Ditch custom and conform: Poll
Calgary Sun
Most Canadians believe ethnic minorities should restrain their cultural customs and conform to those around them, a Sun Media poll reveals.
The national survey conducted by Leger Marketing shows a stunning 85% believe it's important -- if not essential -- that minorities adapt to the lifestyle habits of the city where they live.
"I thought we had gone through this with the RCMP and the issue of kirpans in schools and all the rest," said Leger vice-president Dave Scholz. "But apparently we haven't."
The poll shows that while most Canadians don't object to religious practices like prayers, Ramadan fasting or prohibiting alcohol, a whopping 37% think wearing a veil poses a problem. Another 25% take issue with wearing religious ornaments.
"Over a third of Canada thinks there's a problem with someone wearing a veil, which is more evidence of us having this simmering racism. Not as nice a country as we'd like to think it is," Scholz said.
The survey found that Canadians who aren't religious themselves are less tolerant of people practising their religious traditions. Men are also less tolerant than women when it comes to faith practices.
By region, Albertans and Prairie dwellers are far less concerned about women wearing a veil than those in Ontario.
But even though Canadians may harbour resentment about certain religious and cultural practices like the veil, Scholz doesn't expect a major backlash anytime soon.
"A Canadian may feel there's an issue with a community wearing religious ornaments on a regular basis but as Canadians, are we going to do much about it? Is it going to rear up? I doubt it," he said. "But they are telling us they would like people to adapt and conform to whatever they feel is a Canadian lifestyle."
As a society, the poll shows Canada isn't overly religious, with 58% of the population confessing they don't practise faith much or at all. People who are of a visible minority are more likely to practise religion than those who aren't.
One-third of Canadians practice Catholicism, while one-fifth are Protestant and another one-fifth classify themselves as atheist.
This online Leger Marketing poll, commissioned by Sun Media, surveyed a representative national sample of 3,092 adult Canadians between Dec. 27, 2006, and Jan. 5, 2007. Responses are considered accurate within plus or minus 1.8 percentage points 19 times out of 20.
Keeping you informed, entertained, amused.. and Spam Free
Buy, Sell, or Trade on Moncton.net.
Moncton's Free Classifieds
http://www.moncton.net/classifieds/
"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it."
- Albert Einstein -