Prepared for the Privy Council
Office
Supplier name: The
Strategic Counsel
Contract number: CW2241412
Contract value: $814,741.30
Award date: December 19,
2022
Delivery date: July 10,
2023
Registration number: POR-
053-22
For more information on this
report, please email por-rop@pco-bcp.ca
Ce rapport est aussi disponible
en français.
Continuous Qualitative Data Collection of Canadians’ Views
Executive
Summary
Prepared for the Privy Council Office
Supplier Name: The Strategic Counsel
June 2023
This public opinion research report presents the
results of a series of focus groups conducted by The Strategic Counsel on
behalf of the Privy Council Office. The fourth cycle of the first year of
this study included a total of twelve focus groups with Canadian adults (18
years of age and older) conducted between June 6th, 2023, and June
28th, 2023.
Cette publication est aussi disponible en français
sous le titre : Rapport final - Collecte continue de données qualitatives
sur les opinions des Canadiens – juin 2023.
This publication may be reproduced for non-commercial
purposes only. Prior written permission must be obtained from the Privy
Council Office. For more information on this report, please contact the
Privy Council Office at: por-rop@pco-bcp.ca or at:
Privy Council Office
Blackburn Building
85 Sparks Street, Room 228
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A3
Catalogue Number:
CP12-4E-PDF
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN):
ISSN 2816-9360
Related
publications (registration number: POR-053-22):
CP12-4F-PDF (Final Report, French)
ISSN
2816-9379
© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada,
2023
Political
Neutrality Certification
I hereby
certify as a Senior Officer of The Strategic Counsel that the deliverables
fully comply with the Government of Canada political neutrality requirements
outlined in the Policy on Communications and Federal Identity and the Directive
on the Management of Communications – Appendix C – Mandatory Procedures for
Public Opinion Research.
Specifically,
the deliverables do not include information on electoral voting intentions,
political party preferences, standings with the electorate, or ratings of the
performance of a political party or its leaders.
Signed:
Date: July 10, 2023
Donna Nixon,
Partner
The Strategic Counsel
Group
Locations and Composition
Government
of Canada in the News (All Locations)
Response
to Wildfires (Rural Prairies)
Government
of Canada Priorities and Performance (All Locations)
Chinese
Canadians (Vancouver Island Chinese Diaspora)
The
Northwest Territories (Northwest Territories Indigenous Peoples)
Official
Languages (Atlantic Canada and Ontario Francophones)
Recent
Home Buyers (Major Centres Ontario Recent Home Buyers)
Northern
Housing (Northwest Territories Indigenous Peoples)
Energy
Outlook (Calgary and Edmonton, Rural Prairies)
Carbon
Pricing (St. John’s Newfoundland, Calgary and Edmonton, Rural Prairies)
Immigration
(Small and Mid-Size Centres Quebec, Atlantic Canada
and Ontario Francophones)
Health
Care (St. John’s Newfoundland)
Pharmacare
(Small and Mid-Size Centres Quebec, Thunder Bay)
Opioids
(Thunder Bay, Vancouver Island Chinese Diaspora)
Job
Creation (Mid-Size Centres Prairies Recent Post-Secondary Graduates)
Post-Secondary
Issues (Mid-Size Centres Prairies Recent Post-Secondary Graduates)
Relationship
with China (Vancouver Island Chinese Diaspora)
Suicide
Prevention (Major Centres Quebec, Northwest Territories Indigenous Peoples)
Community
Safety (G.T.A. Crime Concerned)
Local Issues (St. John’s Newfoundland)
The Communications and Consultation Secretariat of the
Privy Council Office (PCO) commissioned The Strategic Counsel (TSC) to conduct
continuous cycles of focus group research across the country with members of
the public on key national issues, events, and policy initiatives related to
the Government of Canada.
The broad purpose of this ongoing qualitative research
program is three-fold: to explore the dimensions and drivers of public opinion
on the most important issues facing the country; to assess perceptions and
expectations of the federal government’s actions and priorities; and, to inform
the development of Government of Canada communications so that they continue to
be aligned with the perspectives and information needs of Canadians, while
remaining both clear and easy-to-understand.
The research is intended to be used by the
Communications and Consultation Secretariat within PCO in
order to fulfill its mandate of supporting the Prime Minister’s Office
in coordinating government communications. Specifically, the research
will ensure that PCO has an ongoing understanding of Canadians’ opinions on
macro-level issues of interest to the Government of Canada, as well as emerging
trends.
This report includes findings
from 12 online focus groups which were conducted between June 6th, 2023, and June 28th, 2023, in multiple locations across the country
including Alberta, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Atlantic Canada, Quebec,
the Northwest Territories (N.T.), and British Columbia (B.C.). Details
concerning the locations, recruitment, and composition of the groups are
provided in the section below.
The research for this cycle
focused largely on the Government of Canada’s priorities and performance on a
range of issues important to Canadians. Related to this, some groups took
part in targeted discussions focusing on federal activities related to the cost
of living, Chinese Canadian perspectives, the Northwest Territories, and
official languages. All participants discussed what they had seen, read,
or heard about the Government of Canada in recent days, with the group based in
the Prairies focusing on the response to the wildfires which had been occurring
in the region.
