Canadians And Same Sex Marriage As The Supreme Court Of Canada Makes Its Ruling: 71% Support Concept, 27% Don't

Toronto, ON --As the Supreme Court of Canada issues its opinion on the federal government's legislation to legalize same-sex marriage today, a poll of Canadians finds that a full majority (71%) support the concept of same sex marriage. However, these Canadians are split in how they would like the union recognized: four in ten (39%) believe same-sex marriage should be "fully recognized and equal to conventional heterosexual marriages", while and 32% believe it should "be allowed to exist in civil law but not have the same legal weight as a conventional marriage". In the alternate, the poll found that only a minority of 27% believe that "it is wrong and should never be lawful". Two percent "don't know" which of these views they have on this issue.

The high court has spent months reviewing the draft legislation to ensure, among other things, it falls within the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. If it accepts the legislation, and it passes in Parliament, Canada would be among the first countries to officially recognize gay and lesbian marriages. The legislation would allow gay and lesbian weddings in city halls, courthouses and in religious institutions that choose to recognize them. Six provinces, have already legalized same-sex marriage.

These are the findings of an Ipsos-Reid poll conducted from November 19th to November 22nd 2004. For the survey, a representative randomly selected sample of 1000 adult Canadians were interviewed by telephone. 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 population been polled. These data were weighted to ensure the regional and age composition reflects that of the actual population of Canada.

Respondents were prompted with the statement that "many Canadian provinces have legalized same sex marriage and the Canadian federal government is waiting for advice from its Supreme Court before it acts".

After being read this introductory statement, respondents were asked whether they believe same sex marriage is "wrong and it should never be lawful", same sex marriage "should be fully recognized and equal to conventional heterosexual marriages", or whether same sex marriage "should be allowed to exist in civil law but not have the same legal weight as a conventional marriage".

Those Canadians most likely to believe that same sex marriage "should be fully recognized and equal to conventional heterosexual marriages" are:

• Residents of British Columbia (44%), followed by residents of Atlantic Canada (40%), Quebec (39%), Ontario (38%), Saskatchewan/Manitoba (37%), and Alberta (36%);

• Those aged 18-34 (52% vs. 33% among those aged 35 and over);

• Women (48% vs. 29%);

• Those with at least some post-secondary education or higher (45% vs. 28% of those who have only a highschool diploma or less); and

• Those with an annual household income of $60,000 or more (48% vs. 35% among those with an annual household income of less than $60,000).

Those Canadians most likely to believe that same sex marriage "should be allowed to exist in civil law but not have the same legal weight as a conventional marriage" are:

• Residents of British Columbia (34%) and Ontario (34%), followed by residents of Quebec (33%) and Alberta (33%), Atlantic Canada (26%), and Saskatchewan/Manitoba (20%).

• Those aged 35 and older (35% vs. 25% among those aged 18-34); and

• Men (37% vs. 28% among women).

Those Canadians most likely to believe same sex marriage is "wrong and it should never be lawful" are:

• Residents of Saskatchewan/Manitoba (41%), followed by residents of Atlantic Canada (29%), Quebec (28%) and Alberta (28%), Ontario (25%), and British Columbia (19%);

• Older Canadians aged 55 and over (36% vs. 23% among those aged 18-54); and

• Men (31% vs. 22% among women).

Please open the attached PDF files to view the release and detailed tables

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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