New Poll: 57% Of Canadians Oppose Race-Based Affirmative Action Hiring

A new survey conducted by Leger for the Association for Canadian Studies reveals that a majority of Canadians oppose taking cultural background or race into account in hiring decisions. To read the full survey, click here. Here are some of the key results:

Majority of Canadians want hiring to be colourblind

“When companies hire people, it is important for employers to take their cultural background (e.g., racial status / visible minority) into account.”

• No: 57%
• Yes: 28%
• I don’t know: 15%

Men and women, all age groups uncomfortable with race-based hiring

Percentage answering “no” to the previous question among various demographics:

• Male: 57%
• Female: 57%
• 18-24: 50%
• 25-34: 51%
• 35-44: 60%
• 45-54: 62%
• 55-64: 58%
• 65+: 58%

Majority of white Canadians and plurality of non-white Canadians oppose taking race into account in hiring

Percentage answering “no” among white and non-white respondents:

• White Canadians: 59%
• Non-white Canadians: 49%

Out of the regions surveyed, Quebecers most opposed to affirmative action

Percentage answering “no” among the regions surveyed:

• Quebec: 63%
• Alberta: 58%
• British Columbia: 57%
• Ontario: 55%
• Manitoba +Saskatchewan: 53%
• Atlantic Canada: 50%

Section 15(2) of Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms allows affirmative action if it is geared towards historically disadvantaged groups:

“15 (1) Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.

(2) Subsection (1) does not preclude any law, program or activity that has as its object the amelioration of conditions of disadvantaged individuals or groups including those that are disadvantaged because of race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.“

The fact that the Charter allows for affirmative action does not, of course, mean that it mandates it. A government would be wholly within its rights to curtail or put a halt to race-based hiring in government programs. Given that a large majority of Canadians across a wide swathe of demographics and regions want hiring to be based on merit rather than ethnic background, we may well see a federal or provincial politician run on this issue in the future.