Canada's Performance 2004

III. Society, Culture and Democracy

Introduction

Canadian communities contribute to the social, economic and cultural vitality of our society. A strong society can be described as one that is safe, encourages participation, strengthens social bonds and promotes our values. Canada's democratic tradition has enabled the development of a modern, open, and multicultural society that many countries now look to as an example.

Canada's social and economic prosperity is directly influenced by the vitality of its communities and the participation of its citizens. In a country as diverse socially, geographically and economically as Canada, the government plays an important role in enabling this vitality.

The Government of Canada supports the quality of life of its citizens by strengthening the social fabric, preserving the environmental integrity, and reflecting and reinforcing values that are important to Canadians. These values include multiculturalism and respect for diversity; linguistic duality; human rights; equality and fairness; and respect for peace, the rule of law and the environment. Bilingualism is also an integral aspect of Canadian society. The number of Canadians who speak both official languages has more than doubled over the past four decades to more than 5.2 million.

The Government of Canada's Role in Canadian Society, Culture and Democracy

The Government of Canada works with the provinces, territories, municipalities and partners to strengthen Canadian society, culture and democracy in areas such as public safety; the infrastructure of cities and municipalities; funding for culture and heritage; social inclusion; and immigration.

In the October 2004 Speech from the Throne, the Government committed to a "New Deal" for cities that will ensure that municipalities have greater access to reliable and long-term financial support for infrastructure such as transit and clean water, and for social priorities such as settlement services for immigrants and affordable housing. To further this, the Government will make available a portion of the gas tax for municipalities, growing over the next five years.

The government is creating opportunities for Canadians with disabilities by working with the provinces and territories to fill gaps in education, skills development and workplace support.

This chapter measures progress against the following key Government of Canada outcomes related to Canadian Society, Culture, and Democracy:

1. Diversity as a Fundamental Canadian Value;
2. Safe Communities;
3. Caring Communities;
4. A Vibrant Canadian Culture and Heritage;
5. Sustainable Cities and Communities; and
6. An Informed and Engaged Canadian Public.

For a discussion on what the Government of Canada is doing in the international community, please see Chapter I, "Canada's Place in the World." For more information on the government's support for environmental sustainability in Canadian communities, please refer to Chapter VI, "The Canadian Environment."

Government of Canada outcome: Diversity as a fundamental Canadian value

Why Is It Important?

Canadian communities are culturally, linguistically and socially diverse. Valuing diversity contributes to the strength and safety of Canadian society and culture by fostering respect for cultural differences and alternative lifestyle choices. Efforts to appreciate and engage the social, linguistic and cultural diversity that is part of our heritage and collective identity help to foster harmonious relations between peoples and create communities equally open to all.

The government contributes to the strengthening of diversity by developing policy with respect to human rights redress, discrimination and racial profiling; monitoring Canada's compliance with its international human rights obligations; and protecting Canadian rights and freedoms through the Charter and the Canadian Human Rights Act.

With more than 200 different ethnic origins reported in the 2001 Census, Canada is one of the most ethnically and linguistically diverse countries in the world. During the past century Canada welcomed 13.4 million immigrants.

In Budget 2004, the federal government announced an additional $15 million annually to expand the enhanced language-training pilots and reduce labour market barriers faced by immigrants. In the October 2004 Speech from the Throne, the Government committed to modernizing Canada's Citizenship Act to reaffirm the responsibilities and rights of Canadian citizenship and our values of multiculturalism, gender equality and linguistic duality.

In the 2001 Census, 17.7 per cent of the population identified themselves as bilingual (French and English), up from 17 per cent in 1996. (Source: Statistics Canada) According to a 2003 Environics poll, 95 per cent of francophones who did not speak English "wished" they spoke English and 75 per cent of anglophones who did not speak French "wished" they spoke French. In addition, 70 per cent of Canadians agreed that having two official languages makes Canada a more welcoming place for immigrants.

Measures to Track Progress

The following indicator contributes to measuring Canada's progress in the area of Diversity as a Fundamental Canadian Value:

• Attitudes toward diversity as measured by personal tolerance and affirmative action.

Current Level and Trends

Personal tolerance of others increased slightly between 1991 and 2004. For example, 29 per cent of Canadians believe they are more tolerant toward ethnic groups, an increase of 6 percentage points; 65 per cent feel there has been no change, an increase of 3 per cent; and 8 per cent believe they are less tolerant, a decrease of 2 per cent.

