Canada and the Culture Wars: Most agree on causes of climate change, find consensus on how capitalism affects inequality
In a nation filled with divided discourse, Canadians agree on two significant pieces of the public puzzle.
The latest data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute – the fifth in a series looking at Canada and the Culture Wars – finds more to agree upon than dispute when it comes to climate change and capitalism. This, despite vehement debate on two sides of the Cultural Mindset spectrum. Take the Cultural Mindset Quiz Here Indeed, two-thirds (67%) say climate change is real and human caused. A further 22 per cent of Canadians say the trend is natural. In a nation ravaged by wildfire and extreme weather events leading to catastrophic floods, it is notable that the proportion of those saying climate change is “unproven” has dropped from 16 per cent in 2014 to just seven per cent now.
A majority also say that climate change is a “crisis” (63%) that necessitates immediate action. Smaller groups feel more concrete in their views that there is no problem at all (11%) or that the time for action has already passed, and there’s little we can do now to turn things around (10%).
There is also agreement among Canadians when gauging the impact of capitalism and the free market on society. Canadians are largely critical, with twice as many saying that within a capitalist system the “rich get richer and the poor get poorer” (58%), rather than feeling that anyone can get ahead (30%). The more negative assessment of capitalism is held by a majority of four groups across ARI’s Cultural Mindsets, with only the Defiant Objectors doing just that, objecting to the idea that this economic system inherently creates inequality.
More Key Findings:
• In a head-to-head choice between two options, half of Canadians (50%) say that people work hard for their money and should have control over when and where to give it away, while 36 per cent say more money should be redistributed from the wealthy to those worse off.
• Notably, even half of those who say capitalism exacerbates inequality also say that people should be able to control when and where they share their wealth (50%), rather than supporting more redistribution (35%).
• Canadians are largely supportive of the concept of a “wealth tax” (73% support) but opposed to a capital gains tax on profits from selling one’s principal residence if the sale exceeds $1.5 million (56% oppose).
• Among those who feel climate change is a problem Canada needs to take on, the largest number of Canadians say that the government bears the most responsibility (48%), while three-in-ten (31%) say businesses should lead. One-in-five (22%) say this is an individual responsibility.