Author Description

Summarizes aspects of the Charter of Rights Study, the sociological survey held in Canada in 1988, which concern Canadians' attitudes toward Jews. Compares attitudes of French Quebeckers with English-speaking Canadians. Concludes that French Quebeckers are more likely than English-speaking Canadians to agree with negative characterization of the Jews; they are more likely to express support for conformity as a value, and thus are more likely to distrust and dislike people who try to be different. However, although they are more inclined to accept one or two negative characterizations of Jews, they are no more ready than the English speakers to subscribe to the full package of antisemitic ideas. There is no correlation between greater readiness of Quebeckers to denigrate Jews and their support for separatism. Also, the fact that the French Quebeckers are more receptive to antisemitism does not mean that antisemitism is not a problem for the rest of Canada.