Jewish communities decline in Canada
Why? statscan searches for answer. Figures may be skewed because religion question is asked only every 10 years
JEFF HEINRICH, The Gazette
Is the number of Jews declining dramatically across Canada?The latest federal census appears to indicate so, but the reason behind the dip isn't clear.
Of the top 25 ethnic groups enumerated in 2006, every one increased, except people identifying themselves as Canadian and those identifying themselves as Jewish.
In 2001, Jews ranked 17th overall in Canada in terms of the largest groups defined on the basis of ethnic origins. In 2006, Jews dropped to 25th. In Quebec they decreased to 13th place from 10th and in Ontario to 19th place from 15th.
Why? The data provider, Statistics Canada, and Jewish groups are searching for an answer.
"The problem with the ethnic-origin data is that it depends on people's perception of where they come from, and with Jewish people, there's confusion over whether Jewishness is a religion or an ethnicity," StatsCan analyst Claude Yelle said. "That's why it's so hard to have a definite answer that explains the decline."
Jews might identify themselves by another ethnicity, for example - Canadian, say, or Polish or Israeli.
As well, the latest census didn't ask people what religion they are, so the Jewish ethnic-origin data can't be checked against up-to-date Jewish religion figures to see if they jibe, Yelle said.
The religion question is asked only every 10 years, and is to appear on the 2011 census.
Jews in Canada, especially in Montreal, have known for years their communities are shrinking. Older immigrants from Europe are dying and aren't being replaced.
But the rapid decline of the last five years - by about 10 per cent across Canada, 15 per cent in Montreal and Winnipeg, and 12 per cent in Toronto - comes as a surprise to Jewish groups.
"Were trying to understand it better, because it seems to point beyond Montreal to other provinces," said Danyael Cantor, executive vice-president of the Montreal-based Federation CJA (Combined Jewish Appeal).
Another prominent Montreal Jew, Jack Jedwab, said the data reflect three realities:
- More Canadian Jews are dying than are being born.
- Children of immigrant Jews tend not to identify themselves as Jewish as often.
- People aren't as likely to give their ethnic origin as Jewish when the same census form doesn't also ask their religion.
Asking people to identify their own ethnic origin is a subjective exercise, said Jedwab, a former Canadian Jewish Congress leader in Quebec who now runs the Association for Canadian Studies.
In the 2006 census, 315,120 Canadians identified their ethnic origin as Jewish, either alone or in combination with one or more other ethnic origins. The largest populations are in Toronto (141,685), Montreal (68,485) and Vancouver (21,465).
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The country's Jewish population, 2001 to 2006
Numbers and rates of change by province and by city
Rate of 2001 2006 change
Canada 348,605 315,120 -9.6%
Nova Scotia 3,900 3,345 -14.2%
New Brunswick 1,355 1,355 -
Quebec 82,450 71,380 -13.4%
Ontario 196,260 177,255 -9.7%
Manitoba 15,130 13,175 -12.9%
Saskatchewan 2,090 2,125 +1.7%
Alberta 15,435 14,755 -4.4%
British Columbia 31,280 30,830 -1.4%
Halifax 2,365 2,090 -11.6%
Montreal 80,390 68,485 -14.8%
Ottawa/Gatineau 12,890 12,495 -3.1%
Toronto 161,215 141,685 -12.1%
Hamilton 4,525 4,635 +2.4%
Winnipeg 14,440 12,210 -15.5%
Calgary 8,180 7,085 -13.4%
Edmonton 5,530 5,405 -2.3%
Vancouver 22,130 21,465 -3%
Victoria 2,820 2,710 -3.9%
sources: Association for Canadian Studies; Statistics Canada
