29th Metropolis Canada Conference
Join us in Vancouver from March 10 to 12, 2027, to explore migration in an ever-changing ecosystem
Understanding migration and inclusion in Canada
ACS-Metropolis brings together data and dialogue on Canadian identity, immigration and integration.
9th Metropolis Identities Summit
Join the conversation on identity, diversity, trust and social harmony in Canada
Canadian Index for Measuring Integration and Inclusion
Compare immigrant outcomes across provinces, cities and groups, with more than 30 years of data
Public Opinion Portal
Explore Canadian public opinion with interactive charts: filter by group, compare up to three questions and follow answers over time
Program evaluation
Find out what is working, whom your program reaches and what difference it makes, from planning to funder reporting
About the Association for Canadian Studies (ACS) & the Metropolis Institute
The Association for Canadian Studies and Metropolis Institute advances knowledge and understanding of Canadian history, civic life and public policy. Through evidence-based research, publications, public dialogue and knowledge mobilization, ACS examines how history, immigration, diversity and evolving identities shape Canada and Canadians’ sense of belonging. By convening researchers, policymakers, educators and community organizations from across the country, ACS-Metropolis supports informed civic participation, strengthens public understanding and develops practical responses to complex issues facing Canadian society.
In the news
All news- October 27, 2026
- October 24, 2026
- October 18, 2026
- October 17, 2026
- October 7, 2026
From the library
Explore the library
Would you fight for your country in a time of need?
As Canadians observe Remembrance Day, the sacrifices of those who have served invite reflection on what citizens today believe they owe their country in a time of need. In the October 2026 ACS–EKOS survey, nearly two-thirds (62%) agreed that it is important to be willing to serve in the military, but the strength of that conviction varies: 22% strongly agreed, while a larger share, 40%, agreed only somewhat. The results reveal pronounced differences by age, region, birthplace and attachment to Canada with younger cohorts much less likely to agree about the importance of military service in a time of need. The ACS-EKOS results are given some context as they’re considered alongside the 2023 international citizenship survey, in which Canada placed 25th among 29 countries for the highest ratings of the importance of willingness to serve. The surveys ask differently worded questions and should not be treated as directly comparable measures (for example the 6 and 7 ranking is used to measure importance with the ISSP which would more reasonably align with ‘strongly’ in the ACS-EKOS survey. The latter results nonetheless provide valuable insight into where Canada ranks on such engagement relative to other nations.
Jews in Canada: Respect, Trust, Shared Values and the Roots of Prejudice
Understanding prejudice requires looking beyond overt hostility to the stereotypes, distrust, perceptions of limited shared values and collective blame that can shape attitudes toward minority groups. The ACS–EKOS survey examines these related dimensions to better understand how anti-Jewish prejudice is expressed. Nationally, 85% (49% very much and 36% somewhat) of Canadians report respect for Jews, as regards trust some 72% say they trust Jews (29% very much and 43% somewhat), some 70% perceive shared values with Jews (24% very much and 46% somewhat) and 60% report contact often (21%) or sometimes (38%). Although these national proportions differ, cross-tabulations show that low respect, distrust and perceptions of limited shared values frequently intersect. Among respondents who expressed little or no respect for Jews, we asked them to explain in one or two sentences why they felt that way. We analyzed their own statements to identify, define and disaggregate the prejudices underlying low respect, assigning each response a primary theme while recognizing that explanations may overlap. Of the 100 explanations examined, collective responsibility for Israel’s actions was the largest category (41 responses). Because the question concerned respect for Jews rather than opinions of Israel, blaming Jews for Israeli conduct represents an attribution of responsibility to Jews collectively. The selected 100 responses are exploratory, not a nationally representative estimate of these prejudices. The study is released amid a documented escalation in antisemitism since October 7, 2023. Statistics Canada recorded 527 police-reported hate crimes targeting Jews in 2022, 959 in 2023 and 920 in 2024; B’nai Brith Canada recorded 6,219 antisemitic incidents in 2024 and 6,800 in 2025. The ADL reported that 58% of U.S. antisemitic incidents in 2024 involved Israel or Zionism elements. These indicators establish a broader increase in antisemitism, but do not directly measure change over time in collective blame toward Jews for Israeli actions.
Giving the past a future: Immigration and Canadian Jewry
Historical transformation, recent immigration and demographic scenarios to 2051 ACS From an immigrant founded community to a Canadian born majority and a future still shaped by migration
Immigration Levels, Shared Values and Acceptance of Difference
Immigration has become a prominent political issue in Quebec and Alberta. During the 2026 Quebec election, the Parti Québécois proposed substantial reductions in permanent and temporary immigration, citing pressures on housing, French-language integration and public services. Alberta’s October 19, 2026 referendum includes a non-binding question on expanding provincial control over immigration to reduce admissions to what the government describes as sustainable levels. Across Canada, the share saying there were too many immigrants was 58% in the March 2025 ACS–Léger poll, 57% in the September 2025 EKOS State of the Nation survey (not commissioned by ACS), and 45% in the October 2026 ACS–EKOS survey. The decrease was particularly large in Quebec (58% to 40%) and Alberta (61% to 46%). In October 2026, respondents in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Atlantic Canada were most likely to say there were too many, while Quebec and British Columbia were less likely. That which follows will provide a detailed analysis of the October 9-15, 2026 survey conducted for the Association for Canadian Studies by the firm EKOS with a focus on opinion on immigration levels and how it affects attachment to Canada and concern over shared values.
Demography Diversity and Identities in a Changing Canada
This edition of Canadian Issues seeks to inform the parameters of the current conversation. Its central contribution is to connect demographic change to the institutions, identities and political narratives through which that change is understood and managed. The contributions move from a historical account of Canada’s demographic transformation to the policy challenge of sustaining immigration, from regional lessons about integration to new forms of racial and religious diversity, and finally to the changing meaning of multiculturalism and the politics of demographic anxiety. Taken together, they show that demography is not simply a matter of population outcomes. It is also about where people live, whether institutions can respond, how identities are measured, whether newcomers can participate fully, and whether Canadians retain confidence in both diversity and the country’s capacity to oversee and effectively manage the changes.
National Identity Across Canada
Following Quebec’s provincial election and ahead of Alberta’s October 19 referendum, questions of provincial identity and attachment to Canada are especially timely. Across Canada, 60% of respondents are very attached to the country, compared with 39% to their province. Quebec stands apart: 45% are very attached to Canada and 47% to Quebec, while 40% identify as provincial-first or provincial-only. Yet 62% of Quebecers also feel very much attached to other Canadians. Alberta presents a different pattern: 61% are very attached to Canada, compared with 38% to Alberta; 22% identify as provincial-first or provincial-only, and 59% feel very much attached to other Canadians. Alberta’s October 19 vote asks whether voters wish to remain a province of Canada or initiate the constitutional process toward a possible, future binding separation referendum; it is not itself a vote on immediate separation. Together, the findings show that provincial identity, Canadian attachment, and solidarity with fellow Canadians do not necessarily move together. They should not be read as a forecast of referendum voting.