A recent national poll reveals that 28% of Canadians believe that Jews are often responsible for the prejudice they face. This finding has been linked to a rise in victim-blaming narratives on social media following the events of October 7, amid ongoing tensions between Israel and Hamas. The survey, conducted by Leger for the Association for Canadian Studies, indicates that 9% of respondents strongly agree with the statement, while 19% somewhat agree. In contrast, 72% of Canadians disagree with the sentiment, with 37% strongly opposing it and 35% somewhat opposing it.

Jack Jedwab, president of the Association for Canadian Studies, commented on the results, stating, "I would first say that victim-blaming is not unique to antisemitism but part of a broader phenomenon to which several groups are regrettably vulnerable. So I was not entirely surprised." He noted that the current climate has led to increased attempts to hold Jews in Canada accountable for the ongoing conflict.

Jedwab referenced recent controversial remarks made by Radio-Canada journalist Élisa Serret, who accused Israelis and Jews of controlling Hollywood and influencing American politics. Following her comments, she was relieved of her duties.

Support for the belief that Jews are often to blame for prejudice varies by region. The highest agreement was found in Quebec at 36%, followed by Manitoba and Saskatchewan at 30%, the Atlantic provinces at 28%, British Columbia at 27%, Ontario at 24%, and Alberta at 21%.

Demographic trends show that Canadian men are more likely to agree with the statement, with 34% in agreement compared to 22% of women. Younger Canadians also show higher levels of support, with 34% of those aged 18 to 24 and 37% of those aged 25 to 34 agreeing with the sentiment. In contrast, older Canadians tend to disagree, with 77% of those aged 45 to 54 and 78% of those aged 65 and older opposing the view.

An earlier poll indicated that students are more likely to perceive Muslims as the most targeted group in Canada, despite Statistics Canada reporting that hate crimes against the Jewish community have increased significantly in 2023.

Jedwab noted that the trend of victim-blaming is particularly prevalent on social media platforms, where younger Canadians are more active and exposed to such narratives. A similar pattern was observed in polling conducted in the United States, where 21% of Americans aged 18 to 29 agreed with the statement that Jews are often to blame for prejudice. Overall, 60% of Americans opposed the sentiment, which is significantly lower than the 28% of Canadians who agreed.

The poll was conducted from August 29 to 31, surveying 1,627 Canadians and 1,014 Americans. It is important to note that a margin of error cannot be associated with non-probability samples in panel surveys. However, a probability sample of the same size for Canadian respondents would have a margin of error of plus or minus 2.52%, while for American respondents, it would be plus or minus 3.99%.