABLE (somewhat favourable + very favourable) / I prefer not to answer + I don't know / 18-24 / 25-34 / 35-44 / 45-54 / 55-64 / 65+
Jews / 69% / 22% / 60% / 54% / 65% / 73% / 73% / 84%
Aboriginals / 56% / 19% / 56% / 44% / 54% / 64% / 58% / 61%
Immigrants / 70% / 14% / 66% / 59% / 67% / 75% / 72% / 77%
French Quebecers / 65% / 15% / 65% / 59% / 64% / 63% / 69% / 71%
English Canadians / 84% / 12% / 81% / 66% / 84% / 87% / 90% / 94%