Montreal, June 2, 2020  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) expresses its support for ongoing protests in the US, Canada, and around the world following the murder of George Floyd, a 46-year-old unarmed black man, at the hands of police in Minneapolis. These demonstrations have forced a necessary public discussion on issues of anti-black racism and police brutality and remind us of the ongoing struggle for racial justice in Canada. Oppressed communities in the Middle East and elsewhere have also expressed their common cause and solidarity, noting similar experiences with police violence and discrimination.

Montreal, February 4^th, 2019 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) rejects Quebec Premier François Legault’s remarks last week, in which he effectively denied the existence of Islamophobia in Quebec. Last Thursday, in response to questions from reporters about designating January 29^th as a national day against Islamophobia, Legault stated: “I don’t think there is Islamophobia in Quebec, so I don’t see why there would be a day devoted to Islamophobia.” CJPME points out that there is no empirical support for Legault’s comments and calls on Legault’s government to take concrete measures to combat the growing problem of Islamophobia in the province. 

In late 2017, EKOS Research Associates conducted a national survey of Canadians to probe for religious discrimination, particularly Islamophobia, in Canadian society. The EKOS survey is accurate within 3.0 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.  (All survey data is available at http://cjpme.org/islamophobia)  Two months later, on February 1, 2018, Parliament’s Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage released its M-103 report on religious discrimination in Canada.  The recommendations below synthesize the recommendations of the M-103 report with the survey findings released in parallel. 

Montreal, October 5, 2017 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is thrilled to announce that the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) has officially endorsed its Peace in Palestine campaign. The campaign is a strategy to get Canada’s parliamentarians to pass a motion calling for an end to Israel’s illegal “settlements” (a.k.a. colonies.)

Montreal, September 18, 2017 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is pleased to announce that Dimitri Lascaris has joined CJPME’s Board of Directors, effective August 2017. CJPME’s Board has many key responsibilities, including appointing the president, representing the organization, and overseeing the financial stability and security of the organization. 

Montreal, February 17, 2017  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) and partners released new survey results yesterday which indicate sharp disagreement between Canadians’ attitudes and government policy on Israel.  The survey, conducted by EKOS and Associates, suggests that Canadian government policy on Israel is not representative of most Canadians’ views.  

All survey results, a summary report, and charts can be accessed at http://survey.cjpme.org.

Montreal, Ottawa, February 16, 2017 - A new public opinion survey on the Israel/Palestinian conflict reveals a dramatic disconnect between the policies of the Canadian government and public opinion. The survey, conducted by EKOS and Associates, raises serious questions about Canadian policies and the assumptions that underlie them. 

Montreal and Ottawa, February 15, 2017  — A coalition consisting of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME), Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV), Murray Dobbin and Dimitri Lascaris will issue a report, and hold a press conference call tomorrow, February 16, to release and discuss the results of a new survey contrasting Canadian public opinion on Israel and Palestine with government policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Overview

CJPME is delighted to release the results of a Canada-wide survey it has co-sponsored with Independent Jewish Voices Canada, Dimitri Lascaris, and Murray Dobbin.  Conducted by a professional polling firm, the poll provides many dramatic and eye-opening insights.

The survey results were packaged into two releases. All reports, PRs and charts for each release can be found on this page:

• Release 1, February 16, 2017: Disconnect: Canadians’ views of the Israeli government vs. Canadian government policy toward Israel and Palestine
• Release 2, March 2, 2017: Most Canadians Say Sanctions and Boycott are Reasonable Measures to Defend Palestinian Rights

The survey was conducted by EKOS Research Associates between January 25 and February 2, 2017, with a random sample of 1,000 Canadian adults aged 18 and over. The margin of error associated with the in-scope sample is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.  The raw data from the EKOS poll can be found via the following two links.  The first file below contains the "residuals" (i.e. the results including the "no response" and "do not know" answers); the second file contains the stats with the "residuals" removed:

• EKOS Survey Data - including residuals
• EKOS Survey Data - excluding residuals

Note that all charts presented on this page are public domain - free of copyright restrictions.

Release 2, March 2, 2017: Most Canadians Say Sanctions and Boycott are Reasonable Measures to Defend Palestinian Rights

The key findings from Release 2 include:

• Canadians believe overwhelmingly that sanctions are a reasonable way for Canada to censure countries violating international law and human rights,
• Given the UN Security Council's recent condemnation of illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian territory, a strong majority of Canadians believe that government sanctions on Israel would be reasonable
• In the context of Israel's ongoing violations of international law, a very strong majority of Canadians believe that the Palestinians' call for a boycott of Israel is reasonable, and
• Far more Canadians oppose than support Parliament's February, 2016 decision to condemn individuals and groups who promote the Palestinian call for a boycott of Israel.

