Poll shows Canadians' high levels of concern about immigration and artificial intelligence

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      By and large Canadians, think that technological change and globalization have been good for the world.

      But an Abacus Data poll of 1,500 Canadians also shows a great deal of concern about the impact of artificial intelligence, automation, and immigration on the country's future economic prospects.

      Fully half felt that artificial intelligence and automation were negative, whereas 47 pecent of respondents didn't think that immigration was a net positive for the economy.

      The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.6 percent, 19 times out of 20.

      “Canadian attitudes are different from those which have given rise to nationalist economic politics in the U.S. and elsewhere," Abacus Data chairman Bruce Anderson said in a news release. "While opinion is somewhat divided on the upside of immigration, Canadians are fairly united when it comes to seeing the value of globalization and trade arrangements with other countries."

      Millennials were most likely, at 57 percent, to respond that artificial intelligence and automation were helpful for the economy.

      Baby boomers, on the other hand, were far less positive, with only 47 percent saying these two innovations were beneficial.

      Fifty-eight percent of those who self-identified as working or lower class declared that artificial intelligence and automation were harmful. Only 35 percent in the upper and upper middle classes felt this way.

      From a political perspective, Liberal Party of Canada supporters were most likely to have a positive viewpoint on artificial intelligence and automation. This was followed by Conservative supporters and NDP supporters.

      Liberal Party of Canada supporters, upper and upper middle classes, and millennials were most likely to say immigration is good for the economy.

      Millennials were slightly more likely than those in Generation X to feel that globalization, including trade, has been helpful.

      By a significant margin, Liberal Party of Canada supporters were the most pro-globalization, whereas Conservative supporters were less so and New Democratic supporters were even less so.

      Below, you can see data for the other questions asked in the poll.

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