In December 2006, the Environics Polling firm surveyed 500 adult Muslims across Canada on a variety of subjects. The survey found that 45 percent of Canadian Muslims possess a university degree (or higher), compared with 33 percent of the general Canadian population. 94 percent of those surveyed were proud of being Canadian, citing Canadian policies of democracy, multiculturalism, peace and humanitarianism as sources of their pride. This majority believe that they are treated better here than in any other Western country and that the quality of life for Muslim women is better here than anywhere else (including most Muslim countries). 53 percent of Muslims think Shariah law should be recognized as a legal basis for settling family disputes, outlawed in 2006. Of those surveyed, 55 percent of Muslim women and 59 percent of Muslims aged 18 to 29 indicated their preference for Sharia law. When asked what they liked least about Canada, the majority replied: “weather and taxes.” The results were accurate to within plus or minus 4.4 percentage points (in 19 out of 20 samples).
