The Dominion Institute National Citizenship Exam Survey of 1997

45% of Canadians would not be granted citizenship on the basis of having failed the Citizenship Exam, a necessary step for immigrants to be granted citizenship. Since successful applicants need to correctly answer 12 out of 20 questions, only 55% would pass the exam.

The actual exam from Citizenship and Immigration Canada is composed of 20 questions, a mix of multiple choice and "fill in the blank" questions, divided into five segments: Canadian history and culture, the electoral system, government structure, Confederation and rights and responsibilities of citizens. Our "National Citizenship Exam" and the following press release follow the same pattern.

In order to learn more about the extensive process involved in the design of the questionnaire - which included a panel of renowned advisors, recent immigrants and the 200 question Citizenship and Immigration Canada sourcebook -- please refer to the "methodology" section on page 6 of the press release.

The survey was conducted by telephone between October 28 and November 3rd, 1997 among a representative cross-section of 1,356 Canadian adults. These data were statistically weighted to ensure the sample's regional and age/sex composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population according to the 1991 and 1996 Census data. With a national sample of 1,356, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the results are within +2.7 percentage points of what they would have been had the entire adult Canadian population been polled.

The highlights of the poll findings include:

• Overall, 45% failed the "Citizenship Exam" administered over the telephone, while 55% got at least the passing grade of 12 out of 20. (Table 1)
• Comparatively, residents of Ontario received the higher average (12 out of 20 -- 64% passed), as opposed to Quebec residents who showed the lowest averages among the Canadian regions (10.6 out of 20 -- 45% passed). (Table 1)
• Participants in the middle age bracket of 35 to 54 did better than their younger or older counterparts, as 61% of them passed the exam, compared to 52% among the group aged 18 to 34 and 52% among the group 55 years of age or more. (Table 1)
• Respondents with higher levels of education did better on the test -- 78% of those with a university degree passed the test while only 36% succeeded in the group without a high school degree. On average, men (65%) were more likely to pass the exam compared to women (46%). (Table 2)

• Respondents who were born in Canada did slightly better (57% passed) than those born in another country (50% passed). (Table 2)
• In questions separate from the actual exam, 74% of respondents agreed with the statement that, "not enough history and civics are being taught in schools". As well, 89% of respondents agreed that "their province should collaborate with other provinces in developing national standards for history and civics education.
• When asked to indicate just how prominent should the celebration of historical figures and events be in the government's planning for millennium activities, 50% believed they should be "prominent" or "very prominent" (as indicated by a response of at least 7 on a scale of 1 to 10) while 16% felt they should not be prominent or "not prominent at all" (indicated by a response of 1 to 4 on the same scale).

Historical, Geographic and Cultural Questions

In total, eight questions in the Exam dealt with history, geography and culture in Canada. While participants could fairly easily answer questions dealing with Canada's largest trading partner or the main trade of the Hudson Bay Company, they had a harder time identifying the province with the most bilingual residents and remembering the first two lines of the national anthem. (Table 3)

Confederation

In total, 2 questions in the Exam dealt with Confederation. While fewer than half (48%) of respondents were aware that "Confederation" is the name of the event that joined the first four provinces joined together, they had an even harder time correctly naming all four of these provinces.

The Electoral System

In total, 4 questions on the Exam discussed Canada's electoral and party system. While participants found it easy enough to remember the name of the Prime Minister, the name of the party in power in their province, and the political parties that comprise the House of Commons, only 1 in 10 (9%) could name the three requirements necessary for exercising the right to vote in a Federal election. (Table 3)

Government Structure

The National Citizenship Exam also included 4 questions related to Canadian government structures. While most Canadians (68%) correctly identified the current number of provinces and territories in Canada and 62% could name the three levels of government in Canada, results were not as high when it came time to identify Canada's head of state (8% correct answers) or remember the term "Bill" as the name of a piece of legislation before it becomes actual law (55% correct answers). (Table 3)

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship

Finally, 3 questions in the exam dealt with the rights, freedoms and responsibilities of Canadian citizens. Only one in three (32%) Canadians could name the Charter as the constitutional document that protects Canadians' rights and freedoms, and even fewer (20%) participants could list just four of the rights it contains. Only 4% could name three responsibilities that Canadian citizens hold.

This National Angus Reid Poll was conducted by telephone between October 28 and November 3rd, 1997 among a representative cross-section of 1,356 Canadian adults.

These data were statistically weighted to ensure the sample's regional and age/sex composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population according to the 1991 and 1996 Census data.

With a national sample of 1,356, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the results are within ±2.7 percentage points of what they would have been had the entire adult Canadian population been polled. The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population.

For more information on this news release, please contact:

Rudyard Griffiths
Director
Dominion Institute
(416) 368-9627
Cell: (416) 407-2358

John Wright
Senior Vice-President
Angus Reid Group
(416) 324-2900