CANADIANS SAY THAT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS DONE ENOUGH TO PROTECT CIVIL RIGHTS (57%) WHILE FIGHTING TERRORISM
However, on the issue of if the government has ensured that police have the tools to fight terrorism in Canada, residents are more divided. While four-in-ten (41%) believe that enough has been done by the federal government, slightly more (46%) say that not enough has been done. One-in-ten (9%) say that too much has been done.
These are the findings of an Ipsos-Reid/Globe and Mail/CTV poll conducted between December 18th and December 20th, 2001. 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 1996 Census data.
A majority (57%) of Canadians feel that the actions of the federal government have been enough to protect their civil rights while providing police with new powers to fight terrorism. This compares to the three-in-ten (30%) who feel that not enough has been done to protect civil liberties and one-in-ten (11%) who say too much has been done.
- Regionally, the number who feel that enough has been done decreases from the eastern parts of the country to the western regions. Atlantic Canadians (66%) and Quebecers (62%) are more likely to say enough has been done. This is followed by those in Ontario (57%), Saskatchewan/Manitoba (56%), while those in Alberta (49%) and British Columbia (48%) are less likely to believe this.
- Women (59%) are more likely than men (54%) to say that enough has been done. While men (12% versus 9% of women) are more likely to feel that too much has been done.
However, on the issue of whether the government has ensured that police have the tools to fight terrorism in Canada, residents are more divided. While four-in-ten (41%) believe that enough has been done by the federal government, slightly more (46%) say that not enough has been done.
- Residents of Quebec (49%) and Atlantic Canada (47%) are more likely than those in other regions to feel enough has been done. While residents of Saskatchewan/Manitoba (53%) and British Columbia (50%) are more likely to believe not enough has been done to provide police with the tools to fight terrorism.
- Middle aged (50%) Canadians are more likely than younger (44%) or older (42%) Canadians to say that the federal government has not done enough in providing police with the tools they need.
- Women (43% versus 39% of men) are more likely to say that enough has been done, while men (13%) are more likely than women (6%) to feel too much has been done. Men and women (46% each) are equally as likely to say that not enough has been done in this area.
To view the complete media release and tables, please download the attached PDF file.
For more information on this news release, please contact:
John Wright
Senior Vice-President
Public Affairs
Ipsos-Reid
(416) 324-2900
