As evidenced by the recent re-election of President Obama, progressive values – including respect for equality, sustainability and justice – are gaining traction around the world. A new poll commissioned by the Broadbent Institute and conducted by Environics Research Group in April 2013 demonstrates that urban/suburban Canadian attitudes mirror this global trend. On issues ranging from taxation and trust in public institutions, to social values and views regarding Canada’s role on the world stage, progressive ideals are supported by strong majorities in the largest urban/suburban areas across the country, which are increasingly the hardest fought battlegrounds for federal elections. On the vast majority of issues we explored there was no statistically significant difference in the views of Canadian-born and foreign born urban/suburban residents.
Foreign-born residents are more conservative than Canadian-born residents on such social issues as same-sex marriage, abortion and personal use of marijuana. In some instances, however, the attitudes of immigrants are demonstrably more progressive than those of Canadian-born respondents. Where immigrant values may be less progressive than those of Canadian-born respondents, these differences tend to be erased in as little as a decade. Finally, when it comes to second generation Canadians, there is clear evidence to suggest that their attitudes are as progressive, or even more progressive, than the children of Canadian-born parents. These findings are at odds with recent reports speculating that Canadians are becoming more conservative in their views. This poll, and other available data, would suggest the opposite is in fact the case.
Though it is never a good idea to conclude that demographic trends are inexorable, because clearly good policy and politics are important, the commitment of the Canadian population to progressive values is deep and lasting. Progressive political parties and governments can only be aided by this receptivity.
‘Canadian Values are Progressive Values: A Snapshot of the Views of New and Canadian-born Urban/Suburban Canadians, 2013’ is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0
