As Canada Prepares for Arrival of Its Queen,
Six in Ten Canadians (58%, +5) Believe Canada Should End Ties to Monarchy When
Her Majesty's Reign Ends

Toronto, ON - As Canada continues to prepare for the arrival of Queen Elizabeth II, Canada's sovereign and head of state, a new Ipsos Reid poll conducted exclusively for Canada.com has revealed a growing sentiment that Elizabeth II should be Canada's last monarch.

Her Majesty's tour, which will include a review of the Navy in Halifax, celebrating Canada Day on Parliament Hill and stops in Winnipeg, Toronto and Waterloo, comes at a time when six in ten (58%) Canadians `agree' (28% strongly/30% somewhat) that `when Queen Elizabeth's reign ends Canada should end its formal ties to the British monarchy', up 5 points since the fall of last year. Conversely, four in ten (42%) `disagree' (15% strongly/26% somewhat) that Canada should sever its ties to the monarchy when Queen Elizabeth's reign ends, down 5 points.

Perhaps as a result of the increased presence and importance of the Governor General as a result of volatile minority governments in Canada and international disasters, a solid majority (62%) of Canadians `agree' (23% strongly/39% somewhat) that `Canada's head of state should be the Governor General, not the Queen' (up 9 points), while four in ten (38%) `disagree' (15% strongly/23% somewhat) with this sentiment (down 9 points). Furthermore, most (83%) believe' (50% strongly/32% somewhat) that `Canada's head of state should live in Canada' (up 10 points), while relatively few (17%) `disagree' (5% strongly/12% somewhat) with this position (down 10 points).

While Canadians on the whole appear to be growing apart from the monarchy, it does not translate into a poor review of the Queen's performance as sovereign. Three quarters (73%) of Canadians `agree' (24% strongly/49% somewhat) that `Queen Elizabeth has done a good job in her role as monarch', although the proportion that thinks so has dropped 8 points since last year. Just one quarter (27%) `disagree' (up 8 points).

Simply put, two in three (65%) `agree' (32% strongly/33% somewhat) that `the Queen and Royal Family should not have any formal role in Canadian society; the royals are simply celebrities and nothing more' (up 5 points). One in three (35%) `disagree' (11% strongly/24% somewhat), down 5 points.

If not a constitutional monarchy, then what? A majority (54%) of Canadians `agree' (21% strongly/32% somewhat) that `the constitutional monarchy is outdated' and that they would `prefer a republic system of government with an elected head of state like they do in the United States' (up 5 points). Nearly one half (46%), though, `disagree' (18% strongly/28% somewhat) with the idea of a Canadian republic, a decline of 5 points.

Still, a slim majority (53%) believes (14% strongly/40% somewhat) that `the constitutional monarchy helps to define Canadian identity and should continue to be our form of government' (up 3 points), while nearly one half (47%) `disagrees' (18% strongly/28% somewhat), down 3 points.

Even if the theoretical idea of a republic is becoming more appealing, Canadians are split on whether changing our current system of government is worth the effort: 48% `agree' (13% strongly/35% somewhat) that `the issue of the monarchy and our form of government isn't important, so why go through the fuss of changing something that seems to work okay', a decrease of 2 points. The other half (52%) of Canadians `disagree' (20% strongly/31% somewhat) that it wouldn't be worth the fuss to change our system of government, up 2 points.

Quebecers Disproportionately Hold Anti-Monarchist Sentiments...

While the scale of public opinion in Canada appears to be tipping away from the monarchy, it is those in the province of Quebec who disproportionately want to see Canada sever its ties to the monarchy:

• Eight in ten (77%) Quebecers believe when Queen Elizabeth's reign ends, Canada should end it's format ties to the British monarchy, compared to 58% of Canadians overall.
• Just 53% of Quebecers believe Queen Elizabeth II has done a good job in her role as monarch, compared to 73% of Canadians, overall, who believe this to be true.
• Eight in ten (82%) Quebecers believe the royals are simply celebrities, nothing more, while only 65% of Canadians, overall, have the same view.
• Significantly more Quebecers (68%) believe the constitutional monarchy is out of date and that they would prefer a republic system of government, compared to only 54% of Canadians, on the whole, that feel this way.
• Just 36% of Quebecers say the constitutional monarchy helps to define Canada, compared to 53% of Canadians, overall.
• Quebecers are by far the most emphatic that the Governor General should be Canada's head of state (72%), while only 62% of Canadians, overall, hold this belief.
• They are also most adamant about the notion that Canada's head of state should live in Canada (92%), compared to 83% of Canadians, overall, who agree.

These are some of the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted between June 10 and 14, 2010, on behalf of Canada.com. For this survey, a sample of 1,017 adults from Ipsos' Canadian online panel was interviewed online. Weighting was then employed to balance demographics and ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the adult population according to Census data and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe. A survey with an unweighted probability sample of this size and a 100% response rate would have an estimated margin of error of +/-3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what the results would have been had the entire population of adults in Canada been polled. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.

For more information on this news release, please contact:
John Wright
Senior Vice President
Ipsos Reid Public Affairs
(416) 324-2002
[email protected]

About Ipsos Reid

Ipsos Reid is Canada's market intelligence leader, the country's leading provider of public opinion research, and research partner for loyalty and forecasting and modelling insights. With operations in eight cities, Ipsos Reid employs more than 600 research professionals and support staff in Canada. The company has the biggest network of telephone call centres in the country, as well as the largest pre-recruited household and online panels. Ipsos Reid's marketing research and public affairs practices offer the premier suite of research vehicles in Canada, all of which provide clients with actionable and relevant information. Staffed with seasoned research consultants with extensive industry-specific backgrounds, Ipsos Reid offers syndicated information or custom solutions across key sectors of the Canadian economy, including consumer packaged goods, financial services, automotive, retail, and technology & telecommunications. Ipsos Reid is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group.

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