This research cycle also explored
the issue of housing, which was discussed by recent graduates in the Prairies,
recent home buyers in Ontario, Indigenous peoples in the N.T., and
crime-concerned Canadians in the Greater Toronto Area (G.T.A.). Other
topics, such as the outlook for Canada’s energy sector and the federal price on
carbon were explored by those residing in Calgary and Edmonton, rural Prairie
centres, and St. John’s, Newfoundland.
Participants in small and
mid-size centres in Quebec, and Francophones in Atlantic Canada and Ontario
discussed immigration, while topics related to health care and other issues
such as pharmacare, opioids and suicide prevention were discussed at length by
participants in St. John’s, small and mid-size centres Quebec, Thunder Bay,
Vancouver Island, major Quebec centres, and the N.T. Francophones
residing in Ontario and Atlantic Canada and those in major Quebec centres also
took part in extended discussions related to the protection and promotion of
the French language. Other topics discussed this cycle
included job creation, post-secondary issues, the Government of Canada’s
relationship with China, community safety, and local issues in St. John’s,
Newfoundland.
As a note of caution when interpreting the results
from this study, findings of qualitative research are directional in nature
only and cannot be attributed quantitatively to the overall population under
study with any degree of confidence.
Target audience
·
Canadian
residents, 18 and older.
·
Groups were
split primarily by location.
·
Some groups
focused on specific cohorts of the population including recent post-secondary
graduates, Chinese diaspora, Francophones living outside of Quebec, recent home
buyers, Indigenous peoples, and crime-concerned individuals.
·
Twelve groups
across various regions in Canada.
·
Six groups
were conducted among the general population residing in small and mid-size
centres in Quebec, Thunder Bay, St. John’s, Calgary and Edmonton, rural
Prairies, and major centres in Quebec.
·
The other six
groups were conducted with key subgroups including:
·
Recent
post-secondary graduates who have either started working or are looking for work;
·
The Chinese Diaspora;
·
Francophones
living outside of Quebec;
·
Recent home buyers;
·
Indigenous peoples;
·
Crime-concerned
individuals;
·
The two groups
in Quebec and the group in Francophone centres in Atlantic Canada and Ontario
were conducted in French. All other groups were conducted in English.
·
All groups for
this cycle were conducted online.
·
A total of 8
participants were recruited for each group, assuming 6 to 8 participants would
attend.
·
Across all
locations, 83 participants attended, in total. Details on attendance
numbers by group can be found below.
·
Each
participant received an honorarium of $125.
|
LOCATION |
GROUP |
LANGUAGE |
DATE |
TIME (EST) |
GROUP COMPOSITION |
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS |
|
Small and Mid-Size Centres Quebec |
1 |
French |
June 6 |
6:00-8:00 pm |
General Population |
6 |
|
Thunder Bay |
2 |
English |
June 7 |
6:00-8:00 pm |
General Population |
7 |
|
Major City Centres Prairies (SK, MB) |
3 |
English |
June 12 |
8:00-10:00 pm |
Recent Post-Secondary Graduates – started
working or looking for work |
7 |
|
St. John’s, NL |
4 |
English |
June 13 |
5:00-7:00 pm |
General Population |
7 |
|
Vancouver Island |
5 |
English |
June 14 |
9:00-11:00 pm |
Chinese Diaspora |
8 |
|
Francophone Centres Atlantic Canada and
Ontario |
6 |
French |
June 15 |
6:00-8:00 pm |
Francophones Living Outside Quebec |
8 |
|
Calgary and Edmonton |
7 |
English |
June 19 |
8:00-10:00 pm |
General Population |
6 |
|
Rural Prairies (AB, SK, MB) |
8 |
English |
June 20 |
8:00-10:00 pm |
General Population |
8 |
|
Major Centres Ontario |
9 |
English |
June 21 |
6:00-8:00 pm |
Recent Home Buyers – within the last 5 years |
8 |
|
Major Centres Quebec |
10 |
French |
June 22 |
6:00-8:00 pm |
General Population |
8 |
|
Northwest Territories |
11 |
English |
June 27 |
8:00-10:00 pm |
Indigenous |
4 |
|
Greater Toronto Area |
12 |
English |
June 28 |
6:00-8:00 pm |
Crime-Concerned |
6 |
|
Total number of
participants |
83 |
|||||
At the beginning of each group, participants were
asked what they had seen, read, or heard about the Government of Canada in
recent days. A wide range of announcements and initiatives were recalled,
including the federal government’s response to large-scale wildfires occurring
in many parts of the country, the recent decision by the Bank of Canada to
raise interest rates by 25 basis points, the introduction of new initiatives
aimed at assisting first-time home buyers, ongoing investigations into allegations
of Chinese interference in recent Canadian federal elections, and investments
by the Government of Canada towards developing electrified transportation
infrastructure.
Participants also recalled actions and initiatives
related to the Government of Canada on the international stage. These
included the continued provision of financial and military assistance for
Ukraine, the Prime Minister’s recent trip to Kyiv, and the announcement that 13
new countries had been accepted into the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) program.
Participants residing in rural centres in the Prairies
engaged in an additional discussion regarding the Government of Canada’s
response to the wildfires that had been impacting their region in recent
months. Very few were aware of any actions from the federal government on
this front. Provided with information regarding numerous measures the
Government of Canada had taken to address this situation, all reacted
positively and felt that these actions would be greatly helpful to those
impacted by the fires. Asked what more could be done by the federal
government to address the threat of wildfires going forward, several expressed
the need for greater support for community volunteer firefighter
programs. It was felt that these programs were essential to the
protection of rural communities and currently lacked the resources they needed
to adequately respond to wildfires.
All groups took part in conversations related to a number of issues currently facing Canadians as well as
their perspectives regarding the federal government’s performance in managing
these priorities. Asked to identify areas in which they felt that the
federal government had performed well as of late, participants provided a range
of responses. These included the provision of affordability measures to
help those struggling with the high cost of living, immigration, climate change
and the environment, actions to assist those impacted by recent wildfires
across the country, reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, and foreign
assistance to countries such as Ukraine.
Participants also identified a range of areas in which
they felt that the Government of Canada had room for improvement. These
included reducing inflation and the high cost of living, a perceived lack of
affordable housing in Canada, addressing health care worker shortages and long
wait times for primary and emergency care, actions to reduce crime and gang
violence, and the need to better support vulnerable or marginalized communities
such as those experiencing homelessness, persons living with disabilities, and
individuals struggling with addiction and/or mental health challenges.
Two groups took part in longer
conversations related to the perceived high cost of living at present.
Almost all reported having had to adjust their spending habits as of late in
response to rising prices. A number expressed that the rising cost of
living had negatively impacted their mental health and that concerns over
finances had become a growing source of stress in their lives. Discussing
what they believed was behind the rising cost of living, while most viewed this
issue as initially resulting from supply chain interruptions thought to be
connected to the COVID-19 pandemic, several felt that these challenges had been
exacerbated by large corporations (such as major grocers) raising their prices
significantly in response.
Asked if they were aware of any recent actions from
the federal government to address the cost of living, participants recalled a
range of initiatives. These included the introduction of the Canada
Dental Benefit (CDB), the announcement of a one-time Grocery Rebate for
lower-income households, and agreements reached between the federal and
provincial/territorial governments to make child care
more affordable for Canadian families. Most expected that the cost of
living would likely continue to worsen over the next year unless significant
action was taken to address this problem. No participants expected that
the cost of living would improve over the next year.
The group comprised of members of the Chinese diaspora
residing in Vancouver Island engaged in a brief discussion related to the
challenges facing Chinese Canadians at present. Asked to identify the
biggest issues currently impacting Chinese Canadians, a number believed that it
needed to be easier for those educated outside of Canada to have their
credentials recognized and be permitted to work in their fields of
expertise. Some thought that more needed to be done to preserve and
promote Chinese culture and heritage in Canada. A few also were of the
view that anti-Asian hate and discrimination had increased in recent years,
with some believing that this had been connected to the COVID-19
pandemic. Asked if they could recall any actions from the Government of
Canada related to increasing its engagement with Chinese Canadians, a number
spoke positively of what they viewed as a recent initiative to reach out to the
country’s diverse population (including the Chinese diaspora) in languages
other than English and French. Discussing additional actions that could
be taken by the Government of Canada on this front, participants suggested
initiatives such as increasing funding for programming celebrating Chinese
culture and heritage, providing further language resources for those who do not
speak English or French, and encouraging greater representation of Chinese
Canadians at all levels of government.
Participants in the group comprised of Indigenous
peoples residing in the Northwest Territories (N.T.) briefly discussed a number of issues currently facing their region.
Asked to identify the most significant challenges impacting their respective
communities, participants mentioned issues such as climate change,
homelessness, mental health and addiction, and concerns related to the child
welfare system. While a few spoke positively of the counselling resources
provided by Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), it was felt that far more needed
to be done by governments at the federal and territorial level to engage with
and support Indigenous families.
Discussing the most important industries to their
communities, many identified mining as playing a pivotal role in the region’s
economy. Asked which areas were most in need of additional support from
the federal government, participants mentioned concerns related to education,
health care, a lack of basic necessities such as clean
drinking water, and the need for further action to mitigate the potential
damaging impacts of climate change to the region. All felt that the
federal government was currently on the wrong track when it came to managing
these issues, with some expressing that many of these challenges had existed
for several decades and that little in the way of tangible progress had ever
been made. It was felt that far more needed to be done at all levels of
government to engage with Indigenous-led organizations to better understand
their concerns and determine which actions would be most effective towards
finding long-term solutions to these challenges.
One group, comprised of
Francophones residing in Atlantic Canada and Ontario, took part in an
additional exercise where they were presented with a list of priorities related
to official languages and asked to identify those that they felt were most
important for the federal government to focus on. Almost all selected the
priority of guaranteeing the equality of the French and English languages in
Canada. Several felt that until this was achieved Francophones living
outside of Quebec would continue to face difficulties in accessing the same
level and range of services available to their English-speaking
counterparts. The priority of ensuring that every Canadian could be heard
and understood by a judge in the official language of their choice when before
a court also received a high level of support. This was widely seen as a
basic legal right and one that needed to be made available to all
Canadians. Many also believed that it was important to increase funding
for schools for Francophone communities outside of Quebec. The view was
expressed that there were considerably fewer resources available to
French-speaking schools and that this had served to greatly reduce the quality
of French-language education in these communities.
