Canadian Muslims - Environics (2007)

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According to an Environics poll from 2007:

• 73% of Canadian Muslims are "very proud" to be Canadian and 21% are "somewhat proud" to be Canadian, but the numbers are lower in Quebec.
• Among the list of worries, Canadian Muslims are most worried about discrimination (30% "very worried, 36% "somewhat worried") and least worried about women taking on modern roles (10% "very worried" and 16% "somewhat worried).
• 49% of Canadian Muslims think Canadians have a positive view of Islam (50% of Canadians do).
• Most urban Canadians have contact with Muslims.
• 70% of Canadians who "often" have contact with Canadian Muslims have a positive view of Islam.
• 77% of Canadian Muslims think Muslims are treated better in Canada than in other Western Countries (only 61% of Canadians in general think that).
• 70% of Canadian Muslims think the quality of life for Muslim women is better in Canada than in most Muslim countries.
• Canadian Muslims and Canadians in general don't think Canadians are hostile to Muslims.
• 80% of Canadian Muslims "strongly agree" that their religion is important to them, only 28% of the general population agrees to this.
• 56% of Canadian Muslims see themselves as Muslims first, Canadians second. 23% of Canadian Muslims see themselves as Canadians first, Muslims second. 16% of Canadian Muslims see themselves as equally Canadian & Muslim.
• For context, a Pew poll from 2004 revealed that 4/10 Americans view themselves as more Christian than American
• 55% of Canadian Muslims say they want to adopt Canadian customs, but only 25% of the general population believes this.

Although most Canadian Muslims did think Canada should accomodate traditional gender roles (the study didn't define what those were) and supported recognition of Sharia law (53%) in settling civil disputes.

http://www.environicsinstitute.org/PDF- ... heVeil.pdf

There is not much to be proud of in Quebec
Though I am curious what percentage of Muslim immigrants support Quebec separatism. Considering Parizeau's comments about the 'anglo & ethnic vote' costing the '95 referendum I wouldn't be surprised if that number is not that high

It would be interesting to see how far a proposal to establish Shariah in Canada would fly.

ruveyn

I am very against the establishment of Sharia in Canada. I don't think it would fly with most Canadians

Well Vigilans, you might be right... If It is said that the numbers are lower in Quebec for those "proud" to call themselves Canadian, as you infered, the numbers might be higher for those who consider themselves proud to be "Quebécois"... After all, do keep in mind that there are islamic countries where french is talked. =/ Lebanon and Algeria, to name a few.

Why is it that people fling the prospect of Sharia around uncritically? It's both mischievous and disingenuous to hoist the standard and see who shoots at it. (And frankly, ruveyn, you're smart enough to know that, so it reflects poorly on you so to do.)

Are we speaking of Sharia as public law or Sharia in a private law context? And if we are speaking of a private law context are we speaking of making it mandatory or voluntary?

A public law application would be doomed to fail in the face of the Charter. The imposition of a religious standard is offensive to section 2, and I see no basis on which it could be saved under section 1.

However, in a private law context, this is completely different. If two contracting parties include a term in their contract that says, "Disputes under this agreement shall be settled by arbitration under Sharia," what business is that of anybody but those two parties? If a divorcing couple choose to refer the question of their property settlement to a Sharia court, and then jointly ask the civil court to endorse the religious court's finding, what concern is that of anyone's but theirs? A divorcing Jewish couple are permitted to rely on a Bet Din to obtain a get and can jointly file a property decision from that court in a civil court for enforcement. Why should Muslim couples not have the same privilege?

Either way a disaster in a modern western republic. As a public law Shariah would not be subject to the legislative branch. And a private law cannot be permitted in a republic. One law there shall be for all.

Either way Sharia is a fail here in the West. It is perfect for the brutal Islamic domain where the would not know what a right is if it bit them on the nose. It is perfect for primitive.

ruveyn

American muslims (not ones who've emigrated here in the last 11 years) tend to share similar views, thanks to social pressure to somewhat secularize and adopt American values.

I worry for the state of Europe, and hopefully they can dilute radical notions held by immigrants and secularize their muslims quick enough.

Dream on. The non-Muslim birth rate in Europe is below replacement. Europostan in in the future.

ruveyn

Quebécois have been a rather exclusive group. To consider oneself Quebécois one needs to have long ancestry in Quebec. I mean I am born in Quebec and I like this province but I cannot accurately call myself Quebécois, even though my family on both sides have been here for ~70-100 years. A Muslim immigrant who speaks a bit of passable French is not going to be included in the Quebécois demographic for the reasons involving the actual ethnic exclusivity in the Quebécois. This is one reason why they are referred to as Allophones, to distinguish them from Francophones who are in general of the Quebécois demographic as well as some Acadians and later French immigrants. I have not met any Francophones who consider the Allophones Quebécois any more than they consider us Anglophones Quebécois. Most of us non-Francophones call ourselves 'Quebecers'

There are Islamic countries where French is spoken and it is similarly because of French imperial efforts in the past. However I don't really see how that equates

btw when I said Quebec has little to be proud of I was kidding (though there are some things here that are shameful). I like to satirize the rest of Canada's view on the province frequently

Last edited by Vigilans on 25 May 2011, 8:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.

The 36th page of that PDF indicates that 79% of Canadians would oppose it (whereas only 34% of Canadian Muslims would oppose it).

At least Quebec has a city with an NHL (albeit, that city not being Quebec City, but Montreal).