Support for affirmative action declined between 1985 and 2004, with 28 per cent of Canadians agreeing in 2004 that "Governments should require employers to advance non-whites to higher positions," compared with 44 per cent in 1985. (Source: Environics, 2004 Focus Canada - Multiculturalism and Ethnic Tolerance)

Supplemental Information

By clicking on the link in the electronic version of the report, the reader can access information on additional indicators that measure Canada's progress in the area of Diversity as a Fundamental Canadian Value: Views on Multiculturalism and Mixed Unions.

The Government of Canada's Performance

Several departments and agencies contribute to the pursuit of Diversity as a Fundamental Canadian Value through their respective departmental strategic outcomes. In the electronic version of the report, clicking on the links in the table below will lead the reader to planning, performance and resource information, which is contained in the organizations' Departmental Performance Reports and Reports on Plans and Priorities. The Database, which can be found at http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/rma/krc/so-rs_e.asp, also leads to relevant audits and evaluations.

Government of Canada outcome: Safe communities

Why Is It Important?

Safety is fundamental to the enjoyment of a high quality of life, and the safety of Canadians and their communities is a key government priority. Federal initiatives in this area include policies, programs and legislation to protect children, reduce crime rates, and protect against crises and emergencies such as organized crime, security threats and natural disasters.

In December 2003, the government created a new department, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada, which is responsible for crisis and emergency preparedness, national security, policing and law enforcement, oversight, crime prevention, corrections, conditional release and border protection.

A number of programs are in place to support community-based crime prevention. For example, since it was launched in 1998, the National Crime Prevention Strategy has supported more than 4,000 projects in over 800 Canadian communities. The Strategy provides communities with the tools, knowledge and expertise for effective crime prevention and the support to deal with the risks associated with crime and victimization at the local level.

Keeping communities safe also means protecting the environment and minimizing the impact of climate change. In 2003, several regions in Canada were affected by natural disasters: the BC forest fires and Hurricane Juan alone caused an estimated $1 billion in insured property losses and incalculable human losses. Understanding and sharing knowledge of areas of vulnerability, infrastructure for emergency response, longer-term adaptation and environmental prediction are important government strategies to prepare citizens for these high-impact events.

In September 2003, Canada presented the United Nations with its second report on implementation of the international Convention on the Rights of the Child. Two recent Canadian accomplishments in this regard are the Youth Criminal Justice Act and child protection legislation.

Measures to Track Progress

The following indicator contributes to measuring Canada's progress in the area of Safe Communities:

• Safety as measured in a number of ways, including

Safety: Crime Rate

Current Level and Trends

Canada's national crime rate increased 6 per cent in 2003, the first substantial gain in over a decade. The rate for total Criminal Code offences (excluding traffic) in 2003 was 8,132 incidents per 100,000 population, up from 7,590 per 100,000 in 2002. After peaking in 1991, the crime rate fell steadily throughout the 1990s and remained relatively stable from 2000 to 2002. The 2003 crime rate was 15 per cent lower than a decade ago, but 14 per cent higher than 25 years ago.

Much of the increase in overall crime from 2002-03 resulted from more than 138,000 counterfeiting incidents reported by police. The rate of counterfeiting increased 72 per cent in 2003. Counterfeiting incidents tripled in Newfoundland and Labrador and nearly doubled in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia.

The national property crime rate rose 4 per cent in 2003, after a near 20-year low in 2002. The rate in 2003 was 4,121 per 100,000 population, up from 3,960 per 100,000 in 2002. It was the first substantial increase since 1991. However, the rate is still 26 per cent lower than it was a decade earlier.

Crime rates increased in all provinces and territories, except Ontario and the Yukon, where they remained virtually unchanged. Saskatchewan reported the nation's highest rate, followed by Manitoba and British Columbia. Ontario reported the lowest crime rate since the first time statistics were collected in 1962. (Source: Statistics Canada, 2004)

Safety: Victimization Rate

Current Level and Trends

Six of the ten countries that participated in the International Crime Victimization Survey in both 1996 and 2000, including Canada, experienced no change in their victimization rate. The remaining four countries (England, France, the Netherlands and Scotland) experienced slight decreases. For the 17 countries that participated in the 2000 International Crime Victimization Survey, on average 21 per cent of the population aged 16 and older had been victims of at least one of 11 offences in the previous year. A total of 24 per cent of Canadians reported having been victimized. Australia and England had the highest rates at 30 per cent and 26 per cent respectively. Portugal, Japan and Northern Ireland had the lowest rates, all at 15 per cent. Of the 11 crimes measured, the most prevalent in 2000 was car vandalism with an average victimization rate of 7 per cent for the 13 countries surveyed, followed by theft from a car at 5 per cent.

