Hanes: Two Solitudes aren't far aside on some issues of id, ballot exhibits

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The Two Solitudes could have extra in frequent with one another in terms of their views on a spread of social points than they do with their fellow Canadians, a brand new survey suggests.

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Maybe that’s not shocking, given English- and French-speaking Quebecers are steeped in the identical political rhetoric and public discourse on this distinct society of ours. However it’s attention-grabbing given the re-emergence of previous cleavages lately, most notably on language, with the introduction of Invoice 96 to strengthen French, in addition to laws on secularism and abolishing college boards, that are seen by many anglophones as undermining minority rights.

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Latest polling by the Affiliation for Canadian Research and the Metropolis Institute sought to check the views of Quebecers and fellow Canadians, in addition to attitudes inside Quebec. The net survey took the temperature of 1,843 Canadians between Feb. 20 and March 30, together with 572 Quebecers, 247 of them anglophones, on a variety of hot-button points. The outcomes have a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 per cent 19 instances out of 20, and 4.08 per cent for the Quebec pattern.

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Jack Jedwab, president and CEO of the 2 analysis teams, stated though Quebec-Canada relations have dominated political debate on this nation for many years, solely Quebecers proceed to see it as a flashpoint. The remainder of Canada seems to have moved on.

Simply over 32 per cent of Quebecers surveyed talked about the nationwide query, whereas the subject barely registered amongst respondents in different provinces.

“It’s a complete paradigm shift,” stated Jedwab. “In case you have a look at the 2 referendums, 1980 as much as the Readability (Act) interval, and the Fact and Reconciliation interval up till as we speak, there’s been a complete turnaround on what must be reconciled on this nation.”

Elsewhere in Canada, political polarization, financial inequality and making amends with Indigenous individuals had been thought-about extra urgent issues.

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Language was recognized as important grounds for potential discrimination by 23 per cent of Quebecers. However few respondents cited it outdoors the province, the place ethnic origin and visual minority standing had been flagged extra ceaselessly. Nevertheless, 27 per cent of Quebecers listed discrimination on the premise of psychological or bodily incapacity as a high precedence, an analogous price to different Canadians.

“Language in Quebec is as soon as once more a dominant theme,” stated Jedwab. “There’s pounding away at this subject. It’s politicians and there’s the media, as nicely, continuously reminding us that ‘that is driving our id. That is who we’re.’ We’re being continuously reminded it’s the realm that’s the most susceptible and desires essentially the most safety.”

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Curiously, the info additionally present that language is a priority for francophones and anglophones alike in Quebec — although maybe for vastly completely different causes. Invoice 96 is broadly supported by francophones, however many English-speakers see it as compromising their very own rights.

A era hole has additionally emerged in Quebec. Amongst Quebecers age 18 to 24, solely 10.5 per cent surveyed noticed relations with the remainder of Canada as necessary, and simply 12.5 per cent noticed language as a battle entrance. Younger Quebecers extra intently mirror different Canadians in seeing racial discrimination, financial disparities, Indigenous points or ideological battle because the challenges of the second.

But preoccupations about language and Quebec’s relationship with Canada resonated strongly amongst older generations, particularly these over 55.

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“There’s a serious, main upswing after we get to that baby-boomer group when it comes to the notion round language being a supply of discrimination — however once more, not for the youth group,” Jedwab stated.

A number of the extra fascinating outcomes of the survey got here from analyzing the place the views of French- and English-speaking Quebecers dovetailed and diverged. Whereas it’s hardly surprising that francophones expressed decrease ranges of attachment to Canada than anglophones (69 per cent versus 89 per cent) or that anglophones have much less fealty to Quebec than francophones (68.4 per cent in comparison with 89 per cent), each teams reported a robust sense of belonging to each locations.

“I’ve been evaluating for 20 years and that is on the upper finish reasonably than the decrease finish of issues,” Jedwab stated. “We’ve nonetheless obtained that close to 70 per cent attachment of Quebec anglophones to Quebec, so that they’re mirroring one another in a type of inverted approach.”

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However the convergence of perceptions amongst French- and English-speaking Quebecers on issues of id is essentially the most notable takeaway from the ballot. As anticipated, over half of francophones have a optimistic view of secularism, versus only a third of anglophones. Almost 36 per cent of English-speakers had a unfavourable response to the idea.

That is consistent with the prevailing narrative that Invoice 21, outlawing state workers in positions of authority like lecturers and law enforcement officials from sporting non secular symbols in Quebec, is backed by francophones and opposed by the English-speaking minority.

However whereas 61 per cent of francophones had unfavourable emotions concerning the hijab, a big 41 per cent of anglophones did.

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“The factor that stood out for me most on this subject was the notion that anglophone Quebecers have about hijabs. It was extra unfavourable than optimistic,” stated Jewab.

This, he stated, underscores the necessity for warning in considering of prejudice alongside linguistic strains, which has change into a supply of grievance in Quebec. Premier François Legault has defended in opposition to criticism of Invoice 21 by equating it to an assault on Quebec values. Ottawa’s new anti-Islamophobia consultant, Amira Elghawaby, brought on a firestorm by portray Quebecers with the identical brush in an opinion piece.

“There’s work that must be accomplished … to sensitize individuals about this stuff, so mutual recrimination on this subject isn’t useful,” stated Jedwab.

After all, a ballot is only a snapshot of a second in time and views evolve. However for now, at the very least, the Two Solitudes are cosier than anybody may need thought.

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