Living Together / Vivre Ensemble : An exploration of issues of Faith, Identity, and Belonging in Canada

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Meagan Bates
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1 Living Together / Vivre Ensemble : An exploration of issues of Faith, Identity, and Belonging in Canada

2 The Our Canada Project The CRRF s Our Canada Project was a three-year exploration of issues of identity, faith and belonging across Canada. During this workshop session, we will share with you the important successes, the continuing challenges, and the local and national recommendations emerging from our local consultations and national surveys.

3 Focus on The Report on Canadian Values (2014) The Living Together Symposia ( ) Tomorrow s Canada (2016) Capturing the Pulse of the Nation (2017)

4 About the Our Canada Project a national platform for dialogue Our Canada aimed to build a harmonious society as Canada celebrated its 150th year. The 10 different components fit into one of four themes: Canadian Values, Civic Engagement, Youth Engagement and Nation Building.

5 The Report on Canadian Values (2014) A partnership with ACS, and a national network of thought leaders 2000 adults surveyed by Leger Marketing Survey looked at attachment to markers of identity, views on multiculturalism, and finally religious adherence as a barrier to participation in society

6 The CRRF s list of Canadian Values Respect for human rights and freedoms Equality and equal access to basic needs (e.g. health care and education) Loyalty to Canada Democracy and the rule of law Civility toward others, mutual respect and politeness Generosity, compassion and empathy toward others Multiculturalism - respect for cultural and religious differences Humility, modesty about who we are Patriotism Official bilingualism

7 Ranking of Pre-selected Canadian Values RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS 21% EQUALITY AND EQUAL ACCESS TO BASIC NEEDS (E.G. HEALTH CARE AND EDUCATION) 19% LOYALTY TO CANADA 16% DEMOCRACY AND THE RULE OF LAW 14% CIVILITY TOWARD OTHERS, MUTUAL RESPECT AND POLITENESS 10% GENEROSITY, COMPASSION AND EMPATHY TOWARD OTHERS 9% MULTICULTURALISM - RESPECT FOR CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES 4% PATRIOTISM 3% HUMILITY, MODESTY ABOUT WHO WE ARE 3% OFFICIAL BILINGUALISM 2% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%

8 Regional Variations QC Atl. ON RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS EQUALITY AND EQUAL LOYALTY TO CANADA DEMOCRACY AND THE RULE CIVILITY TOWARD OTHERS, GENEROSITY, COMPASSION MULTICULTURALISM - PATRIOTISM HUMILITY, MODESTY ABOUT OFFICIAL BILINGUALISM 6% 6% 3% 3% 2% 6% 12% 12% 24% 26% RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS EQUALITY AND EQUAL LOYALTY TO CANADA DEMOCRACY AND THE RULE CIVILITY TOWARD OTHERS, GENEROSITY, COMPASSION MULTICULTURALISM - PATRIOTISM HUMILITY, MODESTY ABOUT OFFICIAL BILINGUALISM 1% 0% 2% 3% 9% 19% 19% 15% 14% 17% RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS EQUALITY AND EQUAL LOYALTY TO CANADA DEMOCRACY AND THE RULE CIVILITY TOWARD OTHERS, GENEROSITY, COMPASSION MULTICULTURALISM - PATRIOTISM HUMILITY, MODESTY ABOUT OFFICIAL BILINGUALISM 7% 9% 4% 4% 3% 2% 13% 17% 19% 22% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% MB/SK AB BC RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS EQUALITY AND EQUAL LOYALTY TO CANADA DEMOCRACY AND THE RULE CIVILITY TOWARD OTHERS, GENEROSITY, COMPASSION MULTICULTURALISM - PATRIOTISM HUMILITY, MODESTY ABOUT OFFICIAL BILINGUALISM 18% 14% 18% 11% 7% 4% 1% 3% 0% 24% RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS EQUALITY AND EQUAL LOYALTY TO CANADA DEMOCRACY AND THE RULE CIVILITY TOWARD OTHERS, GENEROSITY, COMPASSION MULTICULTURALISM - PATRIOTISM HUMILITY, MODESTY ABOUT OFFICIAL BILINGUALISM 2% 5% 4% 1% 10% 9% 16% 15% 15% 22% RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS EQUALITY AND EQUAL ACCESS LOYALTY TO CANADA DEMOCRACY AND THE RULE CIVILITY TOWARD OTHERS, GENEROSITY, COMPASSION MULTICULTURALISM - PATRIOTISM HUMILITY, MODESTY ABOUT OFFICIAL BILINGUALISM 6% 2% 4% 1% 17% 19% 13% 13% 12% 14% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20%