Four groups engaged in discussions related to
housing. These conversations focused on actions taken by the Government
of Canada to increase the housing supply, initiatives and supports related to
first-time home buyers, and the housing situation in Canada’s North.
Three groups shared their perspectives related to the
housing supply at present as well as actions from the federal government to
increase the number of available homes for Canadians. Asked to identify
the largest challenges at this time related to housing, many mentioned high
home prices and the difficulties in saving up enough to afford a sufficient
down payment. Several were of the opinion that
increases in housing prices in recent years had been the result of not enough
homes being available to meet the demands of prospective home buyers and that
more needed to be done to increase the supply of housing in Canada. The
view was added that along with building more homes the Government of Canada and
governments at the provincial/territorial and municipal level also needed to
ensure that enough supporting infrastructure such as public transportation,
hospitals, and schools was being constructed to accommodate the increased
populations in these communities.
Asked why they felt that more new homes were not being
built at a faster rate, several believed that this was related to perceived
increases in costs for building materials and challenges related to municipal
zoning laws and the types of homes that developers are permitted to
build. Asked whether they had heard of the Housing Accelerator Fund, very
few had. Provided with information about this initiative, while a number
felt that it might be helpful in increasing the amount of available housing,
several were concerned as to what oversight would be put into place to ensure
that the funds allocated to municipalities under this program would be used
effectively. Discussing whether they had any concerns related to building
more homes faster, many felt that there was a risk of these homes being of
poorer quality due to their more rapid rate of construction. Some were
also concerned that even if they added to the housing supply, these new housing
developments would be highly priced and unaffordable for a
large number of Canadians.
Asked what impacts, if any, they thought that changes
to municipal zoning bylaws could have on building more homes, several expected
that this would have a significant impact, believing that these laws dictated
the type of housing that could be built in each municipality as well as where
these new developments could be located. Most were of
the opinion that municipalities should be encouraged to make zoning
changes to allow for the building of more homes in their communities.
Related to this, several believed that there should be an increased focus on
increasing density and building multi-family housing complexes rather than
single-family homes.
Participants in this group, comprised of individuals
who had purchased a home within the past five years, discussed their
experiences related to home ownership as well as initiatives from the federal
government related to assisting first-time home buyers. Asked if they
could recall any recent actions taken by the Government of Canada, participants
mentioned initiatives such as the creation of the new First Home Savings
Account (FHSA), the First-Time Home Buyer Incentive (FTHBI), and its commitment
to increasing the housing supply across Canada.
Almost all indicated being concerned about recent
changes to the prime interest rate. Several reported having purchased
their homes when interest rates were much lower and were concerned about how
much their monthly payments might increase when it came time to renew their
mortgages. A large number expressed that home ownership had become less
affordable for them in the past five years. Almost all were of the
impression that their home utility costs had also risen considerably during this
period. For many, these increases in housing-related costs had led to a
decrease in discretionary spending and a greater portion of their monthly
income being allocated towards servicing their mortgage payments and other
debt.
Participants were next provided with information
related to various housing initiatives from the Government of Canada.
Several spoke positively of the decision to ban blind bidding, believing that
this would help future home buyers by ensuring that they were not overbidding
on homes due to not knowing the amounts that other potential buyers were
offering. A number also expressed interest in rent-to-own housing options
and felt that this could represent a way for Canadians to build equity in a
property without the requirement of putting down a significant down
payment. While expecting that these programs might be helpful to some,
most believed that the Government of Canada was currently on the wrong track
when it came to making home ownership more affordable. It was widely felt
that due to what they viewed as exceedingly high home prices in many parts of
the country, the amounts offered through these programs would likely have
little impact on the ability of most Canadians to purchase a home.
Those in the group comprised of Indigenous peoples
residing in the Northwest Territories (N.T.) briefly discussed the housing
situation in their region. Almost all believed that housing in their
communities was very lacking at present and that it had become increasingly
difficult for those residing there to afford to purchase or rent a home.
The view was added that the limited available housing was often in poor
condition and in drastic need of repair. All felt that the housing
situation in their region had worsened in recent years and a few commented that
they would likely be leaving the North in the future due to the lack of housing
options and other challenges related to the high cost of living there.
Discussing what would need to happen to improve the
situation in the N.T., participants believed that far greater investments
needed to be made towards building more homes in the region. Most felt
that the federal government was currently on the wrong track when it came to
housing, with a few expressing that they no longer felt homeownership was a
realistic possibility for them. Asked what more could be done by the
Government of Canada on this front, participants recommended greater assistance
for first-time home buyers as well as increased funding towards improving the
quality and availability of housing in Northern communities.
Two groups shared their perspectives regarding
Canada’s energy sector, with a specific focus on their expectations related to
oil and gas production going forward. All felt that oil and gas was a
significant economic driver at present and was of critical importance both to
the Prairies as well as for Canada more broadly. Discussing the
importance of oil and gas in their region, several reported that this sector
continued to be a top employer in their communities and felt that these
resources were essential to meeting the energy needs of a large portion of
Canadians. As such, it was expected that it would be difficult to
transition away from oil and gas at any point in the near
future. Almost all believed that the oil and gas sector was
performing strongly at present and had experienced significant economic growth
in recent years. Asked how important they felt it was from an economic
perspective to diversify beyond oil and gas, most believed this to be a
significant priority, with several of the impression that this process had
already begun in their respective areas. A number thought that given the
finite nature of non-renewable resources such as oil and gas, more sustainable
alternatives would soon become a necessity. Several also felt this to be
important from an environmental perspective, believing that a greater use of
renewable energy would have a considerable benefit towards mitigating the
potential impacts of climate change.
Most believed that clean energy represented a
significant economic opportunity for Canada and expected that investments in
this sector would likely lead to the creation of numerous high-paying jobs
(including for those currently employed in oil and gas). Questioned if
they were familiar with the term ‘sustainable jobs’, very few were.
Discussing what came to mind when they thought about sustainable jobs in the
clean energy sector many believed that these would likely be those positions
responsible for maintaining and managing the systems responsible for producing
this energy. Asked who or what they believed was driving the development
of the clean energy sector in their region, several felt that this had
primarily resulted from a public desire in many jurisdictions across the world
to transition to more renewable energy sources as a way of mitigating the
impacts of climate change. It was thought that the Government of Canada
had also worked to develop this sector through the provision of grants and tax
credits to clean energy producers as well as by making significant investments
towards the construction of clean energy infrastructure.
Three groups took part in conversations related to the
Government of Canada’s carbon pricing system. To begin, participants were
asked how important they felt it was for the federal government to reduce
carbon pollution in Canada. Many believed this to be an important
priority, feeling it was prudent to take these actions now in
order to reduce the impacts of climate change on future
generations. Asked if they were aware of any actions taken by the
Government of Canada to reduce carbon pollution, participants mentioned
initiatives such as the introduction of a federal price on carbon, rebates for
the purchase of electric vehicles (EVs), increased funding for public
transportation systems in Canadian communities, and grants for home
retrofitting projects via the Canada Greener Homes Grant (though not mentioned
by name).
Questioned whether they supported placing a price on
carbon, many were uncertain and felt that they did not know enough to properly
evaluate this measure. A roughly similar smaller number expressed support
for a price on carbon as those who opposed this initiative. To aid in
conversation, participants were informed that there were two parts to carbon
pollution pricing – a fuel charge, which applies to things such as oil and gas
and a separate system for industry, and that in provinces where the federal fuel
charge applies all direct proceeds are returned to Canadians, primarily through
Climate Action Incentive Payments (CAIPs). Many questioned the purpose of
most households receiving this money back as this felt counterintuitive to
many.
Discussing where they would go if they were interested
in finding more information related to carbon pollution pricing, many indicated
that they would likely look to official websites hosted by the Government of
Canada. Asked whether they viewed climate scientists as credible sources
for information related to carbon pricing, most did, believing these
individuals typically had considerable expertise in this area. While
several felt that economists were also trustworthy sources of information on
this front, concerns were expressed by some that they may be overly focused on
the financial aspects of carbon pricing rather than the environmental
impacts.
Informed that other countries, including Denmark, the
United Kingdom (U.K.), Sweden, France, Netherlands, Chile, and Japan, all had
implemented their own ways of pricing carbon pollution, participants were asked
whether this impacted their level of support for carbon pricing in
Canada. While a number felt that it was encouraging that other countries
were taking these steps, very few said that knowing this impacted their support
for carbon pricing. Participants were largely of the view that each
country faced its own unique challenges related to limiting carbon pollution
and that Canada’s carbon pricing system should be tailored to its own needs and
not be influenced by strategies utilized in other jurisdictions.
Asked whether they felt that a price on carbon would
discourage Canadians from polluting, few believed that it would. While it
was expected that some individuals might adjust their daily behaviours to
produce fewer emissions, it was generally thought that this was not possible
for everyone. The view was added that making these changes would be
particularly difficult for those living rurally who often had to drive long
distances to get from place to place and whose communities typically had limited
public transportation options available. Questioned whether they felt
that the costs of a price on carbon were higher in the short term than the
costs of climate change, most were uncertain. This said, a large number
were of the view that even if the costs of implementing a price on carbon were
relatively high, this action was still worth taking if it served to mitigate
the impacts of climate change on future generations.
Participants in two groups discussed the current state
of the immigration system in Canada. Asked if they could recall any
recent actions taken by the federal government related to this front, a number
had heard that it was currently working to increase the rate of immigration to
Canada in the coming years. While most were generally accepting of a
higher level of immigration, several were concerned about the capacity of
Canadian communities to accommodate and support a large influx of new arrivals.
Related to this, it was widely felt that a proportionate amount of additional
infrastructure and essential services such as hospitals and schools would need
to be constructed to accommodate these newcomers.
Asked whether they thought that the Government of
Canada was currently on the right track when it came to immigration, most in
Quebec felt this to be the case. Those residing in Atlantic Canada and
Ontario were more mixed in their opinions with a roughly equal number feeling
that the federal government was on the right track as those who believed it was
headed in the wrong direction. Discussing the potential benefits of
immigration, several felt that it was essential to ensure that there would be
enough workers to meet the needs of Canadians, particularly in vital sectors
such as health care and education. Some also spoke about the potential
for immigration to increase the diversity of the population, believing that
this would provide a greater variety of perspectives and cultural richness to
Canadian communities. Among the smaller number who felt that the federal
government was on the wrong track when it came to immigration, concerns were
expressed that the addition of too many new arrivals in a short period of time
would place severe strain on areas such as housing, health care, and the
education system. Asked whether they thought that the immigration rate to
Canada should increase, decrease, or stay the same, most believed that it
should be kept relatively stable in the years to come. It was widely felt
that this would be the most effective way to bring more people to Canada while
not overwhelming the housing market and/or the ability of communities to
continue providing essential services to their residents.
