Politics·PODCAST

The Pollcast: The future of Canada's relationship with Indigenous people

Renewing the relationship between the federal government and Indigenous Canadians is a priority for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. What do Canadians think of that relationship? Host Éric Grenier is joined by Keith Neuman of the Environics Institute to discuss the results of a new survey.

Host Éric Grenier is joined by Keith Neuman of the Environics Institute

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has put an emphasis on Indigenous issues since taking office last year. (CBC)

The CBC Pollcast, hosted by CBC poll analyst and ThreeHundredEight.com founder Éric Grenier, explores the world of electoral politics and political polls.


Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has made renewing the relationship between the federal government and Indigenous Canadians a priority. What do Canadians think of the state of that relationship and its future?

Earlier this year, the Environics Institute conducted a survey of Canadians to gauge their views of Indigenous Canadians. The results suggest Canadians recognize and sympathize with the challenges Indigenous communities face — but that Canadians' own prejudice might be an obstacle in tackling those challenges.

The survey found broad support for increased funding for Indigenous schools, safe housing and clean drinking water, as well as more teaching of Indigenous history and culture to other Canadians.

But it also found that 44 per cent of Canadians thought that either the policies of Canadian governments in the past or the attitudes of the Canadian public today were the biggest obstacles to achieving economic and social equality.

Joining host Éric Grenier to discuss the results of this survey is Keith Neuman, executive director of the Environics Institute.

Listen to the full discussion above — or subscribe to the CBC Pollcast and listen to past episodes.

Follow Éric Grenier and the Environics Institute on Twitter.


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