A majority of Canadians (57%) believe human beings evolved from less advanced forms of life over millions of years.
Vancouver, BC [March 30, 2021] – The proportion of Canadians who think creationism should be part of the school curriculum in their province has increased over the past two years, a new Research Co. poll has found.
In the online survey of a representative national sample, 44% of Canadians think the belief that the universe and life originated from specific acts of divine creation should be taught in schools, up six points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in November 2019.
Conversely, one third of Canadians (34%, -5) would not allow teachers to discuss creationism in the classroom, while 23% (=) are not sure.
Support for including creationism in the provincial school curriculum is highest among men (46%), Canadians aged 18-to- 34 (51%), Albertans (53%) and Quebecers (50%).
“A majority of Canadians who identify as Christians (55%) are in favour of the teaching of creationism in Canada’s schools,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “The proportion drops dramatically among those who have no religion (22%), agnostics (15%) and atheists (12%).”
Almost half of Canadians who voted for the Conservative Party in the 2019 federal election (49%) are in favour of teaching creationism in schools, along with 47% of those who supported the Liberal Party and 44% of those who voted for New Democratic Party (NDP) candidates.
Most Canadians (57%, -4) believe human beings evolved from less advanced forms of life over millions of years.
Just over one-in-four Canadians (26%, +3) think God created human beings in their present form within the last 10,000 years.
Belief in creationism reaches 36% in Alberta and is lower in all other regions of the country: Atlantic Canada (33%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (26%), Quebec (25%), Ontario (24%) and British Columbia (22%).
Majorities of Canadians who voted for the Liberals (67%), New Democrats (59%) and Conservatives (51%) in the 2019 federal election believe in evolution.
Methodology:
Results are based on an online study conducted from March 17 to March 19, 2021, among 1,000 adults in Canada. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in Canada. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
Find our data tables here and download the press release here.
For more information on this poll, please contact:
Mario Canseco, President, Research Co.
778.929.0490
[e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca