Most Canadians feel races treated equally at work

But many also feel racism on the rise: Survey

Almost two-thirds of Canadians feel visible minorities and whites are treated equally in their place of work, according to a survey by the Canadian Race Relations Foundation and the Association for Canadian Studies.

In breaking down the results of the survey of 1,707 people, those aged 35 to 44 most agree (73 per cent), followed by those aged 25 to 34 and 45 to 54 (both 70 per cent). Least in agreement are 18 to 24 year olds (61 per cent), 55 to 64 year olds (59 per cent) and those over 65 (51 per cent).

However, 46 per cent of Canadians feel racism is on the rise, found the survey.

“Heightened concerns over racism do not necessarily translate into individual perceptions of discrimination in the workplace,” said the report.

Quebecers (70 per cent) are most likely to believe the treatment is equal, followed by Alberta and British Columbia (both 65 per cent), Manitoba/Saskatchewan (64 per cent) and Ontario and the Maritimes (both at 62 per cent).

Canada (65 per cent) and Germany (66 per cent) are almost tied when it came to the countries that think visible minorities and whites are treated equally at work. Spain and the United States both come in at 57 per cent.

“The views of the population around racism and its incidence is an issue crucial to the well-being of societies like Canada where a vast majority of newcomers identify as a visible minority and where visible minorities will constitute an increasingly important percentage of the population,” said the report.

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