A number expressed the view that efforts should be
taken to ensure that a sizeable portion of new arrivals spoke French.
This was thought to be especially important in terms of the ability of
newcomers in French-speaking municipalities to successfully integrate into
their new communities. Informed that through the Action Plan for Official
Languages, the Government of Canada was planning to boost Francophone
immigration, participants were largely positive in their reactions.
Several thought that this action would go a long way towards strengthening the
French language and Francophone culture in Canada. Discussing what more
should be done by the federal government on this front, a number recommended a
greater focus on recruiting French-speaking individuals with qualifications in
important sectors such as health care, education, construction, and other
trades, as well as making it easier for their credentials to be recognized in
Canada.
Participants residing in St. John’s, Newfoundland took
part in a brief discussion related to health care in their region. Almost
all felt that the health care system in their province was under considerable
strain and that this had greatly impacted the quality and accessibility of
these services. Describing the most pressing challenges related to health
care at present, many identified what they viewed as a persistent shortage of
doctors and nurses in the region. Related to this, several identified
long wait times at emergency rooms and walk-in clinics as a growing area of
concern, believing that worker shortages had made it difficult to access
emergency or primary care in a timely fashion. A large number also
mentioned a lack of family doctors practicing in the region, with several
describing having personally faced challenges in acquiring a family physician
in recent years.
Provided with information related to priority areas
recently established by the Government of Canada related to health care, all
reacted positively. Several reiterated the importance of
addressing health worker shortages and reducing wait times, expressing the view
that many of the other issues currently facing the health care system in their
province stemmed from a lack of available personnel and resources. A
number also thought that it was of critical importance for the Government of
Canada to place an increased focus on addressing mental health and substance
use. It was believed that these issues had increased substantially in
their community in recent years and required urgent attention. A few also
spoke positively of the priority related to modernizing health data management
and virtual care. It was felt that by implementing a digital health
system, health care providers would be able to communicate much more
effectively with one another, making it easier for patients to have their
records transferred and benefit from a more personalized health care
experience.
Two groups engaged in discussions related to the
potential implementation of a national pharmacare program. Asked to
identify the biggest challenges related to health care in need of further
attention from the Government of Canada, participants identified a wide range
of issues, including long wait times when accessing emergency care, a shortage
of doctors and nurses, a dearth of family doctors in many Canadian communities,
limited mental health services, a lack of home care options for the aging population,
a limited availability of virtual care options, and a perceived lack of
prevention-based medicine. Asked specifically about the cost of
prescription drugs, almost all in the group from Thunder Bay thought this was
an important issue, while most in the group from Quebec believed that there
were more pressing issues facing the health care system at present.
Describing the current state of prescription drug
coverage in Canada, a large number were of the impression that they were
relatively affordable in most cases. Almost all were familiar with the
term ‘pharmacare’ and most believed that this referred to the public provision
of prescription drugs and medications. None were aware of any plans from
the Government of Canada on this front. To aid in the conversation, it
was clarified that the federal government intended to move forward on implementing
a national pharmacare program to make prescription drugs more affordable and
accessible to a greater number of Canadians. Almost all reacted
positively to this information, and many were enthusiastic about the prospect
of reducing the costs associated with prescription drugs and helping to make
them more accessible to all Canadians.
Asked who they felt should be covered under a national
pharmacare plan, participants expressed a range of views. Most felt that
this coverage should be extended only to those who did not have access to a
private insurance plan. Regarding potential options, participants were
informed that a national pharmacare program could be completely public (similar to health care) or could work to ‘close the gaps’ so
that people could continue to use existing public and private plans.
Discussing the potential benefits and drawbacks of each approach, all
expressed a preference for the completely public option, believing that
providing equal coverage to all Canadians represented the best way to deliver a
pharmacare program. Asked if they would support a universal pharmacare
program, almost all reported that they would. Most, however, indicated
that they would be less likely to support this program in the
event that it led to higher or new taxation or increased the federal
deficit.
Participants residing in Thunder Bay and Vancouver
Island took part in conversations related to addiction and opioid use in their
communities. All in Thunder Bay and most from Vancouver Island felt this
to be a major issue at present and believed that the rate of addiction and
substance abuse in their area had increased substantially as of late. No
participants were hopeful that this issue would improve in the coming
years. It was felt that too few resources had been devoted towards addressing
substance use in Canadian communities and that more needed to be done to ensure
those suffering from addiction were able to access treatment. Asked if
they could recall any actions taken by the federal government regarding this
issue, a few mentioned initiatives such as increased funding for safe injection
sites and the availability of Naloxone kits for those experiencing
overdoses.
