Four In Ten (39%) Believe Canadians
Shouldn't Be Able To Hold Dual Citizenship

Toronto, ON - As Canada celebrates its birthday this Canada Day weekend, a new Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of the Dominion Institute finds that four in ten (39%) Canadians are against the current policy regarding dual citizenship, and believe that Canadian citizens should not be allowed to simultaneously hold citizenship of a country other than Canada. On the other hand, a majority (61%) of Canadians are in favour of the current practice, and believe that Canadians should be able to hold dual citizenship, whereby one would be allowed to simultaneously be a citizen of Canada and of another country.

But what is it that Canadians attribute to the success of this society, which so adeptly integrates various cultures, religions and ethnicities? Seven in ten (69%) Canadians believe that part of what makes Canada a successful society today is that Canadians share a common history, heroes and national symbols. However, three in ten (31%) Canadians are of a differing opinion, and agree that part of what makes Canada successful today is the lack of a strong national identity that individuals and groups are expected to adopt.

Taking a look at some of those unifying and quintessentially Canadian symbols, most Canadians say that they feel attached to the maple leaf (87%), the beaver (74%), hockey (73%), and the "mountie" (72%). However, significantly fewer Canadians say that they feel attached to the canoe (39%) or the "timbit" (31%). Further, six in ten (57%) Canadians say that their household owns a Canadian flag, while four in ten (43%) Canadian families do not own a Canadian flag. From among those who do own a flag, one half (51%) either fly it on a pole in their yard, or display the flag in a window. Interestingly, when asked what geographic locality Canadians most closely belong, more Canadians indicated that they belong to their country, first and foremost, than any other geographic region. While four in ten (38%) say that they belong, first and foremost, to Canada, three quarters (26%) indicate that they belong, first and foremost, to their province or region, while two in ten (21%) say that they belong, first and foremost, to their town or city. Just 8% of Canadians say that they most closely associate with belonging to the whole world, while 7% indicate that they most belong, first and foremost, to North America.

These are the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of the Dominion Institute from June 14 to June 17, 2007. For the survey, a representative randomly selected sample of 3164 adults was interviewed online. With a sample of this size, the results are considered accurate to within 1772.9 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire adult population been polled. The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population. These data were weighted to ensure that the sample's regional and age/sex composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population according to Census data.

Four In Ten (39%) Canadians Disagree With Dual Citizenship...

Four in ten (39%) Canadians are against the current policy regarding dual citizenship, and believe that Canadian citizens should not be allowed to simultaneously hold citizenship of a country in addition to Canada. On the other hand, a majority (61%) of Canadians are in favour of the current practice, and believe that Canadians should be able to hold dual citizenship, whereby Canadians would be allowed to simultaneously be a citizen of Canada and of another country.

• Just one quarter (25%) of younger Canadians, aged 18 to 34, believe that Canadians should not be able to hold dual citizenship. However, one's propensity to agree or disagree with this concept changes with age. Indeed, one half (50%) of Canadians aged 55 and older agree that Canadians should be allowed to hold dual citizenship, while half (50%) of Canadians aged 55 and older believe that Canadians should not be allowed to hold dual citizenship.
• 43% of Albertans believe that Canadians should not be allowed to hold dual citizenship, while only one third (33%) of British Columbians say that Canadians should not be afforded this right.

More Canadians Attached To Maple Leaf Than Other Symbols...

Taking a look at some of those unifying and quintessentially Canadian symbols, most Canadians say that they feel attached to the maple leaf (87%), the beaver (74%), hockey (73%), and the "mountie" (72%). However, significantly fewer Canadians say that they feel attached to the canoe (39%) or the "timbit" (31%).

• Just two thirds (66%) of Quebecers say that they are attached to the maple leaf. This suggests that perhaps Quebecers feel more attached to the fleur de lis. The trend continues: only six in ten (61%) Quebecers feel attached to hockey as a Canadian symbol, 54% feel attached to the beaver, four in ten (40%) to the "mountie", 23% to the canoe, and just 12% of Quebecers indicate that they feel attached to the "timbit".
• Older Canadians, aged 55 and up, are more likely to feel attached to the maple leaf (89%) and the "mountie" (77%). Younger Canadians, aged 18 to 34, are more likely to feel attached to hockey (76%) and the "timbit" (40%).
• Men (77%) are more likely than women (69%) to feel attached to hockey as a national symbol. Men (43%) are also more likely than women (35%) to indicate that they feel attached to the canoe as a national symbol.

