For Immediate Release Canadian Public Opinion Poll Page 1 of 5
BULLYING
Many Canadians Believe Bullying Should Be Considered a Crime Respondents overwhelmingly support provincial legislation that would curb "cyber-bullying." [VANCOUVER – Feb. 29, 2012] – A large proportion of Canadians believe it is time for bullying to be regarded as a criminal activity, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found. In the online survey of a representative sample of 1,006 Canadian adults, two thirds of respondents (65%) think bullying should be considered a crime even if no physical violence is involved. One-in-five Canadians (19%) believe bullying should be regarded as a crime only if it involved physical violence, and only six per cent of Canadians think bullying should not be considered a crime. While specific behaviours associated with bullying can actually lead to criminal prosecution—such as harassment, mischief. theft and uttering threats—bullying itself is not an offence under the Criminal Code of Canada (CCC). Respondents in Quebec (78%), those over the age of 55 (70%) and women (68%) are more likely to think bullying should be considered a crime even if no physical violence is involved.
KEY FINDINGS 65% think bullying should be considered a crime even if no physical violence is involved Most Canadians believe bullying is a serious problem in middle school and high school (94%) and elementary school (88%) 90% would make it illegal to use electronic means to “coerce, intimidate, harass or cause other substantial emotional distress.” Full topline results are at the end of this release. From February 14 to February 15, 2012, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,006 randomly selected Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panellists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1%, 19 times out of 20. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of Canada. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.
A large proportion of Canadians believe bullying is a serious problem in middle school and high
CONTACT: Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion, 877-730-3570,
[email protected]
For Immediate Release Canadian Public Opinion Poll Page 2 of 5
school (94%) and elementary school (88%). While only two-in-five respondents believe bullying is a serious problem in college and university (43%), a majority think it is a serious problem in the workplace (53%) and family life (52%). “Cyber-bullying” involves the use of information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behavior by an individual or group, that is intended to harm others. In the United States, a proposed federal law would make it illegal to use electronic means to “coerce, intimidate, harass or cause other substantial emotional distress.” Nine-in-ten Canadians (90%) would like to see a similar law enacted in their own province.
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About Angus Reid Public Opinion Angus Reid Public Opinion is a public affairs practice headed by Dr. Angus Reid: an industry visionary who has spent more than four decades asking questions to figure out what people feel, how they think and who they will vote for. A team of talented and experienced practitioners with a unique and profound understanding of global issues conduct high quality research throughout the world on a daily basis for corporations, governments, academic researchers, and non-profit organizations.
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CONTACT: Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion, 877-730-3570,
[email protected]
For Immediate Release Canadian Public Opinion Poll Page 3 of 5
Bullying Next, we would like to ask you some questions about bullying. How serious a problem do you think bullying is in each of the following facets of life in Canada? Very serious / Moderately serious
Not too serious / Not serious at all
Not sure
Elementary school
88%
10%
2%
Middle school / High school
94%
4%
2%
College / University
43%
49%
8%
Family life
52%
44%
5%
The workplace
53%
43%
5%
CONTACT: Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion, 877-730-3570,
[email protected]
For Immediate Release Canadian Public Opinion Poll Page 4 of 5
Bullying Do you think bullying should be considered a crime?
Canada
Region BC
AB
MB/SK
ON
PQ
ATL
Yes, but only if it involves physical violence
19%
26%
24%
23%
21%
12%
12%
Yes, even if no physical violence is involved
65%
55%
58%
58%
61%
78%
76%
No, bullying should not be considered a crime
6%
6%
6%
7%
6%
5%
4%
Not sure
10%
13%
12%
13%
12%
5%
8%
Bullying Do you think bullying should be considered a crime?
Canada
Gender
Age
Male
Female
18-34
35-54
55+
Yes, but only if it involves physical violence
19%
23%
15%
21%
19%
17%
Yes, even if no physical violence is involved
65%
61%
68%
65%
62%
70%
No, bullying should not be considered a crime
6%
8%
4%
5%
7%
5%
Not sure
10%
7%
13%
9%
12%
9%
CONTACT: Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion, 877-730-3570,
[email protected]
For Immediate Release Canadian Public Opinion Poll Page 5 of 5
Bullying “Cyber-bullying “involves the use of information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behavior by an individual or group, that is intended to harm others. In the United States, a proposed federal law would make it illegal to use electronic means to “coerce, intimidate, harass or cause other substantial emotional distress.” Do you support or oppose enacting a law similar to this one in your own province? Canada
Region BC
AB
MB/SK
ON
PQ
ATL
Support
90%
88%
88%
91%
90%
91%
91%
Oppose
6%
8%
12%
8%
7%
4%
1%
Not sure
4%
4%
1%
1%
3%
5%
8%
Bullying “Cyber-bullying “involves the use of information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behavior by an individual or group, that is intended to harm others. In the United States, a proposed federal law would make it illegal to use electronic means to “coerce, intimidate, harass or cause other substantial emotional distress.” Do you support or oppose enacting a law similar to this one in your own province? Canada
Gender
Age
Male
Female
18-34
35-54
55+
Support
90%
87%
93%
87%
89%
94%
Oppose
6%
10%
3%
9%
7%
3%
Not sure
4%
4%
3%
4%
4%
3%
CONTACT: Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion, 877-730-3570,
[email protected]
