Majority of Canadians Recognize Antisemitism and Islamophobia as Problems, Survey Finds

    TORONTO (CTV Network) — According to a recent survey conducted by the Angus Reid Institute, the majority of Canadians acknowledge the existence of both antisemitism and Islamophobia in the country. Published on Wednesday, the survey highlighted significant differences in opinions between age groups and religious affiliations.

The survey revealed that “three-quarters see both [antisemitism and anti-Muslim attitudes] as significantly problematic, while just 11 per cent of Canadians feel that each is ‘not really a problem.'” However, the severity of these issues varied among respondents.

Following the Israel-Hamas war, tensions have escalated in communities worldwide, including Canada, where there has been a rise in competing protests and reports of antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents. Since the outbreak of the conflict on October 7, Toronto police alone have recorded an increase in hate crime occurrences, with 56 classified as antisemitic and 20 categorized as anti-Muslim or anti-Palestinian.

The survey found that over three quarters of Canadians (78 per cent) recognized antisemitism and Islamophobia as “major” problems or problems that are “one among many others.” Only a small percentage of Canadians (11 to 14 per cent) considered these issues as minor, while 11 per cent did not perceive them as problems at all.

Interestingly, Canadians aged 54 and above were more likely to view antisemitism as a major problem (34 per cent) compared to anti-Muslim discrimination (20 per cent). On the other hand, Canadians between the ages of 18 and 34 regarded Islamophobia as a significant problem (26 per cent) over anti-Jewish hatred (22 per cent).

Among respondents who identified as Jewish, 75 per cent saw antisemitism as a major problem. Among those who identified as Muslim, nearly half (48 per cent) perceived anti-Muslim discrimination as a serious issue. However, 49 per cent of Muslim respondents regarded antisemitism as a minor or non-existent problem, while 19 per cent of Jewish respondents classified Islamophobia as a minor or non-existent issue.

The survey was conducted online and gathered responses from 3,749 Canadian adults between November 24 and December 1. The Angus Reid Institute, a national not-for-profit organization, specializes in conducting opinion polls and research on issues affecting Canadians.

Additionally, the survey highlighted a growing criticism of the impact of religion on Canadian society. In 2023, 26 per cent of respondents described religion as a negative force in the country, compared to 14 per cent in 2017. Over the span of six years, the percentage of Canadians who deemed religion as a positive influence decreased from 38 per cent in 2017 to 26 per cent in 2023.

The survey also noted changing attitudes towards Islam in Canada when compared with seven other faith groups. The survey stated that “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.”

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