(3rd February 2023 – Ottawa, ON) – In the second part of our study of religion and secularism in Canada, we examine Canadians’ attitudes towards members of other religions and their outlook on the impact religion has on their society. [More...]
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(3rd February 2023 – Ottawa, ON) – In the second part of our study of religion and secularism in Canada, we examine Canadians’ attitudes towards members of other religions and their outlook on the impact religion has on their society. [More...] (13th December 2022 – Ottawa, ON) – Statistics Canada released a report in October based on new 2021 census data that religiosity and religious observance have declined since 2001. [More...] [Ottawa – May 13, 2022] The Conservative leadership race has done little to break stalemate in the federal horserace. At 32 points, the Liberal Party holds a statistically insignificant, fraction-of-a-point lead over the Conservative Party. At 20 points, the NDP is in a distance third place. Interestingly, the People’s Party is down four points from January, suggesting that the media attention on leadership candidates such as Pierre Poilievre and Leslyn Lewis may be drawing the party’s supporters back into the Conservative fold. [More...] This presentation was delivered by Frank Graves to the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy on October 24, 2018. [More...] [Ottawa – October 15, 2015] Most citizens are deeply concerned about the current status and future prospects for Canada’s public health care system. There is a clear sense that the system has eroded badly under Stephen Harper’s watch and the public are emphatically offside with many of the core health policies of the Harper government. Even within Conservative supporters, there are large levels of anxiety and dissatisfaction. In the rest of the voting population, dissatisfaction is intense – even visceral. The question arises as to why an issue of such potent significance to Canadians, at the… [More...] By Frank Graves [Ottawa – October 2, 2014] Influential thinkers, organizers, policy developers and business leaders have gathered to discuss what we can accomplish as a nation at this year’s Canada 2020 conference. To open the conference, Frank Graves presents brand new public opinion data on the major policy challenges facing Canada. Click here for the full story of how evolving trends in values and attitudes are causing our political leaders to rethink the public interest: Public Record – Canada 2020 conference – Polling Presentation (October 2, 2014) Click here for a PDF version of… [More...] Quebeckers Reject Referendum Adventure as it Appears They Have Already Emotionally Separated from Canada [Ottawa – April 4, 2014] As a rather unusual campaign nears completion, it appears that Pauline Marois’ gambit to secure a majority mandate and a path to a new referendum, has gone horribly wrong for her and the Parti Québécois (PQ). Barring some frankly unforeseeable collapse Philippe Couillard’s Liberal party is going to emerge with a victory on Monday. It is unclear whether it will be a majority or not, but the high hopes of a PQ win, let alone a majority, lie in ruins… [More...] IMAGINING THE DEFINING ISSUE OF THE 42ND ELECTION FEBRUARY 21, 2014 IntroductionNow that we’ve all had a chance to pick through the entrails of a fairly low-key federal budget, let’s ask the questions: What does it tell us about the next election? How do we place this budget within the evolving political landscape? What does this fiscal plan reveal about broader changes to our society and democracy? Finally, how does this connect to what we believe to be the most fundamental political challenge of our age – the diminution of the middle class and the collapse… [More...] Examining Longer Term Shifts in Values, Social Class, and Societal OutlookBy Frank GravesPresentation to the School of Public Policy and GovernanceUniversity of TorontoClick here for Frank Graves’ presentation to the School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Toronto. The presentation addresses a number of important issues, including the shifting values and priorities of Canadians, the changing outlook on Canada’s middle class and economy, and the perceived health of democracy in Canada. HOW CANADIANS SEE SOCIETY EVOLVING [Ottawa – February 21, 2013] – We have recently updated our research on broad social trends in values and ideology. The approach we used was to track the same measures asked of random samples of the Canadian public using exactly the same questions and to then test the direction and significance of any shifts that are occurring. It seemed interesting to compare the results of these repeated measures tests with current public perceptions of the trajectory of those trends. The actual trend lines are more accurately revealed using the tracking methods, but it is… [More...] [Ottawa – January 9, 2013] Follow the link below for our complete five-part series titled “Looking Backward, Looking Forward”. In this series, we examine some of the broad social forces changing our society that have been largely hidden from mainstream discussion or even working in ways opposite to the received wisdom. Click here for the full report: Looking Backward, Looking Forward – Complete Series (January 9, 2013) FORCE FOUR: VALUES SLOWLY SHIFTING AWAY FROM RIGHT AS GOVERNMENT DOES OPPOSITE [Ottawa – January 4, 2013] As we have already recently developed this theme, we will not review it in depth but we will comment more on its implications and connections to some of the other forces. We believe that this force merits discussion for two reasons. First, values are the crucial normative goalposts which define a society and should shape its direction. They reflect what citizens see as right and wrong and what kind of society they would like to hand off to the next generation, how… [More...] ADDENDUM TO LOOKING BACKWARD, LOOKING FORWARD: PART 3 [Ottawa – January 4, 2013] In yesterday’s release on social media, we discussed its linkage to democratic health and to socioeconomic status (SES) – i.e., income and educational attainment. We provide two additional pieces of background evidence. The first doesn’t directly link social media and democratic health but it does show the recent trend lines in how Canadians rate the health of democracy. The trend line is not auspicious and shows that a much longer decline in trust in government, which is pervasive to the advanced western world and began in… [More...] FORCE TWO: FROM THE GREENING TO THE GREYING OF NORTH AMERICA: THE NEW GERONTOCRACY AND WHY IT COULDN’T BE MORE POORLY TIMED [Ottawa – January 2, 2013] Canadian society has never been older. The more apocalyptical grey tsunami scenarios are no doubt exaggerated as we can see in successful Scandinavian societies which are faring very well despite the ‘pig-and-python’ demographic. Yet there is something disturbing about the new generational fault lines in Canada. These problems are expressed clearly in both the economy and even more vividly the political realm. Youth unemployment is extremely high, the notion that post… [More...] |
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Tolerance Under Pressure?
By Frank Graves
[Ottawa – March 12, 2015] Canada has been singularly successful in solving the postmodern riddle of the clash of civilizations. While Europe and America have torn themselves apart over issues of immigration and race, Canada has been remarkably spared this particular affliction. All of this may be drawing to a close.
Under the forces of growing economic and cultural insecurities linked to security and terror, we are seeing a sharp erosion of our openness to diversity and immigration. Moreover, these issues are now prominent in the rhetoric of the political parties jostling for position in… [More...]