Safety: Level of Fear of Crime

Current Level and Trends

According to the Personal Security Index 2003, between 2001 and 2002, seniors and low-income people felt most unsafe. While the majority of Canadians (75 per cent) aged 25 to 44 felt that their neighbourhoods were very safe from violent crime, seniors were the least likely to share that sentiment, with only 65 per cent feeling very safe, down from 67 per cent in 2000. Men were slightly more likely than women to feel that their neighbourhoods were very safe from violent crime (72 per cent compared to 71 per cent).

Supplemental Information

By clicking on the link in the electronic version of the report, the reader can access information on additional indicators that measure Canada's progress in the area of Safe Communities: Hate crimes.

The Government of Canada's Performance

Several departments and agencies contribute to the pursuit of Safe Communities through their respective departmental strategic outcomes. In the electronic version of the report, clicking on the links in the table below will lead the reader to planning, performance and resource information, which is contained in the organizations' Departmental Performance Reports and Reports on Plans and Priorities. The Database, which can be found at http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/rma/krc/so-rs_e.asp, also leads to relevant audits and evaluations.

Government of Canada outcome: Caring communities

Why Is It Important?

Vital services such as legal aid, shelters and food banks support the human dignity, autonomy and independence of those who seek assistance, while allowing the community as a whole to connect its residents and develop an inclusive, nurturing environment. Many of these services require a community effort from a range of donor sources and people in a context that values and supports community work. Caring communities seek to foster participation and a sense of belonging; the notion and practice of justice in such communities ensures human rights for all, including the most vulnerable.

Voluntary organizations embody Canadian values of social citizenship and equality of opportunity. The voluntary sector provides essential services and brings together community members to define their own needs and find solutions. The sector includes 180,000 incorporated non-profit organizations, 80,000 of which are registered charities. It generates $90 billion in annual revenues and holds $109 billion in assets. In the October 2004 Speech from the Throne, the government committed to create the conditions for the success of non-profit organizations by introducing a new Not-for-profit Corporations Act.

The voluntary sector also provides paid employment for over one million Canadians. In 2000, the Government of Canada launched the Voluntary Sector Initiative, with an investment of $94.6 million over five years, in a joint venture to increase the capacity of the voluntary sector and to strengthen the relationship between the sector and the federal government. Budget 2004 committed an additional $6 million over two years, ending in 2006.

By the late 1990s homelessness was becoming a crisis in many cities. In response, the federal government created the National Homelessness Initiative in 1999 to support governments and community organizations in their work to alleviate homelessness. Communities across Canada have undertaken 1,800 projects, funded wholly or in part by the National Homelessness Initiative. These projects have resulted in approximately 8,000 new, permanent beds in shelters, transition homes and supportive houses, which have helped over 117,000 people. In addition, the construction and renovation of roughly 1,000 sheltering facilities and support facilities, such as food banks, soup kitchens and drop-in centres have helped nearly 300,000 people. (Source: National Homelessness Initiative 2003)

Measures to Track Progress

The following indicator contributes to measuring Canada's progress in the area of Caring Communities:

• Volunteerism as measured by the number of volunteers and the number of hours volunteered.

Current Level and Trends

According to the 2000 National Survey on Giving, Volunteering and Participating, a small number of people provided the bulk of charitable and voluntary support in the country. Fewer than one in 10 Canadians contributed 46 per cent of the total dollar value of all donations as well as 40 per cent of all volunteer hours.

In 2000, 27 per cent of Canadians volunteered 1.05 billion hours of work, down from 1.11 billion hours in 1997. However, from 1997-2000 the number of hours volunteered increased with the age of the volunteers. The largest increase was in the over-65 group, who volunteered an average of 269 hours in 2000, up from 202 hours in 1997. In addition, the number of volunteers dropped from 7.5 million in 1997 to 6.5 million in 2000, a decrease of 13 per cent.

When Canadians volunteer, they are likely to do so within culture, arts and recreation organizations (including sport organizations). Sport clubs and teams are the most common type of organization joined across all generations of people of diverse ethnic backgrounds. (Source: National Survey on Giving, Volunteering and Participating 2000, Ethnic Diversity Survey 2002)

The Government of Canada's Performance

Several departments and agencies contribute to the pursuit of Caring Communities through their respective departmental strategic outcomes. In the electronic version of the report, clicking on the links in the table below will lead the reader to planning, performance and resource information, which is contained in the organizations' Departmental Performance Reports and Reports on Plans and Priorities. The Database, which can be found at http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/rma/krc/so-rs_e.asp, also leads to relevant audits and evaluations.