Asked what came to mind when they heard terms such as
‘safe supply’ and ‘safe injection sites’, most were positive in their
impressions. On balance, it was believed that these were initiatives
aimed at preventing overdose deaths by ensuring those suffering from addiction
had a safe place to consume these substances and greater assurance that the
drugs they were consuming had not been laced with more dangerous
substances. While mostly supportive of harm reduction initiatives such as
these, several did not believe that these programs would be sufficient on their
own in curbing the rate of addiction. It was felt that while the
availability of a safe supply and access to safe injection sites would likely
reduce overdose deaths, a greater focus needed to be placed on assisting these
individuals in accessing treatment for their addictions and getting them to
stop using drugs in the long term. It was widely felt that the Government
of Canada had a role to play both in the funding of harm reduction initiatives
as well as ensuring treatment options were available for those suffering from
addiction.
Provided with information related to the federal
government’s Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP), most expected that
this initiative would have a positive impact on reducing overdoses and other
harms associated with substance use. It was widely felt, however, that in order for these actions to be effective they would need
to be accompanied by increased accessibility to mental health treatment and
safe and affordable housing for those suffering from addiction. It was
thought that more should be done to incentivize Canadians to pursue careers in
mental health and addiction treatment, with some of the impression that there
was currently a shortage of skilled workers in these areas.
Participants residing in mid-size centres in the
Prairies engaged in a brief conversation regarding the state of the Canadian
job market and recent job creation efforts undertaken by the Government of
Canada. All reported being recent post-secondary graduates. Sharing
their perspectives regarding the current state of the job market and the
opportunities available to new graduates, many indicated that it had been
difficult to find work in their field of study and that they had either
accepted employment in an unrelated area or been searching unsuccessfully for
work for several months.
All felt that the Canadian job market would be
significantly worse in five years’ time. Several were concerned about the
potential proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) and believed that this
could result in mass layoffs and fewer job opportunities for humans. All
believed that the Government of Canada was currently on the wrong track when it
came to creating jobs and very few were aware of any work it had undertaken on
this front. Asked what more could be done to create jobs, provide skills
training, and support workers, participants suggested that the federal
government create incentives for students to study and enter in-demand fields
(such as health care), as well as make post-secondary education more affordable
for Canadians.
Participants in the group comprised of recent
post-secondary graduates residing in the Prairies, took part in a brief
discussion related to the affordability of post-secondary education.
Asked if they were aware of any work the Government of Canada had done to make
post-secondary studies and paying off student loans more affordable, many
recalled its recent decision to permanently eliminate interest on Canada
Student Loans and Canada Apprentice Loans. Several were also aware of the
availability of student loan repayment assistance programs, including the
ability to defer loan payments until borrowers began earning an annual income
of more than $40,000. All were positive in their reactions to these
actions and many expressed appreciation regarding the
decision to permanently eliminate interest on Canada Student Loans and Canada
Apprentice Loans. While enthusiastic about these initiatives, most felt
that these actions represented temporary solutions to addressing education
unaffordability, rather than a permanent or long-term resolution to this
issue.
Asked what more the Government of Canada could do to
help new graduates, participants believed that actions could be taken to ensure
that entry-level work would be available to students in their fields of study
upon graduation. Others suggested that the federal government reverse its
recent decision to allow international students to work for more than 20 hours
per week, believing that this had created further competition in what was
perceived to be an already competitive job market.
One group, comprised of members of the Chinese
diaspora living in Vancouver Island, engaged in a short discussion related to
the Government of Canada’s current relationship with China. Almost all
believed that Canada’s relationship with China had worsened in recent years and
several expressed concerns related to the potential economic and geopolitical
consequences of perceived escalating tensions with China. Discussing actions that the federal
government could take to improve its management of this relationship, a large
number believed that more could be done to broaden its economic and cultural
connections to China. It was felt that this could include increasing the
number of students studying abroad in each country and further expanding trade
relations between the two jurisdictions. Asked how they
expected this relationship to develop moving forward, most felt that this was
difficult to predict and would depend considerably on the actions taken by
China on an economic and geopolitical level going forward.
Participants in two groups engaged in brief
conversations related to the protection and promotion of the French language in
Canada. All were of the view that this needed to be a top priority for
the Government of Canada. Asked whether they could recall any actions
from the federal government on this front, many mentioned the announcement of
the Government of Canada’s Action Plan for Official Languages: 2023-2028.
Provided with information regarding the specific
objectives and initiatives contained within this Plan almost all were positive
in their reactions, and many felt that these measures would be greatly helpful
in protecting and promoting the French language both in Quebec and across
Canada. Several expected that it would greatly benefit Francophone
communities outside of Quebec, providing them with a broader range of resources
and programming for their residents. Many thought that the initiative to
invest in Francophone child care centres across Canada
would be especially impactful, believing that it would help a greater number of
children to develop French language skills from an early age. A number
also felt that investments towards Francophone community organizations would
have a significant impact, believing it had the potential to strengthen
Francophone communities and ensure broader access to French-language services
and resources.
Asked what else the Government of Canada could do to
better protect and promote the French language, participants recommended
increased investments towards French-language programming and resources for
seniors, promoting the greater use of French on labels and signage, and
requiring manufacturers and corporations throughout Canada to provide
French-language products and services.
Content Advisory: Please note that the following
section deals with the topic of suicide and emotional distress and may be
upsetting for some readers.
Participants in two groups engaged in discussions
related to suicide prevention and the implementation of 9-8-8, a three-digit
telephone number for those suffering from emotional distress and dealing with
suicidal ideation. Shown a number of potential
statements designed to promote and provide information related to this service,
participants largely favoured those which were direct, informative, and
provided statistics that conveyed the gravity of these mental health
challenges.
