Since long we have known that Canada is a migrant-friendly nation, and most of its people are very welcoming towards the migrants, and have no hesitations whatsoever in having them amidst their midst. A new study, by a well-known organization, corroborates the fact. As per it, the Maple Leaf Country is the fourth most-accepting nation in the world in the matters of immigrants.
As per the information that we have on the subject, the Maple Leaf Country scored a decent 8.14, out of a possible 9 in Gallup’s Migrant Acceptance Index, and this placed it fourth out of 140 nations, in terms of how tolerant each nation’s residents are of the new entrants.
While Canada found itself on the fourth spot in the list, Iceland spearheaded the chart occupying the first position, only to be trailed by New Zealand and Rwanda that occupied the third and the fourth spots respectively.
As per Gallup, it made the index to evaluate people’s approval of immigrants, on the basis of what it reportedly terms “increasing degrees of proximity.” It is reportedly measured via 3 questions that ask the respondents if immigrants residing in their nation, becoming their neighbors and getting hitched into their homes are either good things or bad things.
The basis of the total of the Maple Leaf Country is the answers of 2,000 nationals, aged 15 and older, who were reviewed between the period of August 10 and November 29, 2017. The summer of 2017 witnessed a major jump in the figure of the people moving into the overseas hotspot from the neighbouring US, and seeking refuge in response to the immigration regulations started by Donald Trump, the incumbent US President.
Significantly, with a tally of 7.86, the US occupied the 9th position in the index.
Approval in Sync with Political Fault Lines
Migrant Acceptance Index from the Gallup, allegedly, mirrors a new study that reportedly discovered that most residents of Canada continue to have positive opinions related to immigration.
In their report, Gallup researchers reportedly stated that the residents of both Canada and the US are still one of the most migrant-friendly people in the world. However, it also observed that acceptance in both nations mainly shadows political fault lines.
The authors reportedly wrote that though both the involved nations have impressive backgrounds as receiving nations, during the previous two years, while one administration has followed that tradition and history, the other has been making efforts to sing a different tune.
In the US, where the Trump Government has reportedly targeted immigration as a danger to national safety and American manpower, the respondents, who proclaimed Trump is doing the right thing, received 7.08, out of 9 on the index, even as those who criticized Trump’s performance, received 8.54.
A similar trend was seen in Canada in the matters of the performance of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose Liberal government has reportedly spoken rather favourably of immigration, and taken some important steps to boost the same. The study found those who support Trudeau’s performance scored 8.64 on Gallup’s Migrant Acceptance Index, while those who condemn obtained 7.84.
Faith, education, age–important determining issues
Reportedly, the study also found that respondents in both the nations, who observed religion is a vital aspect of their everyday lives, received lower on the Migrant Acceptance Index, vis-à-vis those for whom religion is not so vital.
Respondents, who back Trump and self-identify as religious, obtained 6.97 on the Gallup’s index. On the other hand, those who criticize Trump and are not religious obtained 8.61. The study also discovered that the approval of immigrants in both nations was comparatively higher among the younger residents, those with the most education and those staying in the urban areas.
The overall levels of approval were also more in both Canada & the US among those presently doing a job, and those who reported being quite happy with their earnings & standard of living, vis-à-vis among those who were either unemployed or believed they were not getting what they really deserve.