Government of Canada outcome: A vibrant Canadian culture and heritage

Why Is It Important?

Culture and the arts strengthen social bonds and establish common ground between generations and diverse peoples. The government promotes Canadian culture both domestically and internationally.

According to a 2003 Decima survey, 76 per cent of Canadians believed that culture and the arts improve their quality of life; 91 per cent believed that art and cultural organizations and activities make a community a better place in which to live; and 85 per cent thought that governments should support the cultural sector.

Participating in cultural and heritage activities broadens people's experiences by exposing them to the diverse social, historical and cultural aspects of their communities; introducing new and different ideas; and encouraging greater understanding across social and cultural groups.

Cultural and heritage activities may range from attending a folk festival, a rock concert, Canada Day celebrations or the changing of the guard on Parliament Hill to going to the theatre, movies, a park or a zoo. Reading a book, playing sports or visiting a museum are also ways of participating in cultural and heritage activities. This type of community participation helps to foster a nation-wide sense of shared history and multicultural heritage, thus maintaining the unique Canadian identity of "unity in diversity." The vast majority of Canadians (90 per cent) believe there is more than one Canadian culture and that different regional cultures co-exist and flourish in Canada. (Source: 2002 Leger Marketing survey on Canadians and culture)

Measures to Track Progress

The following indicator contributes to measuring Canada's progress in the area of A Vibrant Canadian Culture and Heritage:

• Participation in culture and heritage activities as measured by participation rates.

Current Level and Trends

From 1992 to 1998, the period for which the latest comparable data is available, Canadian participation patterns in cultural and heritage activities changed somewhat. With the greater variety of such activities offered, Canadians now have more options for their leisure time than ten or twenty years ago.

For example, during that period participation rates decreased for reading newspapers (from 92.1 per cent of the population to 81.8 per cent); borrowing library materials (33.8 per cent to 24.9 per cent); attending the theatre and popular musical performances (24 per cent to 20 per cent); attending the opera (4.4 per cent to 3 per cent); participating in sports (45 per cent to 34 per cent); and listening to symphonic music (12.2 per cent to 8.2 per cent). (Source: Statistics Canada)

In other areas, participation rates were on the rise. More Canadians went to the movies (59.1 per cent from 48.6 per cent); visited historical sites (32.4 per cent from 26.7 per cent); attended professional concerts and performances (34.6 per cent from 30.2 per cent); visited public art galleries (22.1 per cent from 19.3 per cent); and attended dance performances (6.8 per cent from 4.9 per cent). Canadians also created more of their own visual arts, with 11.6 per cent painting and sculpting in 1998 compared to 9.6 per cent in 1992. (Source: Statistics Canada)

International Comparison

While international data on leisure activities are not directly comparable, some common themes emerge. According to various studies conducted in Australia, Canada, Europe and the United States between 1992 and 2002, watching television and reading were the most popular home-based leisure activities, while listening to the radio and surfing the Net were less popular. Going to the movies was the most popular leisure activity outside the home in all countries. (Source: Statistics Canada)

Supplemental Information

By clicking on the link in the electronic version of the report, the reader can access information on additional indicators that measure Canada's progress in the area of A Vibrant Canadian Culture and Heritage: Provincial differences and household entertainment spending.

The Government of Canada's Performance

Several departments and agencies contribute to the pursuit of A Vibrant Canadian Culture and Heritage through their respective departmental strategic outcomes. In the electronic version of the report, clicking on the links in the table below will lead the reader to planning, performance and resource information, which is contained in the organizations' Departmental Performance Reports and Reports on Plans and Priorities. The Database, which can be found at http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/rma/krc/so-rs_e.asp, also leads to relevant audits and evaluations.

Government of Canada outcome: Sustainable cities and communities

Why Is It Important?

With the announcement of the "New Deal for Cities" in December 2003, the Government of Canada signalled the importance of sustainable cities and communities to the quality of life of Canadians. In July 2004, a new Minister of State for Infrastructure and Communities and a department were established.

Although municipalities are the constitutional responsibility of the provinces, which control most of the policy levers, several issues of national consequence play out in cities and communities. No one order of government has the means to address these complex issues alone. A partnered approach is essential.

A 21st century economy needs cities that offer economic opportunities; compete for talent; provide the infrastructure for innovation; and are cosmopolitan and creative. They must have clean air and water, safe streets, diverse cultural choices, and opportunities to learn and participate in civic life. Several Canadian cities are internationally recognized for key attributes that contribute to a strong, competitive and sustainable country: institutions of higher learning and research; easy access to international markets via world-class transportation systems; a highly educated and diverse work force; a wide variety of cultural and recreational amenities; a safe community environment; and a superior quality of life.

