EKOS Data Sources on Political

Participation:Syndicated Products

 Presentation to Metropolis Project“Bringing Worlds Together: The Study of

Political Participation of Women in Canada and Lessons for Research on Newcomers

and Minority Political Participation”

March 23, 2002

Challenges

Definitions of Newcomer and Minority Self-reported ethnicity vs. visible minority

When does someone become “newcomer”

Incidence levels in general population surveys vary considerably by type

Electoral and Non-Electoral Participation Behaviour and attitudes; Self-reporting biases

Relate to broader questions of expectations and values

“Other” Languages and Interviewing Gen pop approx. 1%

Syndicated research survey(s) currently in the 8th study year

Objective: to provide timely research for clients on key issues within a broader thematic context (e.g. inequality, North American Integration, trust and ethics)

Horizontal issue focus differentiates it from omnibus

Current study: 3 surveys of approx. 3000 nationally representative Canadians

survey of Canadian decision-makers (public, private & third sector)

Areas Covered

Attitudes toward Government General & specific

performance

Trust and ethics

Priorities for government

Desire for government involvement

Short/Long term Outlook State of economy

Personal security (economic and non-economic)

Policy issues Long-term tracking of key

issues (immigration; health)

Short-term policy options and vision ideas

Civic culture and behaviour Values

Identity

Participation; social Participation; social capital and social capital and social cohesioncohesion

Profiling Variables Characteristics Related to

Immigration/Ethnicity Language (first learned and understood) Country of birth (16% outside Canada) Year achieved landed status (dispersed throughout decades) Ancestry (ethnic or cultural group of ancestors) Parents (33% at least one not born in Canada) Self-identified: visible minority (10%); aboriginal person

(3%); disabled person (4%)

Regular demographics Income; employment status Education; Age, Gender Household type Community size

Trust in Federal Government

How much do you trust the government in Ottawa to do what is right?

July 2000 (n=2146)

March 1999 (n=1506)

August 2001 (n=3004)

27

17

19

48

53

48

20

27

5

5

6

24

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%Almost never Only some of the time Most of the time Almost always

General Pop.

62%

62%

73%

74%

79%

94%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Some people have a stronger sense of belonging to some things than others. Please tell me how strong your own personal sense of

belonging is to each of the following.

Sense of Belonging

Your family

Your province

Your community

North America*

Canada

The world*

Somewhat to intense sense of belonging (5, 6, 7 on a 7-point scale)

Rethinking Government, January 2001n=3099; *half sample

Feb.-94n=2369

6.7

5.8

5.6

5.5

5.2

4.9

July-00n=1505

6.6

5.8

5.4

5.3

5.2

5.0

Jan.-01n=3099

6.6

5.8

5.4

5.5

5.1

5.1

Civic Activism

How often have you…?

8992

4536

3732

2115

65

1719

2120

2828

5

3745

4147

5157

3

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Men

Women

Men

Women

Men

Women

Men

Women

Never Once More than once

Written a letter to a newspaper

Attended a religious service

Donated time to a cause you believe in

Donated money to a cause you believe in

Syndicated research survey(s) currently in the 3rd study year

Objective: to offer a comprehensive research into attitudes about consulting with and engaging Canadians in the policy process

2000-01 study: survey of 2493 nationally representative Canadians

Deliberative groups on several thematic issues

Citizen Engagement

Areas Covered

Attitudes toward government Trust

Cynicism

Influence

Accountability and Reporting to public Importance

Rating performance

Favoured modes of communication

Broad attitudes to engagement Appetite for

engagement

Priorities

Drivers for participation

Experience with engagement

Profiling Variables

Characteristics Related to Immigration/Ethnicity Language (first learned and understood)

Country of birth; year achieved landed status

Ancestry (ethnic or cultural group of ancestors)

Parents (33% at least one not born in Canada); also Grandparents

Regular demographics Income Education Age Household type Community size Gender

Appetite for Engagement

In your opinion, do you feel that there are too many, too few, or about the right number of citizen engagement

exercises on public policy in Canada?

6%

20%

68%

16%

30%

54%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Elite (n=479)General population (n=2170)

Too few

About right number

Too many

Public Experience with Consultation/Citizen Engagement Exercise

How often would you say that you have taken part in a government-sponsored consultation or engagement exercise?

68

69

68

28

27

28

4

4

3

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Born in Canada(n=2128)

Born outside(n=358)

All Canadians(n=2493)

Virtual Activism

Have you ever participated in any of the following activities?

Sent an e-mail to a government official

Registered opinion on a web site specifically designed to obtain citizen views on a political

issue

Visited a Gov’t Web site

Participated in a chat or discussion group over the internet on a political

issue

n=1,921

Civic Activism

Voted in Federal elections

Voted in Municipal elections

Voted in Provincial elections

Kept informed on public affairs

Donated time/money to cause you believe in

Participated in a voluntary group or assoc.

Attended religious services

Signed a petition

How often have you….?

Voting at the Federal Level

38

8

8

21

10

16

8

12

11

12

46

79

67

77

84

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Post 1980 (n=58)

Prior to 1980 (n=38)

Born in Canada (n=718)

Born outside (n=103)

All Canadians (n=826)

Never Occasionally Frequently

How often have you voted in federal elections?

Immigrant or Canadian Born

Date of Landed Status

Member of a Political Party

86

69

73

77

74

10

20

19

16

19

4

8

7

8

10

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Post 1980 (n=131)

Prior to 1980 (n=205)

Born in Canada (n=2128)

Born outside (n=358)

All Canadians (n=2493)

How often have you been a member of a political party of worked for a political party?

Immigrant or Canadian Born

Date of Landed Status

Signed a Petition

39

23

13

30

15

44

61

65

55

64

17

22

16

21

15

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Post 1980 (n=64)

Prior to 1980 (n=116)

Born in Canada (n=1062)

Born outside (n=191)

All Canadians (n=1257)

Never Occasionally Frequently

How often have you signed a petition?

Immigrant or Canadian Born

Date of Landed Status

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