Are Canadians Political Animals: Elections 2008, Interest and

Engagement in Canadian Politics

Jack Jedwab

Executive Director

Association for Canadian Studies

September 24, 2008

Are Canadians Political Animals

• Survey commissioned by the Association for Canadian Studies and conducted by the firm Leger Marketing between September 9th and 11th, 2008 via web panel

Highlights

• Canadians show interest in elections and believe that it will have impact on them

• Just over half of Canadians Talk Politics• Men talk politics more than women • Francophones least likely to talk politics with family or friends • Francophones least likely to follow elections • Francophones most inclined to agree that election doesn’t affect

them • Francophones feel they have a good understanding of the issues • English Canadians most interested in the federal elections• Three in ten Canadians would recommend a political career • Nearly three in four francophones say they have a strong sense of

belonging to Canada

CanadaStrongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree

Strongly disagree

I will be closely following the Canadian federal elections

45,4% 30,8% 10,1% 10,8%

I am very interested in the forthcoming Canadian federal elections

40,4% 32,0% 12,5% 12,0%

I have a good understanding of the issues in the Canadian federal election

30,6% 41,5% 13,5% 10,6%

The outcome of the federal election doesn't affect me personally

13,7% 17,8% 20,1% 43,4%

Canadians show interest in elections and believe that it will have impact on them

Canada

Strongly agreeSomewhat

agreeSomewhat

disagree

Strongly disagree

I often talk about politics with family members

23,0% 27,4% 18,2% 28,0%

I often talk about politics with my friends

23,0% 27,4% 18,2% 28,0%

I don't like talking about politics

22,0% 19,0% 23,0% 31,8%

Just over half of Canadians Talk Politics

Men talk politics more than women

Strongly Agree and Somewhat Agree (combined)

Male Female

I often talk about politics with family members

55.7 45.2

I often talk about politics with my friends

54.7 39.5

I don't like talking about politics 38.3 43.9

I am very interested in the forthcoming Canadian federal elections

88.4 66.7

I will be closely following the Canadian federal elections

82.2 70.5

I have a good understanding of the issues in the Canadian federal election

81.4 63.1

The outcome of the federal election doesn't affect me personally

31.9 31.2

I would recommend pursuing a career in politics to a friend or family member

31.8 27.3

I often talk about politics with family members

Language Spoken at Home

Strongly agreeSomewhat

agreeSomewhat

disagreeStrongly

disagree

French16,9% 27,0% 23,0% 30,4%

English26,2% 27,8% 16,1% 27,3%

Other20,9% 26,7% 19,5% 27,4%

Dnk/Refusal18,2% 24,2% 15,2% 24,2%

Total23,0% 27,4% 18,2% 28,0%

Francophones least likely to talk politics

I often talk about politics with my friends

Language

Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagreeStrongly disagree

French13,8% 28,4% 24,5% 31,5%

English24,0% 26,0% 16,8% 29,7%

Other17,3% 27,1% 20,9% 29,2%

Dnk/Refusal14,7% 23,5% 14,7% 29,4%

Total20,3% 26,7% 19,2% 30,0%

Francophones least likely to talk politics with friends

I don't like talking about politics

Language

Strongly agree Somewhat agreeSomewhat

disagree

Strongly disagre

e

French 22,0% 21,3% 28,4% 25,6%

English 22,7% 17,4% 19,7% 36,3%

Other 20,6% 21,7% 27,8% 25,3%

Dnk/Refusal 18,2% 18,2% 18,2% 30,3%

Total 22,0% 19,0% 23,0% 31,8%

Most Canadians like talking politics

I will be closely following the Canadian federal elections

Language

Strongly agree Somewhat agreeSomewhat

disagree

Strongly disagre

e

French 35,1% 36,3% 13,1% 13,4%

English 50,1% 29,6% 7,1% 10,8%

Other 44,2% 29,0% 15,9% 8,0%

Dnk/Refusal 36,4% 21,2% 9,1% 9,1%

Total 45,4% 30,8% 10,1% 10,8%

Francophones least likely to follow elections

I have a good understanding of the issues in the Canadian federal election

Language

Strongly agreeSomewhat

agreeSomewhat

disagreeStrongly disagree

French 28,2% 48,5% 13,2% 8,0%

English 32,6% 39,8% 12,1% 11,9%

Other 28,2% 39,4% 17,3% 10,5%

Dnk/Refusal 21,2% 36,4% 18,2% 3,0%

Total 30,6% 41,5% 13,5% 10,6%

Francophones feel they have good understanding of the issues

The outcome of the federal election doesn't affect me personally

Language

Strongly agreeSomewhat

agreeSomewhat

disagree

Strongly disagr

ee

French 15,3% 28,7% 28,1% 24,5%

English 12,9% 13,3% 17,3% 52,8%

Other 14,5% 18,8% 21,4% 35,9%

Dnk/Refusal 12,5% 15,6% 3,1% 46,9%

Total 13,7% 17,8% 20,1% 43,4%

Francophones most inclined to agree that election doesn’t affect them

I am very interested in the forthcoming Canadian federal elections

Language

Strongly agreeSomewhat

agreeSomewhat

disagreeStrongly disagree

French 31,9% 37,4% 14,1% 14,7%

English 44,9% 30,4% 10,3% 11,8%

Other 36,7% 30,9% 18,7% 9,7%

Dnk/Refusal 37,5% 28,1% 3,1% 9,4%

Total 40,4% 32,0% 12,5% 12,0%

English Canadians most interested in the federal elections

I would recommend pursuing a career in politics to a friend or family member

Language Strongly

agreeSomewhat

agreeSomewhat

disagreeStrongly disagree

French 11,6% 18,7% 26,0% 40,4%

English 12,2% 17,0% 20,6% 43,8%

Other 14,5% 16,7% 25,7% 36,2%

Dnk/Refusal 12,1% 3,0% 27,3% 21,2%

Total 12,5% 17,0% 22,9% 41,1%

Three in ten Canadians would recommend a political career

I am a member of a political party

Language

Strongly agreeSomewhat

agreeSomewhat

disagree

Strongly disagr

ee

French 9,8% 4,9% 8,3% 73,3%

English 11,6% 4,5% 10,4% 67,1%

Other 8,3% 6,1% 9,0% 69,3%

Dnk/Refusal

12,1%

--------

3,0% 63,6%

Total 10,6% 4,8% 9,5% 68,8%

One in ten Canadians say they are members of a political party

I have a strong sense of belonging to Canada

Language

Strongly agreeSomewhat

agreeSomewhat

disagree

Strongly disagr

ee

French 42,5% 29,7% 14,7% 10,7%

English 85,1% 9,7% 2,0% 1,0%

Other 71,5% 20,9% 2,5% 1,1%

Dnk/Refusal

72,7% 6,1% 6,1%

Total 73,0% 16,1% 4,8% 3,3%

Nearly three in four francophones say they have a strong sense of belonging to Canada