THIS SURVEY EXPLORES CANADIANS’ PERSPECTIVES ON RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS AND THE TRAGEDY IN KAMLOOPS AND CANADIANS’ AND AMERICANS’ PERSPECTIVES ON REOPENING THE CANADA-U.S. LAND BORDERS.
Recently, the remains of 215 Indigenous children were tragically discovered at a former Kamloops residential school site. In addition, with more Canadians and Americans receiving COVID-19 vaccines, many are wondering when the land borders between the two countries will reopen to tourism.
This survey is conducted in collaboration with the Association for Canadian Studies (ACS) and published in the Canadian Press. This series of surveys is available on Leger’s website.
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DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT AT THE END OF THIS ARTICLE.
Residential Schools and the Tragedy in Kamloops
- 66% of Canadians think the Church should bear the responsibility for the tragedies committed at residential schools, while 34% think the Government of Canada should be held responsible.
- 80% of Canadians are expecting more tragedies to be uncovered. They think that the remains of the 215 Indigenous children discovered at a previous residential school site in Kamloops is only the tip of the iceberg.
- 77% of Canadians agree that the government should order all the grounds surrounding former residential schools in Canada to be systematically searched through digs to find out if what happened in Kamloops also happened in other places.
Reopening the Canada-U.S. Land Borders
- If the United States decides to unilaterally reopen its land borders with Canada, 17% of Canadians would travel to the United States despite COVID-19 restrictions upon reentering Canada.
- More than twice as many Americans (78%) as Canadians (36%) would support reopening the borders between Canada and the United States this summer to tourists from the other country.
COVID-19 TRENDS
- For the first time since mid-March 2020, more Canadians are not afraid (51%) than afraid (45%) of contracting the coronavirus.
- 61% of Canadians and 62% of Americans think the worst of the COVID-19 crisis is behind us.
METHODOLOGY
This web survey was conducted from June 4, 2021 to June 6, 2021 with 1,539 Canadians and 1,004 Americans, 18 years of age or older, randomly recruited from LEO’s online panel.
For comparison, a probability sample of 1,539 respondents would have a margin of error of ±2.5%, 19 times out of 20, while a probability sample of 1,004 would have a margin of error of ±3.09%, 19 times out of 20.
THIS REPORT CONTAINS THE RESULTS FOR THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS AND MORE!
- Last week, the remains of 215 Indigenous children were found near the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, which was in operation from 1890 to 1969. While the Government of Canada funded these schools, they were administered and managed by Christian churches. In your view, who should bear the responsibility for the tragedies committed at these schools?
- In total, there were 139 residential schools across seven different provinces in Canadian history. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements?
- Would you support or oppose the reopening of the borders between Canada and the United States this summer, allowing American/Canadian tourists to enter the country?
- For what reason would you like to see the borders between Canada and the United States reopened?
- Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, how would you rate your mental health?
