Canadians are more concerned that newcomers to the country adopt Canadian values than become financially self-sufficient, and that includes immigrants themselves, according to a new poll.
The survey by Environics Research Group for the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation found 97 per cent of those polled believe newcomers should embrace gender equality and tolerance of others as a condition of being admitted to Canada.
The poll also found 96 per cent of immigrants in the survey agreed with that sentiment.
"In contrast, fewer than six-in-ten (59 per cent) believed that newcomers should become economically self-sufficient within their first year, with 60 percent of immigrants saying the same," the foundation said in a news release.
The poll results jibe with Wojtek Sawicki's viewpoint. The Polish-born, 31-year-old Toronto resident, here since he was a child, told the Globe and Mail newcomers can't expect to put down roots without modifying their values.
"If they're expecting to move here and have the same exact cultural values and beliefs on everything as back home, I think that could cause a problem," he said.
Haiyan Sun, who came to Canada from China in 1998, told the Globe she chose this country based on its values.
"Peacemaker is another key value … something I firmly believe in and am proud of as a Canadian," said Sun, 46, who runs a language training and placement business for international students in Halifax.
"For my son, I'd rather he be a peacemaker rather than a soldier."
Sun conceded immigrants who speak little or no English or French will have a harder time absorbing typical Canadian values, but it's easier for the second generation.
"Our son is more Canadian than Chinese, I'll tell you that," she said.
The poll was conducted in advance of the foundation's conference on immigration in Halifax Nov. 17-19.
"Canada was built on immigration. It defines our history, which is why it is critical to pause and take a closer look at how it could - and should - shape Canada's future," said foundation president Dr. Pierre-Gerlier Forest.
"The Trudeau Foundation conference, underpinned by this type of research, creates an informed arena for some of the world's leading experts to advance our understanding of vital public issues such as immigration."
The foundation also noted the poll comes just as the federal government has proposed "a national reflection about Canada's immigration policy."
Among other results from the Environics poll, 51 per cent of Canadians felt Canada should put a higher priority on accepting immigration applicants based on education and employability, while 35 per cent agreed those with family members living in Canada should get higher priority.
Nearly half of those polled - 47 per cent - agreed immigration makes Canada a better place, compared with 16 per cent who felt it made the country worse. A majority also feel immigrants are fitting into their new community.
A majority of both native-born and immigrant Canadians believe newcomers should become economically self-sufficient within a year of arriving.
Environics conducted the telephone survey of 2,000 Canadians between Oct. 11 and Oct. 22. Its margin of error is plus or minus 2.1 percentage points 19 times out of 20.
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