An important dimension of addressing the challenges and opportunities of globalization is recognizing the interdependence between cities and rural and remote communities. The government is working to ensure that this interdependence is reflected in policy decisions and that the different and unique challenges of urban and rural communities are acknowledged and approached in a coordinated fashion.

Canadian cities are on the front line of having to address serious and complex challenges such as aging infrastructure; inadequate cultural and recreational amenities; a crisis in housing affordability; the unique needs of urban Aboriginal people; and the integration of immigrants. The Government of Canada is working with its partners in the New Deal to address these challenges.

Measures to Track Progress

• An indicator is under development for Canada's Performance 2005.

The Government of Canada has focused on developing an integrated policy framework that articulates a national vision, priority issues of national consequence, and outcomes based on sustainability (economic, social, environmental and cultural) with its partners in key sectoral departments and agencies across the Government of Canada.

This involves developing indicators to measure progress nationally and locally on community sustainability, including a major study by Statistics Canada that, for the first time, provides a snapshot of Canada's major cities.

The Government of Canada's Performance

Several departments and agencies contribute to the pursuit of Sustainable Cities and Communities through their respective departmental strategic outcomes. In the electronic version of the report, clicking on the links in the table below will lead the reader to planning, performance and resource information, which is contained in the organizations' Departmental Performance Reports and Reports on Plans and Priorities. The Database, which can be found at http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/rma/krc/so-rs_e.asp, also leads to relevant audits and evaluations.

Government of Canada outcome: An informed and engaged Canadian public

Why Is It Important?

An informed, engaged public is central to Canadian society, culture, and democracy. Political participation is one way of assessing citizen engagement and the democratic health of a nation. As a measure of a viable democracy, the level of political participation indicates a concern for the future development of a community. An important indicator of political participation is the number of individuals who vote in government elections.

Canada's declining voter turnout, particularly among those aged 18 to 24, is an indication Canadians are becoming alienated from their governments. While the causes of this growing discontent are not fully understood, it appears that many citizens are not participating in democratic processes to the same extent as they have in the past and have lost confidence in democratic institutions. Canadians are not alone in their apparent disenchantment with traditional democratic processes. Governments in most Western nations are facing similar challenges.

However, while citizen participation in traditional democratic processes is declining, it appears that people worldwide are increasingly engaging in other forms of political processes such as special interest groups and emerging social and environment movements.

Measures to Track Progress

The following indicator contributes to measuring Canada's progress in the area of An Informed and Engaged Canadian Public:

• Political participation as measured by voter turnout.

Current Level and Trends

Voter participation in general elections has declined steadily over the past decade, with three-quarters of Canadians voting in the 1997 general election and approximately three-fifths voting in the 2004 election.

The voter turnout at the 2004 federal general election was the lowest in recent Canadian history at 60.5 per cent of eligible voters, down from 61.2 per cent in 2000.

Factors such as age, education, income, place of birth, and mobility significantly influence voter patterns.

There has been a significant decrease in voter turnout among youth. In 2000, only 25 per cent of youth aged 18 to 24 exercised their right to vote. Although studies are limited, research indicates that, on average, Aboriginal people participate at levels considerably below those of the general population. In the 2000 federal election, the turnout rate for Aboriginal people was 48 per cent, 16 percentage points lower than the turnout rate of the general population. (Source: "Aboriginal Participation in Canadian Federal Elections: Trends and Implications," Electoral Insight, Vol. 5, No. 3)

International Comparison

With respect to voter participation during national elections, Canada ranks in the middle range compared to other G-7 countries.

Europe also experienced a drop in voter participation in 2004, with the turnout of European Union voters reaching a record low of 45.3 per cent.

Supplemental Information

By clicking on the link in the electronic version of the report, the reader can access information on an additional indicator that measures Canada's progress in the area of An Informed and Engaged Canadian Public: Confidence in the electoral process.

The Government of Canada's Performance

Several departments and agencies contribute to the pursuit of An Engaged and Informed Canadian Public through their respective departmental strategic outcomes. In the electronic version of the report, clicking on the links in the table below will lead the reader to planning, performance and resource information, which is contained in the organizations' Departmental Performance Reports and Reports on Plans and Priorities. The Database, which can be found at http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/rma/krc/so-rs_e.asp, also leads to relevant audits and evaluations.