The Anti-Terrorism Act and Security Measures in Canada: Public Views, Impacts and Travel Experiences

Appendix B

Table 3: Racial Profiling

25. First of all, how familiar are you with the term "racial profiling"?
  Total Sample Comparison
Minority Non-minority P
n % n % n %
Familiar 1169 69% 279 72% 883 69% NS
Not Familiar 525 31% 108 28% 406 31%  
DK / NA 9 1% 3 1% 6 0%  
  1703 100% 390 100% 1295 100%  

26. What is "racial profiling". How would you describe it?
  Total Sample Comparison
Minority Non-minority P
n % n % n %
Stereotyping/make assumptions b/c of race/religion 289 17% 52 13% 236 18% *
Lumping/categorizing groups/people on race/religion 62 4% 18 5% 44 3% NS
Unfair treatment/arrests based on background/religion 76 4% 24 6% 52 4% NS
Stereotyping/Typecasting 45 3% 9 2% 36 3% NS
Unfair treatment of Muslims post 9/11 9 1% 0 0% 9 1% ~
Pulling/Stopping a car b/c of race 15 1% 5 1% 8 1% NS
Single people out b/c of race 132 8% 33 8% 99 8% NS
Racism/racist general 41 2% 10 3% 31 2% NS
Associating certain crimes with race/religion 89 5% 6 2% 83 6% ***
Labelled "terrorist" because of Race/religion 51 3% 10 3% 41 3% NS
Targeting individuals based on race/religion 191 11% 44 11% 147 11% NS
Looking at/investigatingbased on statistics/background 132 8% 25 6% 106 8% NS
Categorizing groups/people based on race 98 6% 20 5% 76 6% NS
Discrimination 27 2% 6 2% 21 2% NS
One race against another 10 1% 2 1% 8 1% ~
Your race/where youpeople/ethnicity/religion 111 7% 38 10% 71 5% **
Other 81 5% 20 5% 60 5% NS
DK / NA 387 23% 96 25% 281 22% NS
1703            

27. Racial profiling is when there is an official policy to target and scrutinize individuals solely based on their race, ethnicity, or religion. As far as you know, is there a policy in Canada to do racial profiling?
  Total Sample Comparison
Minority Non-minority P
n % n % n %
Yes 358 21% 94 24% 258 20% *
No 975 57% 200 51% 770 59%  
DK / NA 370 22% 96 25% 267 21%  
  1703 100% 390 100% 1295 100%  

28. Some way that screening a person for potential involvement in terrorist activity solely on the basis of their perceived race, ethnicity or religion is inappropriate. Others say that screening a person on the basis of their perceived race, ethnicity or religion is a necessary step to counter terrorist activities. Which view is closer to your own.
  Total Sample Comparison
Minority Non-minority P
n % n % n %
Screening based on race/ethnicity/religion is inappropriate 1002 59% 235 60% 760 59% NS
Screening based on race/ethnicity/religion is necessary 644 38% 140 36% 469 38%  
DK / NA 57 3% 15 4% 39 3%  
  1703 100% 390 100% 1295 100%  

29a. Do you agree/disagree that racial profiling goes against the principles of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms?
  Total Sample Comparison
Minority Non-minority P
n % n % n %
Agree 1349 79% 311 80% 1028 79% NS
Disagree 288 17% 68 17% 216 17%  
DK / NA 66 4% 11 3% 51 4%  
  1703 100% 390 100% 1295 100%  

29b. Do you agree/disagree that even individuals targeted because of their ethnic/racial background, they would still get a fair trial?
  Total Sample Comparison
Minority Non-minority P
n % n % n %
Agree 1338 79% 275 71% 1047 81% ***
Disagree 331 19% 103 26% 227 18%  
DK / NA 34 2% 12 3% 21 2%  
  1703 100% 390 100% 1295 100%  

29c. Do you agree/disagree that over the last 4 years, you have been the target of racial profiling?
  Total Sample Comparison
Minority Non-minority P
n % n % n %
Agree 159 9% 77 20% 77 6% ***
Disagree 1523 89% 309 79% 1203 93%  
DK / NA 21 1% 4 1% 15 1%  
  1703 100% 390 100% 1295 100%  

30. There is no official policy in Canada to racially profile and target anyone because of their ethnic, religious or racial origin. To what extent do you think that racial profiling still goes on unofficially?
  Total Sample Comparison
Minority Non-minority P
n % n % n %
All the time 344 20% 105 27% 235 18% ***
Sometimes 1061 62% 225 58% 827 64%  
Rarely 213 13% 31 8% 179 14%  
Never 39 2% 12 3% 26 2%  
DK / NA 46 3% 17 4% 28 2%  
  1703 100% 390 100% 1295 100%  

31. In general, what do you think are the main causes of racial profiling?
  Total Sample Comparison
Minority Non-minority P
n % n % n %
Racism and prejudice 559 33% 144 37% 409 32% *
Fear 198 12% 43 11% 154 12% NS
The ATA 38 2% 9 2% 28 2% NS
Terrorist activity 217 13% 36 9% 179 14% *
Lack of training of law enforcement/national security agencies 60 4% 19 5% 40 3% NS
Some religious/ethnic groups more likely to commit crimes 245 14% 31 8% 214 17% ***
Religion 37 2% 9 2% 28 2% NS
Media 68 4% 18 5% 49 4% NS
Lack of integration of racial/cultural groups 28 2% 5 1% 22 2% NS
Depends on individual/group 7 0% 0 0% 7 1% ~
Ignorance/lack of education 178 10% 40 10% 137 11% NS
Common sense/because it works 25 1% 8 2% 16 1% NS
Human nature 8 0% 1 0% 7 1% ~
Colour of skin 20 1% 5 1% 15 1% NS
Someones background/nationality/race/ethnicity 37 2% 5 1% 32 2% NS
Stereotypes 23 1% 2 1% 20 2% ~
Personal/past experience 14 1% 3 1% 11 1% ~
History 17 1% 2 1% 15 1% ~
Upbringing/how raised 19 1% 7 2% 12 1% NS
Suspicions/unusual behaviour 12 1% 1 0% 11 1% ~
Immigrants/immigration 14 1% 6 2% 8 1% NS
Cultural/community 14 1% 2 1% 12 1% ~
Pressure from external influence/war 19 1% 2 1% 17 1% ~
None 3 0% 0 0% 3 0% ~
Other 541 32% 127 33% 409 32% NS
DK / NA 239 14% 63 16% 171 13% NS
  1703