Six In Ten (57%) Households Own A Canadian Flag...

Demonstrating their patriotism, six in ten (57%) Canadians maintain that someone in their household owns a Canadian flag. Conversely, 43% of Canadian households reportedly do not own a Canadian flag. From among those that do have flag, one half (51%) say that they fly the flag in their yard, or display it in a window.

• Older Canadians, aged 55 and up, are more likely to indicate that someone in their household owns a Canadian flag, with two thirds (63%) indicating so. In comparison, just one half (50%) of younger Canadians, aged 18 to 34, indicate that someone in their household own a flag.
• Seven in ten (69%) Albertans say that someone in their household owns a flag, and a similar proportion of Ontarians and Atlantic Canadians (each at 68%) say that someone in their household owns a Canadian flag. Just one quarter (26%) of households in Quebec report that they own a Canadian flag.
• Those in Ontario are most likely to display their flag, with six in ten (61%) indicating that they do so. A majority of Atlantic Canadians (53%) also display their Canadian flags. Just one quarter (27%) of Quebecers whose household owns a Canadian flag report that that flag is on display in the yard or in a window.
• Older Canadians are more likely than younger Canadians to display the Canadian flag if they own one, with six in ten (60%) Canadians aged 55 and older indicating that their household's flag is on display, while only four in ten (38%) Canadians aged 18 to 34 indicate that their household's flag is on display.

Quebecers And Atlantic Canadians Place Their Province Or Region Ahead Of Country...

While four in ten (38%) Canadians across Canada believe that they most closely belong to the entire country of Canada as opposed to any other geographic locality, more Quebecers say that they most closely belong to their province (42%) than to their country, Canada (20%). Atlantic Canadians are similar, with 37% indicating that they most closely belong to their province or region (37%) as opposed to Canada (31%).

• Ontarians are the most likely to say that they belong to Canada, first and foremost (50%).
• Quebecers are the most likely to indicate that they belong to the world, first and foremost (10%).
• Residents of British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are most likely to indicate that they belong to their locality or town (25%) above any other geographic region.

Canadians Believe Common History, Heroes And Symbols Make Canada A Successful Society...

Seven in ten (69%) Canadians agree that part of what makes Canada a successful society is that Canadians share common history, heroes and national symbols. However, three in ten (31%) Canadians say that they most closely associate with the idea that part of what makes Canada successful today is the lack of a strong national identity that individuals and groups are expected to adopt.

• Women (72%) are more likely than men (67%) to agree that a common history, heroes and national symbols are what make Canada a successful society.
• Eight in ten (78%) Atlantic Canadians believe that what makes Canada a successful society is that Canadians share a common history, heroes, and national symbols, compared to just 63% of those in Saskatchewan and Manitoba who believe the same.
• Interestingly, the most likely to believe that Canada's success is attributed to the lack of a strong national identity are Canadians who hold a university degree (38%).

For more Information on this news release, please contact:
John Wright
Senior Vice President
Ipsos Reid
Public Affairs
(416) 324-2902
[email protected]

About Ipsos Reid
Ipsos Reid is Canada's market intelligence leader, the country's leading provider of public opinion research, and research partner for loyalty and forecasting and modelling insights. With operations in eight cities, Ipsos Reid employs more than 600 research professionals and support staff in Canada. The company has the biggest network of telephone call centres in the country, as well as the largest pre-recruited household and online panels. Ipsos Reid's marketing research and public affairs practices offer the premier suite of research vehicles in Canada, all of which provide clients with actionable and relevant information. Staffed with seasoned research consultants with extensive industry-specific backgrounds, Ipsos Reid offers syndicated information or custom solutions across key sectors of the Canadian economy, including consumer packaged goods, financial services, automotive, retail, and technology & telecommunications. Ipsos Reid is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group.

To learn more, please visit www.ipsos.ca.

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