From December 13 to 16, 2024, we surveyed Canadians on the Sikh separatist movement.
Some of the key highlights of our survey about the Sikh separatist movement include…
Awareness and Concerns
Over half of Canadians (53%) are aware of accusations that the Indian government has interfered in Canadian domestic matters, including threats toward Sikh-Canadians. Awareness is highest among South Asian respondents (79%).
Over two-thirds (68%) of Canadians express concern about these allegations, with 33% being very concerned.
Engagement and Government Response
Despite a reasonably high level of concern, only 20% of Canadians follow news about Sikh separatist activities closely. Almost one-quarter (24%) believe the government has done enough to address the issue. Satisfaction with the government’s response is stronger among respondents who are South Asian (49%) and those aware of the alleged interference (34%).
Public Support and Policy Attitudes
Support for Sikh separatist activities in Canada is minimal (10%), with a majority (54%) opposed. This opposition aligns with widespread support (72%) for stricter policies to prevent foreign separatist agendas from being organized on Canadian soil.
Impact on Sikh-Canadians
Amidst the broader discussion, 30% of Canadians believe Sikh-Canadians face unfair scrutiny due to the actions of a small minority involved in separatist activities, while 33% disagree and 37% remain unsure.
Methodology
This web survey was conducted from December 13 to December 16, 2024, with 1,515 Canadians aged 18 or older, randomly recruited from LEO’s online panel. A margin of error cannot be associated with a non-probability sample in a panel survey.
For comparison purposes, a probability sample of this size yields a margin of error no greater than ±2.52%, (19 times out of 20) for the Canadian sample.
