Over the next 20 years those who are demographically characterized as “white” will become a minority – not just here, in Toronto, but across Canada due to low birth rates, higher mortality rates and increases in immigration to fill the gap.
This topic is not specifically a provincial matter – but many of its components are more societal and have implications throughout provincial institutions which govern numerous human rights and social agencies that can come to bear with issues that arise in this area.
A majority (69%) of Torontonians indicate that it doesn’t bother them that we will eventually have a majority of “non—white" people living here. This view is especially held by those who are young (80% aged 18 – 34), higher educated (74%), those who regularly take the TTC (74%), those with children (73%) and those who are employed (72%). Across the city, this view is most likely to be held in the old city of Toronto/downtown (79%) followed by those in York/East York (76%) North York (67%), Scarborough (63%) and Etobicoke (62%).
Three in 10 (31%) Torontonians take the opposite view and are more likely to be those who are lowest educated (48%) and older (41% aged 55+). In terms of geography, this view is most likely found in Etobicoke (38%) and in Scarborough (37%) followed by those in North York (33%), York/East York (24%) and Old City of Toronto/Downtown (21%).
A vast majority (83%) of Torontonians believe that regardless that eventually a majority of “non-white” people will be living here, Canada will continue to be the best multicultural, multiracial society in the world. Those who embrace this view the most are those who are lowest income (89%), regular TTC users (87%) by women (86%), and the highest educated (85%). Geographically, this view is most supported in the Old City of Toronto/Downtown (89%) and Etobicoke (86%).
This compares to just 17% who disagree. Those who are most likely to disagree are lowest educated (26%), those who live in Scarborough (23%) and men (20%).
Many (36%) Torontonians believe that white people are a racial class of people who are having their personal and civic rights reduced due to non-whites. This view is more likely to be held by those who are lower (56%) and middle (48%), older (45% aged 55+), have the lowest annual household income (40% less than $50,000) own their own residence (40%), are men (39%) versus women (33%) and live either in Etobicoke or Scarborough (each with 46%) and North York (41%).
However, two-thirds (64%) of Torontonians disagree with this view and those most likely to reject this notion are young (70% aged 18 – 34), University educated (71%), those who regularly take the TTC (70%) and those who rent (68%), those in the Old City of Toronto/Downtown (82%) and those in York/East York (71%).
Similarly, many (31%) also believe that without a majority of white people, the “real” Canada will just fade away to nothing. Those who are most likely to hold this view are lower educated (52%) and older (40% aged 55+) and geographically are most likely to live in Etobicoke and Scarborough (each at 38%) and North York (36%).
Seven in 10 (69%) Torontonians disagree with this view with those who take this position more likely be young (76% aged 18 – 34), highly educated (74%), those who regularly take the TTC (76%), those with middle household income (72% $75,000 – $99,000) and women (72%) versus men (67%). Geographically, those Torontonians who are more likely to reject this notion are from the Old City of Toronto/Downtown (82%) and those from York/East York (77%).