Almost Seven in Ten (67%) Disapprove of United States Taking Unilateral Military Action Against Iraq

Toronto, ONTARIO (Friday, February 7th, 2003) - During the week that United States Secretary of State Colin Powell laid out to an international audience at the United Nations evidence against Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, almost seven in ten (67%) of Canadians disapprove of the United States taking unilateral military action against Iraq in order to remove President Saddam Hussein from power. The new Ipsos-Reid/CTV/Globe and Mail poll released today was conducted the night prior to, the night of and the night following Colin Powell's presentation to the UN Security Council. In fact, in total, while 67% express disapproval (50% strongly), only three in ten (28%) approve of such an action by the United States.

In comparison, when asked their view in mid-January if they approve of the United States taking military action against Iraq, without specifying unilateral action, four in ten (40%) approved of such a move, while 60% disapproved.

In further support of the United Nations, six in ten (60%) Canadians hold the view that Canada should only provide military assistance for any military action taken against Iraq if the United Nations, not just the United States, decides that military action is required. This is almost identical to the findings to a poll conducted in mid-January when 59% held this position. However, currently 18% of Canadians, up from 15% in the previous poll, say that if the United States decides to take military action against Iraq on its own, without UN authorisation, Canada should support the U.S. effort by providing military assistance.

Eighteen percent, unchanged from mid-January, believe that Canada should not provide any military assistance to either the United States or the United Nations in the event a decision is make to take military action against Iraq.

These are the findings of an Ipsos-Reid/CTV/Globe and Mail poll conducted between February 4th and February 6th, 2003. The poll is based on a randomly selected sample of 1,000 adult Canadians. With a sample of this size, the results are considered accurate to within 177 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire adult Canadian population been polled. The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population. These data were statistically weighted to ensure the sample's regional and age/sex composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population according to the 2001 Census data.

Almost seven in ten (67%) of Canadians disapprove of the United States taking unilateral military action, that is without United Nations authorisation, against Iraq in order to remove President Saddam Hussein from power. In fact, in total, 50% of Canadians strongly disapprove of unilateral U.S. military action, while only three in ten (28%) would approve of unilateral action by the United States.

• Regionally, Quebecers (83% - strongly 65%) and British Columbians (73%) are the most likely to disapprove of unilateral action, while Albertains (50%) are the most likely to approve of unilateral action by the United States.
• Women (74%) are more likely than men (60%) to disapprove, while men (37%) are more likely than women (21%) to approve of such a move.

Six in ten (60%) Canadians express the view that Canada should only provide military assistance for any military action taken against Iraq if the United Nations, not just the United States, decides that military action is required.

• This position is statistically consistent across region, age, gender and household income groups.

However, just under one in five (18%) Canadians say that if the United States decides to take military action against Iraq on its own, without UN authorisation, Canada should support the United States effort by providing military assistance.

• Regionally, this view is stronger in Alberta (31%) followed by Saskatchewan/Manitoba (23%) and Ontario (20%), than in British Columbia (18%), Atlantic Canada (15%) and Quebec (10%).
• Men (23%) are more likely to select this option than are women (14%).

Eighteen percent feel that Canada should not provide any military assistance to either the United States or the United Nations in the event a decision is make to take military action against Iraq.

• Regionally, this view is more likely to held by Quebecers (27%), while it is weaker in Saskatchewan/Manitoba (18%), British Columbia (17%), Ontario (16%), Atlantic Canada (12%) and Alberta (10%).
• Women (20%) are more likely to support this view than are men (15%).

To view the release and the detailed tables, please open the attached PDF files.

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For more information on this news release, please contact:

John Wright
Senior Vice-President
Ipsos-Reid Public Affairs
(416) 324-2900