Survey shows Muslims proud to be Canadian

By Barry Ellsworth

TRENTON, Ont.

Canadian Muslims have a deep-rooted love for Canada, even though many have been the victims of discrimination, according to the results of a survey released Wednesday.

The Environics Institute survey of 600 Muslims from across Canada showed an overwhelming majority, 83 percent, are “very proud” of their country.

At the same time, 35 percent said they had been the targets of discrimination in the past five years.

Muslims make up 3 percent, about 1 million, of the Canadian population of 35 million.

Kathy Bullock of the Tessellate Institute, one of the participants in the survey, said the results prove Canadian Muslims have a love of country just as strong as Canadian non-Muslims.

“We saw this thread, this theme of a community that felt proud to be Canadian, of feeling that they belong to Canada,” she said, as reported by the Global News media outlet.

In fact, Muslims showed more pride in Canada than others.

A separate survey of nearly 1,000 non-Muslims found only 73 percent were “very proud” to be Canadian.

“Quite importantly, it shows that Muslims take their citizenship seriously and are very proud to be Canadian more so than others in the country, Muneeb Nasir of Olive Tree Foundation – another survey partner – said in a news release.

The Environics survey of Muslims, conducted between November 2015 and January 2016, was a follow-up to one conducted in 2006.

In the latest survey, 84 percent said they felt Canada treats Muslims better than other Western countries – an increase of 7 percent compared to the 2006 figures.

In addition to the 35 percent of Muslims who have been discriminated against, 62 percent of respondents were worried about increased discrimination against Muslims and 35 percent believed the next generation of Muslims will face more discrimination, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

The one thing Muslims said they liked least about Canada: the cold weather.