By Canadian Press

Vast majority of Quebecers believe First Nations face discrimination: survey

Aug 12, 2020 | 12:00 PM

MONTREAL — The vast majority of non-Indigenous Quebecers recognize that First Nations members in the province are subject to racism or discrimination, a new survey suggests.

The survey conducted by polling firm Leger for the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador found that 92 per cent of respondents agreed that Indigenous communities face racism or discrimination.

Eight out of 10 Quebecers have a positive opinion of First Nations, but 58 per cent say they don’t have an understanding of the issues facing those communities.

More than half believe relations between non-Indigenous Quebecers and First Nations are poor, and 91 per cent believe the provincial government has an important role to play in repairing and maintaining relations.

Eighty per cent of respondents believe First Nations people face additional obstacles, and 70 per cent believe First Nations members are not treated the same as non-Indigenous Quebecers in social structures.

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Ghislain Picard, chief of the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador, says he was surprised by some of the results, which he says demonstrate a greater understanding of the plight faced by First Nations.

The assembly intends to develop a plan to improve how governments deliver services to First Nations, to be presented early in the fall.

The online poll surveyed 1,002 respondents across Quebec randomly drawn from Leger’s internet user panel, with First Nations members excluded from the sample.

Data was collected between July 17 and July 23, and the results cannot be assigned a margin of error because internet-based polls are not considered truly random.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 12, 2020.

The Canadian Press