CANADA: National Poll Finds 86% Believe the “Canadian Dream” is Obtainable for All

An overwhelming number of Canadians and immigrants to Canada believe they can realize the “Canadian Dream,” according to the latest findings from a national survey conducted by Harris Poll commissioned by Express Employment Professionals.

No matter where they are born, 86 per cent of respondents agree that the “Canadian Dream” is obtainable for “everyone who lives in Canada.” Furthermore, 87 per cent of native born Canadians, and 91 per cent of immigrants to Canada believe the “Canadian Dream” is personally obtainable. There is also a shared understanding of the “Canadian Dream,” regardless of birthplace.

What is the “Canadian Dream”? The vast majority of respondents in Canada agree with the definition of the “Canadian Dream” as owning a home, having a job they enjoy and earning enough money to live, but still have plenty of free time. Further, they have faith that these things are also possible for everyone to attain if they work hard and apply themselves.

Both native born Canadians and immigrants agree that the decisions and actions they make have a big effect on whether or not they reach this goal. Eighty-five per cent of Canadian-born citizens say, “The choices I make impact whether or not I will achieve my economic potential in Canada or the Canadian dream,” while 88 per cent of immigrants agree with that statement.

The country as a whole remains optimistic about the future. Sixty-eight per cent of native born Canadians and 78 per cent of immigrants “believe the future of Canada is very bright.”

There remains a strong belief in hard work. Seventy-five per cent of all Canadians regardless of birthplace agree that the Canadian dream is possible for everyone, “if they work hard and apply themselves.”

“It’s certainly encouraging to see that the ‘Canadian Dream’ is very real for a strong majority of Canadians. Furthermore, most Canadians, both those born here and abroad, firmly believe that hard work and the choices they make will allow them to reach their dreams,” said Bob Funk, CEO of Express Employment Professionals, which has 36 franchises in Canada. “Canadians are motivated and committed to achieving the ‘Canadian Dream,’ even more so than their southern neighbors believe in the American Dream.”

A similar companion poll in the United States showed 81 per cent of the general population believed the “American Dream,” is obtainable for “everyone who lives in the United States.”

What Defines the “Canadian Dream?”

• Sixty-nine per cent of all Canadians regardless of birthplace believe the “Canadian Dream” is “earning enough money to live, but still have plenty of free time.”
• Sixty-three per cent of all Canadians regardless of birthplace believe the “Canadian Dream” is “having the right balance between the hours I work and having enough personal time to do the things I enjoy.”
• Sixty per cent of all Canadians regardless of birthplace believe the “Canadian Dream” is “having a job that I really enjoy doing.”
• Sixty per cent of all Canadians regardless of birthplace believe the “Canadian Dream” is “owning my own home.”
• Fifty percent of all Canadians regardless of birthplace believe the “Canadian Dream” is “raising a family.”
• Eighty-nine per cent of all Canadians regardless of birthplace believe the “Canadian Dream” is “something I want to achieve” while 77 per cent believe it is something “I can achieve in my lifetime.”
• Fifty-eight per cent of Canadians regardless of birthplace believe “the Canadian Dream is something I am living.”

Canadians View of Immigrants Mostly Very Positive, Some Negative

• Ninety-five per cent of Canadian-born respondents believe that “immigrants come to Canada to seek a better future for their families.”
• Eighty-two per cent of Canadian-born respondents believe “immigrants come to Canada because Canada has the best economic opportunities.”
• Eighty-one per cent of Canadian-born respondents believe that “people who come to Canada from other countries are more willing to accept any job to pay their bills.”
• Seventy-two per cent of Canadian-born respondents believe “immigrants take jobs that Canadians refuse to do.”
• Sixty-one per cent of Canadian-born respondents disagree with the statement “Immigrants lower the wages that would otherwise be paid to Canadians.”
• Fifty-nine per cent of Canadian-born respondents say “immigrants come to Canada because they can receive social assistance.”

Survey Methodology

Study by Harris Poll

The survey was conducted online by Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment Professionals between Oct. 5 – 21, 2015, and included 2,031 adults aged 18 or older from the general population and an oversample of 735 foreign born Canadian residents age 18 or older. Data is weighted to be representative of the general Canadian population and Canadian residents who are foreign-born.

Results were weighted as needed for age by gender, education, race/ethnicity, region and household income. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents’ propensity to be online. Totals may not equal the sum of their individual components due to rounding. No estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated; a full methodology is available.