VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - August 24, 2016) - A new poll by NRG Research Group and Peak Communicators reveals that 41 percent of Canadians see the way Canada has welcomed Syrian refugees into the country as having a positive impact on race relations. This research is being released six months after the completion date of February 29th, 2016, when 25,000 Syrian government-supported and privately sponsored refugees were resettled into Canada.
From the remaining respondents, 26 percent of Canadians saw the movement of Syrian refugees into Canada as having a negative impact on race relations; 27 percent say they have perceived no impact and 4 percent are unsure. Women are more likely than men to say Syrian refugees had a very positive impact on race relations in Canada (16 percent of women versus 11 percent of men).
Race relations in Canada
However, the poll also reveals that three-quarters (77 percent) of Canadians still see racism as a problem in society today (29 percent say it is a big problem, 48 percent see racism as somewhat of a problem).
When asked if tensions between racial and ethical groups had changed over the last ten years, the largest proportion of Canadians -- 41 percent -- say tensions have increased in Canada. Only 15 percent believe tensions have decreased, while 35 percent feel they have stayed the same.
Roland Pajares, a lead researcher on this study with NRG Research Group, says, "People responded to the survey just after the devastating death of Colten Boushie in Saskatchewan that sparked racial tension. Three in ten residents of the Western Prairies (Saskatchewan and Alberta) specifically said race relations in their community had deteriorated over the last ten years."
Race relations in Canada versus U.S.
In comparing the research to a Kaiser/CNN study conducted with Americans in November 2015:
"Racism is perceived as a bigger issue in America than in Canada. We can see glimpses of this disparity being heightened by recent news stories coming out of Baton Rouge, Baltimore, and many other cities in the United States," says Roland Pajares. "What's interesting is both Canadians and Americans say racism across the board has increased in their respective countries, but not as much in their local community. This may be a result of the responsibility news media can play in developing positive race relations."
These results are from a provincially-representative Canada-wide study of 1,000 online respondents conducted by NRG Research Group on August 9 and 10, 2016*.
Notes to editor:
*One thousand Canadians were asked the following four questions:
Q1. How big of a problem is racism in our society today?
Q2. During the last ten years, do you think tensions between racial and ethnic groups in each of the following have increased, decreased, or stayed about the same?
Q3. How much of a role, if any, do you think each of the following should play in developing positive race relations in Canada?
Q4. "Canada has welcomed many Syrian refugees over the last 12 months. What kind of impact has this had on your perceptions of race relations in Canada?"
NRG Research Group is a leading Canadian public affairs and market research company, with offices in Vancouver, Calgary and Winnipeg.
Peak Communicators is one of the largest independent full-service public relations agency in Western Canada with a specialty in media relations, communication strategy, media training and digital media.
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Contact Information:
For more information, contact
Charis Whitbourne
Peak Communicators
604-689-5559
Charis@peakco.com
Andrew Enns, President
NRG Research Group
204-989-8986
aenns@nrgresearchgroup.com
Lesley Duncan, Research Consultant
NRG Research Group
604-676-3994
lduncan@nrgresearchgroup.com