Canadian Multiculturalism, Identity, and Reconciliation: Evidence from a National Survey

Figures & data

Table 1. Binomial Logistic Regression Predicting Support for Further Reconciliation.

	B	S.E.	Wald’s χ^2	OR	95% C.I. for OR		p
					Lower	Upper
Age [1= Under 18–7 = 65+]	−.045	.043	1.080	.956	.878	1.041	.299
Language [0=English, 1= French]	.580	.192	9.140	1.786	1.226	2.601	.003**
Gender [0= Male, 1=Female]	.079	.136	.335	1.082	.829	1.413	.563
Education [1 = Some high school or less − 6= post-graduate university degree or higher]	.025	.016	2.584	1.026	.994	1.058	.108
Income [1= Not enough − 4= Enough to save]	−.095	.078	1.467	.909	.780	1.061	.226
PoC [0= white, 1= Non-Indigenous Person of Color]	.207	.208	.992	1.230	.819	1.847	.319
Too much immigration [1= Strongly disagree − 4= Strongly agree]	−.210	.058	13.191	.811	.724	.908	<.001***
Shared values [1=Strongly disagree − 3= Strongly agree]	−.021	.073	.082	.979	.849	1.129	.775
Federal system reflects diversity [1= Strongly disagree − 3= Strongly agree]	−.019	.087	.049	.981	.826	1.164	.825
New government employees should reflect regional diversity [1=Strongly disagree − 3= Strongly agree]	−.098	.077	1.602	.907	.780	1.055	.206
Party [0= the Conservative Party and the Peoples Party of Canada, 1= the Liberal Party, the New Democratic Party, Bloc Québécois, and the Green Party]	.660	.148	19.762	1.935	1.446	2.588	<.001***
Government size [0= Smaller, 1= larger]	.426	.091	21.874	1.531	1.281	1.829	<.001***
Informed consent [1=Strongly disagree − 3= Strongly agree]	1.099	.074	220.164	3.000	2.595	3.469	<.001***
Role in reconciliation [1=Strongly disagree − 3= Strongly agree]	1.201	.175	47.167	3.325	2.360	4.685	<.001***
History [1= Not at all familiar − 4= Very familiar]	−.249	.085	8.548	.780	.660	.921	.003**
Constant	−6.105	.799	58.318	.002			<.001

Note. n = 3,267 *p<.05, **p<.01, ***p<.001. Cox & Snell R² = .347 Nagelkerke R² = .483. Variables in bold are statistically significant.

Table

Dependent variable: ‘Reconciliation:’ “In your opinion, have governments in Canada gone too far or have they not gone far enough in trying to advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples?”	Gone too far Not gone far enough
Independent variable: ‘GenderNew:’ “Please indicate your gender”	Male Female
Independent variable: Age: “Please indicate your age”	Under 18 18 to 24 25 to 34 35 to 44 45 to 54 55 to 64 64 +
Independent variable: ‘Values’: “How much do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?− Canadians basically have the same values regardless of which region of the country they live in”	Strongly disagree Somewhat disagree Somewhat agree Strongly agree
Independent variable: ‘GovSize:’ “Generally speaking, would you say you favor”	A smaller government with fewer services A larger government with more services
Independent variable: ‘FederalGood:’ “How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements?− A federal system of government is the best one for Canada because we are a country made up of different peoples and nations”	Strongly disagree Somewhat disagree Somewhat agree Strongly agree
Independent variable: ‘Informed:’ “How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements?− No one should be allowed to develop natural resources on Indigenous land unless the Indigenous community that lives there agrees”	Strongly disagree Somewhat disagree Somewhat agree Strongly agree
Independent variable: ‘HireRange:’ “Do you support or oppose the following measures to help promote national unity in Canada?− Making it mandatory for the federal government to hire a minimum number of new employees each year from every region of the country”	Strongly disagree Somewhat disagree Somewhat agree Strongly agree
Independent variable: ‘Role:’ “Do you believe that individual Canadians do, or do not, have a role to play in efforts to bring about reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples?”	Strongly disagree Somewhat disagree Somewhat agree Strongly agree
Independent variable: ‘History:’ “How familiar do you feel you are with the history of Indian Residential Schools in Canada?”	Not at all familiar Not too familiar Somewhat familiar Very familiar
Independent variable: ‘FullParty:’ “If a Canadian federal election were held today, which one of the following parties would you vote for?”	The Conservative Party and the People’s Party of Canada The Liberal Party, the New Democratic Party, the Bloc Québécois, and the Green Party
Independent variable: Education: “What is the highest level of education that you have reached?”	Some high school or less Completed high school Some university, college, CEGEP, or technical school Completed college, CEGEP, or technical school Undergraduate university degree Post-graduate university degree or higher
Independent variable: ‘Language:’ “Which language is spoken most often at home?”	English French
Independent variable: ‘Income:’ “Would you say your total household income is:”	Not enough for you and you are stretched Not enough for you and you are having a hard time Just enough for you, so that you do not have major problems Good enough for you, and you can save from it