Canadians React In Wake Of Terror-Plot Arrests

Toronto, ON - As the facts continue to unfold in the media about the lead-up to the arrests of several alleged terrorism plotters in the Toronto area, a new Ipsos Reid poll conducted for CanWest/Global News reports most Canadians (58%) feel the arrests represent the "tip of the iceberg" and there are likely many more potential terrorist groups in Canada not yet discovered. Many (37%), though, believe the arrests represent an isolated group of fanatical individuals and are not indicative of the existence of other potential terrorist groups in Canada.

When it comes to anti-terrorism measures, one half (49%, 18% "strongly") of Canadians feel "it is justifiable for Canadian authorities to more strongly focus their anti-terrorism surveillance on the Canadian Muslim Community than other ethnic communities" - half (47%) disagree with this notion.

However, a good majority of Canadians (72%) agree with the statement that "I have faith that Canadian Muslim Community leaders are doing all that they can to co-operate with Canadian authorities when it comes to investigating potential terrorist threats". And, in fact, six in ten (58%) say what they "find most shocking about these arrests is that all of those charged are Canadian citizens".

In the end, only a minority of Canadians (31%) offer the opinion that "terrorist threats like this one have everything to do with the fact that Canada's troops are involved in combat in Afghanistan" - most (61%) say "that even if Canadian troops weren't in Afghanistan we'd still be a target for terrorism because we are a Western Country".

These are the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of CanWest / Global News from June 6-8th, 2006. For the survey, a representative randomly selected sample of 1005 adult Canadians was interviewed by telephone. With a sample of this size, the results are considered accurate to within 1773.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had this entire population been polled. The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population. These data were weighted to ensure the sample's regional and age/sex composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population according to Census data.

Six In Ten (58%) Feel These Arrests Are "Tip Of The Iceberg"...

Some people say that those arrested represent an isolated group of fanatical individuals and this does not mean that there are other potential terrorist groups operating in Canada. Other people say that this group is likely just the "tip of the iceberg" and there are many more groups in Canada not yet discovered that are just waiting to commit acts of terrorism. Which comes closer to your opinion?

• Feelings that these arrests are the "tip of the iceberg" are highest in Alberta (66%), followed by Ontario and Atlantic Canada (both at 61%).
• Feelings that these arrests are not indicative of other terrorist groups in Canada are most strong among those in Saskatchewan/Manitoba (58%) followed by those in British Columbia (45%).

Most Believe (61%) We Are A Target For Terrorism Because We Are Western Country, Not Because Of Involvement In Afghanistan (31%)...

Some people say that terrorist threats like this one have everything to do with the fact that Canada's troops are involved in combat in Afghanistan. Other people say that even if Canadian troops weren't in Afghanistan we'd still be a target for terrorism because we are a Western Country, like the United States and Britain. Which comes closer to your opinion?

• The opinion that these terrorist threats have everything to do with Canada's troops being involved in combat in Afghanistan is most common in Saskatchewan/Manitoba (38%), followed by Atlantic Canada (36%).
• Three-quarters (75%) of Albertans feel we are a target for terrorism because we are a Western country - the highest proportion in the country.

Canadian Attitudes Post Terrorism Arrests...

Please tell me if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with the following statements

Regional Notes...

• Albertans (56%) are the least likely to agree with the statement "I have faith that Canadian Muslim Community leaders are doing all that they can to co-operate with Canadian authorities when it comes to investigating potential terrorist threats", and are the most likely to agree (61%) that it "is justifiable for Canadian authorities to more strongly focus their anti-terrorism surveillance on the Canadian Muslim Community than other ethnic communities".
• Atlantic Canadians (65%) are the most likely to agree that they find "most shocking about these arrests is that those charged are Canadian citizens".

For more information on this news release, please contact:
John Wright
Senior Vice President
Ipsos Reid
(416) 324-2900
[email protected]

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 300 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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