Sense of Belonging and Election Results

Muslims: Almost six in 10 of Muslims say their sense of belonging to Canada has increased over the past five years, while 33 per cent say it has remained unchanged and only 5 per cent feel a weakened sense of belonging, according to Globe and Mail. Part of the explanation for this might lie in recent election results; nine in 10 Muslims say they are optimistic that the new federal government will improve relations between Muslims and other Canadians. The results, based on telephone interviews with 600 Muslims, aged 18 and older, tell a fascinating story about Muslims and non-Muslims, the perceived realities of each group and how those realities have evolved in this country over the past decade. Muslims, nearly seven in 10 of whom are immigrants, are happy to be in Canada. Eighty-four per cent of Muslims believe they are treated better in Canada than their coreligionists are in other Western countries, a number that has increased since 2006. They express even greater pride in the country than do other Canadians and a larger portion than 10 years ago report that they are very proud . The sources of their pride in Canada are the same as those we find among other Canadians: freedom and democracy, followed by multiculturalism and diversity, then peace and stability. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.