Focusing on the different features offered by the
9-8-8 service, many felt that confidentiality was of
significant importance, believing that a far greater number of Canadians
would be motivated to utilize this service knowing that their conversations
would be kept private. The view was expressed that there was still
considerable stigma around mental health and suicidal thoughts and that
confidentiality was key to this service being effective. A large number
also felt it important that this service be free, though many thought that this
would already be an expectation for most and did not need to be highlighted to
a significant extent. It was widely thought that it was important for the
9-8-8 service to be culturally appropriate for users. Several commented
that some cultures might experience mental health challenges in different ways
and that it was of critical importance for responders to be able to communicate
to callers in ways that related to them and their backgrounds. Participants
in the group comprised of Indigenous peoples felt that this might encourage a
greater number from their communities to utilize this service, believing that
they would feel more confident in knowing that their unique experiences and
challenges would be understood by responders.
Discussing the types of promotional materials and
information resources related to 9-8-8 that they felt would be most effective
once the number was launched, several believed that this advertising should
appear on social media platforms as well as on television and radio.
Given the perception that many younger Canadians often faced with struggles
related to mental health, it was felt that social media would be a highly
intuitive place for messaging regarding 9-8-8 to appear. A few also suggested
that these messages should be accompanied by images of real people, further
conveying to viewers the human consequences related to struggles with mental
health and suicidal thoughts. Asked if they would be likely to share
information related to 9-8-8 with family, friends, and/or colleagues almost all
indicated that they would. Shown a number of potential names for
this service, most participants felt the service should be called ‘9-8-8
Canada’, with an accompanying call to action ( “988
Canada: Call or text for suicide crisis help”). Related to this potential
call to action, a few commented that it was important to let people know that
they could also text this service, believing that this had not previously been
apparent.
Participants residing in the Greater Toronto Area
(GTA) shared their perspectives related to the current rate of crime in their
area. A roughly similar number believed that crime was currently a major
issue in their community as those who felt it was a moderate or minor
challenge. Asked to identify the types of crimes that they felt were an
issue at present, participants mentioned activities such as home robberies,
violent assaults, car theft, and drunk driving. Many were also of the opinion
that crime on public transit had become a growing concern in recent
years. Almost all felt that the rate of crime had increased as of late,
with a small number believing it had mostly remained the same. Several
reported having recently changed their behaviours in response to rising
crime. Actions taken on this front included no longer walking alone at
night, driving as opposed to taking public transit, and keeping a closer eye on
their children in public areas.
Asked what actions should be taken to address rising
crime, a few believed there needed to be increased investments towards law
enforcement and bolstering the presence of police in their community. A
larger number, however, felt differently, believing that increased policing was
not the answer and that more needed to be done to address the root causes
behind why these crimes were occurring. Asked whether they could recall
any actions from the Government of Canada related to addressing crime, a number
recalled recent bans on certain types of firearms. While generally
supportive of taking action to reduce gun crime, a few believed that other
types of firearms, notably hunting rifles, had been banned due to this action,
and felt that this was unfair.
Provided with
information regarding steps the federal government was taking to crack down on
gang violence, including through increased investments towards law enforcement,
participants were mixed in their reactions. While hopeful that these
actions would be effective, many were concerned that not enough focus was being
placed on preventing crimes from occurring in the first place. It was
felt that if significant investments were made towards providing individuals
with safe and affordable housing, a living wage, and treatment for issues such
as mental health and addiction, many would no longer be compelled to engage in
criminal behaviour. With this in mind, it was
thought that a greater focus should be placed on increasing the overall
well-being of vulnerable individuals and that taking this approach would be
much more effective in the long term towards reducing crime.
Participants residing in St. John’s, Newfoundland
engaged in a brief discussion related to the top issues impacting their region
that they believed required further prioritization from the federal
government. Asked to identify the most pressing challenges currently
facing their community, participants mentioned areas such as inflation and the
high cost of living, a perceived lack of affordable housing, health care worker
shortages, long wait times for emergency and primary care, and what was viewed
as increasing rates of homelessness and addiction in recent years. Almost
all felt that not enough attention was being paid to these issues by the
Government of Canada at this time.
Discussing the most important sectors and industries
in their region all felt that the oil and gas sector was of critical importance
to the local economy and served as one of the top employers for those residing
in the region. Asked what they viewed as the biggest issues facing the
oil and gas sector at present, a number mentioned increasing fuel and energy
prices, believing that this had served to reduce consumer demand in the
sector. Identifying additional challenges, participants also described
what they viewed as a growing global trend away from non-renewable resources
towards more sustainable energy options, believing this had also contributed to
a decrease in demand for oil and gas.
Asked whether they were aware of the Bay du Nord
Development Project, a roughly similar number of participants reported having
heard of it as those who had not. Informed that Equinor, the company
behind the project, had recently decided to postpone the project for three
years for economic reasons, while most felt this likely made financial sense,
it was widely felt that this action would have a negative impact on the
provincial economy and the creation of high-paying jobs in their
community. Several hoped that the project would eventually go forward and
were of the view that it would be a major loss to their region if it were to be
cancelled permanently.
The Strategic Counsel
Contract number: CW2241412
Contract award date: December 19, 2022
Contract value: $ 814,741.30