Press Statement on EKOS Survey on Canadian Attitudes on Israel-Palestine: 
EKOS poll: Canadians receptive to sanctions, boycotts against Israel

Release 2 report on EKOS and Associates survey on Canadian attitudes to Israel-Palestine:
A Survey on Canadians’ Views Toward Israel/Palestine: Most Canadians Say Sanctions and Boycott are Reasonable Measures to Defend Palestinian Rights, A report on a Canadian national opinion survey conducted January 25 to February 2, 2017  Issued by: Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, Independent Jewish Voices, Dimitri Lascaris, LL.B., Murray Dobbin

Release 2 of the survey presents the findings from the following four survey questions:

• Canada currently imposes economic and political sanctions on 21 countries due to their serious violations of International law and/or human rights abuses. Do you believe that sanctions are a reasonable way for Canada to censure countries for violations of international law or human rights?
• In December 2016, the United Nations Security Council voted 14-0 (with the United States abstaining) to declare that Israeli settlements on Palestinian territory were a "...flagrant violation under international law and a major obstacle to the achievement of [...] peace" between Israel and Palestine. Given this statement by the U.N. Security Council, do you believe that some sort of Canadian government sanctions on Israel would be reasonable?
• In 2004, the International Court of Justice ruled unanimously that Israel's settlements on Palestinian territory violate international law. In response, one year later, over 170 Palestinian citizens' organizations called for a boycott to ensure Israel's respect for international law. Do you consider the Palestinians' call for such a boycott to be reasonable
• In February 2016, Canada's Parliament adopted a motion (by a vote of 229-51) to condemn Canadian individuals and organizations who promote the Palestinian call for a boycott to pressure Israel to respect international law. Do you support or oppose Parliament condemning Canadian individuals and organizations who promote the Palestinian call for such a boycott?

Charts

(Release 2, Question 1) Canadians' view of whether sanctions are reasonable (bar chart only)

(Release 2, Question 1) Canadians' view of whether sanctions are reasonable (by educational level attained)

(Release 2, Question 1) Canadians' view of whether sanctions are reasonable (by political party preference)

(Release 2, Question 1) Israeli Exceptionalism: Canadians' view sanctions generally vs. sanctions on Israel (comparative pie chart)

(Release 2, Question 2) Canadians' view of whether sanctions on Israel are reasonable (bar chart only)

(Release 2, Question 2) Canadians' view of whether sanctions on Israel are reasonable (by political party preference)

(Release 2, Question 2) Canadians' view of whether sanctions on Israel are reasonable (by province)

(Release 2, Question 3) Canadians' view of whether Palestinian call for boycott of Israel is reasonable (bar chart only)

(Release 2, Question 3) Canadians' view of whether Palestinian call for boycott of Israel is reasonable (by province)

(Release 2, Question 3) Canadians' view of whether Palestinian call for boycott of Israel is reasonable (by political party preference)

(Release 2, Question 4) Canadians' perspective on Parliaments condemnation of BDS (bar chart only)

(Release 2, Question 4) Canadians' perspective on Parliaments condemnation of BDS (by province)

(Release 2, Question 4) Canadians' perspective on Parliaments condemnation of BDS (by political party preference)

Release 1, February 16, 2017: Disconnect: Canadians’ views of the Israeli government vs. Canadian government policy toward Israel and Palestine

The key findings from Release 1 include:

• Far more Canadians have a negative view of the Israeli government than have a positive view,
• Most Canadians consider the Canadian government to be biased towards Israel,
• More Canadians view the media as biased toward Israel than towards Palestinians, and
• Canadians overwhelmingly believe that criticizing Israeli government policies is not necessarily anti-Semitic.

CNW Press Statement on EKOS Survey on Canadian Attitudes on Israel-Palestine: 
Disconnect: Canadians' views contradict government policy towards Israel

Release 1 report on EKOS and Associates survey on Canadian attitudes to Israel-Palestine:
Disconnect: Canadians’ views of the Israeli government vs. Canadian government policy toward Israel and Palestine, A report on a Canadian national opinion survey conducted January 25 to February 2, 2017  Issued by: Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, Independent Jewish Voices, Dimitri Lascaris, LL.B., Murray Dobbin

Release 1 of the survey presents the findings from the following four survey questions:

• Generally speaking, do you have a positive or negative opinion of the government of Israel?
• Do you believe that the Canadian government has generally been more pro-Israel or more pro-Palestinian?
• Do you believe the media in Canada are generally pro-Israel or pro-Palestinian?
• Some people argue that criticism of Israeli government policy is anti-Semitic. Others say that criticism of Israeli government policy is like criticism of any other country, and is not necessarily anti-Semitic. Which of these statements comes closest to your own point of view?

Charts

(Release 1, Question 1) Canadians' View of the Government of Israel (bar chart only)

(Release 1, Question 1) Canadians' View of the Government of Israel (by political party preference) (pie and bar chart)

(Release 1, Question 1) Canadians' View of the Government of Israel (by province) (pie and bar chart)

(Release 1, Question 1) Canadians' View of the Government of Israel (by educational level attained) (pie and bar chart)

(Q3) Canadians' View of Canadian Government Bias on Israel-Palestine (bar chart only)

(Release 1, Question 2) Canadians' View of Canadian Government Bias on Israel-Palestine (by political party preference) (pie and bar chart)

(Release 1, Question 2) Canadians' View of Canadian Government Bias on Israel-Palestine (by province) (pie and bar chart)

(Release 1, Question 2) Canadians' View of Canadian Government Bias on Israel-Palestine (by educational level attained) (pie and bar chart)

(Release 1, Question 1 & 2) Canadians' View of Israel against Perceived pro-Israel Bias of Canada's Government

(Release 1, Question 3) Canadians' View of Media Bias on the Question of Israel-Palestine (bar chart only)

(Release 1, Question 3) Canadians' View of Media Bias on the Question of Israel-Palestine (by political party preference) (pie and bar chart)

(Release 1, Question 3) Canadians' View of Media Bias on the Question of Israel-Palestine (by province) (pie and bar chart)

(Release 1, Question 4) Canadians' View of whether Criticism of Israel is anti-Semitic (bar chart only)

(Release 1, Question 4) Canadians' View of whether Criticism of Israel is anti-Semitic (by political party preference) (pie and bar chart)