11 Examples of such (incompatible) cultural practices Religious headwear and clothing (hijabs, burkas, turbans in public or security settings), religious headwear in RCMP/police (turban, hijab) Carrying certain weapons associated to religious practices Women's rights (gender inequality) Reasonable accommodations (negative connotation) Sharia law / aspects of the Sharia Adapting to Canadian values/culture (Charter rights, flag, laws) Religious practice in general Religious holidays (in general) and festivals (unspecified) Honour killing

12 RELIGIOUS HEADWEAR AND CLOTHING (HIJABS, BURKAS, TURBANS IN PUBLIC OR SECURITY SETTINGS), RELIGIOUS HEADWEAR IN 28% DON'T KNOW / NO ANSWER 19% RELIGIOUS PRACTICE IN GENERAL 10% CARRYING CERTAIN WEAPONS ASSOCIATED TO RELIGIOUS PRACTICES 8% RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS (IN GENERAL) AND FESTIVALS (UNSPECIFIED) 8% WOMEN'S RIGHTS (GENDER INEQUALITY) 7% REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS (NEGATIVE CONNOTATION) 6% ADAPTING TO CANADIAN VALUES/CULTURE (CHARTER RIGHTS, FLAG, LAWS) 5% SHARIA LAW / ASPECTS OF THE SHARIA 5% HONOUR KILLING 4% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%

13 ENFORCE/IMPOSE LAWS ON ALL CANADIANS / MUST ABIDE BY CANADIAN LAWS 40% OTHER 15% EDUCATE IMMIGRANTS ABOUT CANADIAN SOCIETY/ACCEPTABLE PRACTICES 15% DON'T KNOW / NO ANSWER 12% BAN/OUTLAW FOREIGN CULTURAL PRACTICES 12% PUNISH/JAIL/DEPORT THEM/THOSE WHO BREAK THE LAW 8% ENCOURAGE MULTICULTURALISM/ INTEGRATION/ASSIMILATION 6% LIMIT/CUT BACK ON IMMIGRATION 6% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45%

14 Living Together Symposia Three Community Consultations: November 19, 2014: Faith Leader Consultation, Ottawa May : Francophone Consultation, Montréal June 25, 2015: First Nations, Métis and Inuit Consultation, Sudbury

15 Six Symposia Whitehorse, September 2015 Richmond, January 2016 Red Deer, March 2016 Hamilton, March 2016 Halifax, June 2016 Yellowknife, September 2016

16 Whitehorse September 2015 Richmond January 2016 Red Deer March 2016 Hamilton March 2016 Halifax June 2016 Yellowknife September 2016

17 Learnings from the Living Together Symposia Education was seen as a key method for the creation of a more accepting community Reconciliation with Canada s First Nations peoples was also a universal topic across all of these Symposia The creation and improvement of infrastructure that encourages cross-cultural conversation and inter-change is also an issue that was highlighted by all of these Symposia.

19 Tomorrow s Canada high school students, Grades Objectives to provide the opportunity for students to discuss issues of racism and discrimination to empower youth across Canada to become powerful agents of ongoing change to promote conversations with and between the students and educators after the events are concluded

20 Tomorrow s Canada: 4 Locations Quebec City (Commission scolaire de la Capitale), February 27, 2016 Winnipeg (Winnipeg School District 1), March 2, 2016 Milton (Halton District School Board), March 8, 2016 Calgary (Calgary Board of Education), March 23, 2016

21 Tomorrow s Canada: 3 Workshops The Power of Storytelling Reconciliation You Make Me Nervous

22 Tomorrow s Canada: Youth Feedback The workshops were excellent and really made me think about my own bias and how we aren t born with our thoughts on the world, but learn them from so many sources that we never really question. I really enjoyed the You Make Me Nervous workshop learning about the assumptions we make in our lives, and why. Future programs should have more workshops and speakers of different backgrounds

23 Tomorrow s Canada: Youth and Canadian Values Survey Values Youth reflection Respect for human rights and freedoms Equality and equal access Loyalty to Canada Democracy and the rule of law Civility toward others Generosity, compassion Multiculturalism Humility and modesty Patriotism Official bilingualism Respect for Human Rights Equality and Equal Access Civility towards Others Generosity, Compassion Multiculturalism Democracy and Rule of Law Humility and modesty Loyalty to Canada Official Bilingualism Patriotism

24 Capturing the Pulse of the Nation Measures the state of race relations in the country 2011 Survey related to the Long Form Census 2013 Survey on views towards Aboriginal Peoples in Canada 2016 Survey towards religious, racial, and aboriginal groups in Canada

25 Capturing the Pulse of the Nation, Canadians, including 500 respondents born outside of Canada Conducted by the firm Leger Marketing for the Canadian Race Relations Foundation and the Association for Canadian Studies during the week of March 13-24, 2017 Some interesting highlights

26 POSITIVE VIEWS OF SELECTED GROUPS RISE BETWEEN 2013 AND % 90% 73% 70% 74% 75% 72% 80% 70% 60% 60% 63% 60% 55% 50% 50% Aboriginals Muslims Jews Immigrants Atheists 40%

27 Examination of positive and negative views of selected groups I prefer not to answer I don t know Very negative Somewhat negative Somewhat positive Very positive 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% Somewhat Somewhat I prefer not to Very positive Very negative I don t know positive negative answer Jews 27% 47% 10% 3% 10% 3% Atheists 23% 40% 15% 6% 13% 3% Aboriginals 28% 45% 15% 4% 6% 2% Muslims 18% 37% 21% 13% 8% 3% Refugees 21% 43% 19% 9% 7% 2% Immigrants 22% 50% 16% 5% 5% 2%

80% 75% 70% Perceptions of Aboriginals and Relations with Non-Aboriginals % Positive Opinion of Aboriginals % View Relations between Aboriginals and non-aboriginals as

28 80% 75% 70% Perceptions of Aboriginals and Relations with Non-Aboriginals % Positive Opinion of Aboriginals % View Relations between Aboriginals and non-aboriginals as Positive/Good 73% 65% 65% 60% 60% 63% 62% 61% 55% 58% 50% 53% 45% 40% Relations 44% 43% 45% 35% 37% 39% 30% Mar 2012 Feb 2013 Mar 2013 (A) Mar 2013 (B) Feb 2014 Mar 2015 Mar 2016 Mar 2017

29 Total % of Positive Views towards the following groups Black Persons Asian Canadians 82% 81% Jews Aboriginals Immigrants Catholics The Christian Religion 74% 73% 72% 72% 70% Refugees Atheists Judaism 63% 63% 62% Muslims 55% Islam 43% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

30 Total positive opinions of Muslims Up 60% 50% 55% 40% 46% 46% 46% 43% 30% 35% 20% 10% 0% Mar-12 Mar-13 Mar-13 Sep-14 Mar-16 Mar-17

31 Views on Multiculturalism 2017 CAPTURING THE PULSE OF THE NATION I prefer not to answer 1% I don t know 5% Very negative 6% Somewhat negative 13% Somewhat positive 40% Very positive 34% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45%

32 Capturing the Pulse of the Nation Irregular heartbeats Perceptions about religion Hate on the Internet

33 Positive views towards religion I PREFER NOT TO ANSWER VERY NEGATIVE 2% 3% 3% 5% 5% 18% The Christian Religion Judaism Islam SOMEWHAT NEGATIVE 15% 13% 25% I DON T KNOW 7% 11% 18% SOMEWHAT POSITIVE 29% 43% 42% VERY POSITIVE 14% 20% 27% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%

34 40% Views of Islam compared to views of Muslims 37% 35% Islam Muslims 30% 29% 25% 25% 21% 20% 18% 18% 15% 14% 13% 11% 10% 8% 5% 3% 3% 0% Very positive Somewhat positive Somewhat negative Very negative I don t know I prefer not to answer

35 70% 60% Hate on the Internet Total 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Often Occasionally Rarely Never I don t know I prefer not to answer

80% 70% The Majority Hold Internet and Social Networking Companies Accountable for the Spread of Expressions of Hate 18-24

36 80% 70% The Majority Hold Internet and Social Networking Companies Accountable for the Spread of Expressions of Hate Total 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% TOTAL FAVOURABLE TOTAL OPPOSED Don t know/prefer not to answer

37 Capturing the Pulse of the Nation, 2017 The results show us that there are things to celebrate They also show us that there is more work to be done.

38 Questions?

Multiculturalism, Interculturalism and opinion on Muslims, Jews and Sikhs.

Multiculturalism, Interculturalism and opinion on Muslims, Jews and Sikhs. Jack Jedwab Executive Director Association for Canadian Studies September 11, 2007 Exclusive to Canwest In the aftermath of 9-11