Age and gender demographics drive differences in how seriously these issues are viewed
December 20, 2023 – As has been the case in countries around the world, the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas is driving domestic tensions in Canada. Since Oct. 7, reports of anti-Semitism have risen starkly in Canada. The Jewish community has faced threats including an alleged terrorism plot in Ottawa which resulted in charges against a teenager. The same is true of Islamophobic incidents, which have “skyrocketed” in recent months according to the National Council of Canadian Muslims.
New data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds broad agreement in this country that both anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim discrimination are problems domestically. Indeed, three-quarters see both as significantly problematic, while just 11 per cent of Canadians feel that each is “not really a problem”.
However, there are varying perceptions of the severity of the problem both anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim attitudes pose. Canadians older than 54 are much more likely to view anti-Semitism as a major problem (34%) than those younger than 35 (22%). The inverse is true of anti-Muslim discrimination – more Canadians aged 18- to 34-years-old view it as a significant problem requiring serious attention (26%) than those older than 54 (21%).
Most (75%) Canadian Jews see anti-Semitism as a major problem. However, Canadian Muslims place less emphasis on it, with half in that group saying it either is a minor problem (17%) or not really a problem at all in Canada (32%). Asked about the reverse, 48 per cent of Muslims perceive anti-Muslim discrimination as a major problem and 26 per cent of Jews agree. Few Jews describe anti-Muslim hatred as a minor problem (15%) or not one at all (4%).
About ARI
The Angus Reid Institute (ARI) was founded in October 2014 by pollster and sociologist, Dr. Angus Reid. ARI is a national, not-for-profit, non-partisan public opinion research foundation established to advance education by commissioning, conducting and disseminating to the public accessible and impartial statistical data, research and policy analysis on economics, political science, philanthropy, public administration, domestic and international affairs and other socio-economic issues of importance to Canada and its world.
INDEX
Part One: Both anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim sentiment viewed as problems in Canada
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Just one-in-10 don’t see a problem
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Perceptions of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism by religion
Part Two: Canadians growing more critical of religion’s impact on society
Part One: Both anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim sentiment viewed as problems in Canada
Just one-in-10 don’t see a problem
The conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has led to heightened domestic tensions around the world and in Canada, where there have been regular protests since the war erupted in October. It has also borne witness to a rise in anti-Semitic attacks and graffiti. RCMP also recently uncovered a plot targeting the Jewish community which led to one Ottawa teenager being charged with terrorism.
The Toronto Police Service expanded its hate crime team from six to 32 officers after it reported an increase in both Islamophobic and Anti-Semitic hate crimes since the war began Oct. 7. The National Council of Muslims says it recorded a 13-fold increase in anti-Islamic hate crimes and intimidation over a similar period of time.
Few Canadians dismiss either anti-Semitism or anti-Muslim hatred. But there is less consensus over the respective severity of each issue.
One-in-seven (14%) view anti-Islamic attitudes as a minor problem, while half (53%) see it as a problem but one among many in Canada. One-in-five (22%) view anti-Muslim attitudes as a major problem that needs to be addressed.
Canadians’ assessments of the severity of anti-Semitism in Canada are similar, though they are slightly more likely to describe it as a major concern (26% vs. 22%):
Older respondents are much more likely than younger ones to view anti-Semitism as a major problem in Canada. One-in-five (19%) 18- to 34-year-old men believe anti-Semitism isn’t really an issue for the country, the most of any demographic:
Women are much more likely than men to view anti-Muslim attitudes as a major problem in Canada. One-third (32%) of 18- to 34-year-old women believe it to be a significant issue, the highest proportion of any demographic:
Perceptions of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism by religion
Canadians’ perspectives on Islamophobia and anti-Semitism vary by their religious identity. Half (48%) of respondents who self-identified as Muslims in this survey view anti-Muslim attitudes as a serious problem. One-quarter (26%) of Jews agree, but more view it as a problem of less urgency.
Note, religious sample sizes are shown unweighted to better represent the number of interviews performed but are weighted to their proportion of the Canadian population in the general population total sample.
Anti-Semitism is much more likely to be seen as a major problem by respondents who self identified as Jews in this survey. Three-quarters (75%) say it requires serious attention. Muslims are less likely to see anti-Semitism as a serious concern, with one-third (32%) viewing it as not a problem at all:
Part Two: Canadians growing more critical of religion’s impact on society
In 2017, the Angus Reid Institute first asked Canadians how to assess the impact of religions in Canada’s public square. Half say the overall contributions are an even mix of good and bad. Those who felt faith communities contributed positively to Canadian society outnumbered those who felt contributions were more negative by more than two-to-one.
Six years later, Canadians are more critical of the impact of religion in Canada: the groups who believe the impact of religions are negative (26%) and those who believe they are a positive force (26%) are equal:
Those who identify as religious themselves are more likely to see the contributions of religious communities to be positive, though it varies. A majority of Muslims (60%) feel faith communities contribute more good to Canada than bad. For Canadian Jews, a majority feel religious contributions to society are mixed, but they are more likely to believe them to be a net positive than a net negative.
Perspectives on the contributions of religions are similar across Canada with one notable exception. Those in Quebec, a historically more secular province, are much more likely to view religious contributions to Canada as a net negative:
Canadians were asked to assess eight faith groups specifically and whether they felt those groups were benefitting or damaging to Canada and Canadian society (see the detailed tables for the full list of religious groups assessed). Views of religions were fairly static since ARI last asked these questions, with one notable exception. Canadians are now more likely to say Islam is damaging to Canadian society than they were in 2022. Now, more than two-in-five (43%) believe Islam to be a harmful presence to Canada, a figure triple the number who believe the religion to be a positive contributor:
Survey Methodology:
The Angus Reid Institute conducted an online survey from Nov. 24 to Dec. 1, 2023 among a representative randomized sample of 3,749 Canadian adults who are members of Angus Reid Forum. For comparison purposes only, a probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of +/- 1.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. This survey also includes a boosted sample of 114 Canadian Jews and 111 Canadian Muslims. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding. The survey was self-commissioned and paid for by ARI.
For detailed results by age, gender, region, education, and other demographics, click here.
For detailed results by religion, click here.
To read the full report, including detailed tables and methodology, click here.
To read the questionnaire, click here.
Image – Photo 261319616 © Pascal Deloche | Dreamstime.com
MEDIA CONTACT:
Shachi Kurl, President: 604.908.1693 shachi.kurl@angusreid.org @shachikurl
Dave Korzinski, Research Director: 250.899.0821 dave.korzinski@angusreid.org @davekorzinski