Despite Recent Troops Fatalities, Majority Of Canadians (52%) Support Role Of Canada's Troops In Afghanistan

Toronto, ON - Despite a week that witnessed the death of eight Canadian troops in Afghanistan and their repatriation to Canada, a majority of Canadians (52%) expressed their support for the role of Canada's troops in Afghanistan according to the latest poll conducted by Ipsos Reid for CanWest and Global TV. However, nearly two thirds of Canadians (63%) say that the country's troops in Afghanistan should be brought home on schedule, in February 2009.

Tracking support for the role of Canada's troops in Afghanistan over time shows that support has rebounded since November 2, 2006, when fewer than half of Canadians (44%) lent their support to the mission. Since last March, support for the war in Afghanistan has hovered in the mid-fifty-percent range, with a high of 57% support measured on two occasions (September 28 and May 18, 2006) and the lowest levels of support measured on November 2 (44%) and July 27, 2006 (47%).

These are the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted for CanWest News Service/Global News and fielded from April 17-19, 2007. For this survey, a representative randomly selected sample of 1001 adult Canadians was interviewed by telephone. With a sample of this size, the aggregate 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 each sub-grouping 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.

Majority Support the Involvement of Canada's Troops in Afghanistan

Just over half of Canadians (52%) support the use of Canada's troops for security and combat efforts against the Taliban and Al Qaida in Afghanistan, while 43% oppose. At either extreme, the proportion that strongly supports (23%) the use of Canada's troops in Afghanistan equals the proportion that strongly opposes the use of Canada's troops in Afghanistan (24%).

Those significantly more likely to support the use of Canada's troops in Afghanistan include:

• Residents of Alberta (66%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (59%) and Atlantic Canada (57%) compared to Quebec (37%);
• Older respondents (35-54 years, 56% and 55 years and older, 55%) compared to younger respondents (18-34 years: 44%);
• Men (57%) compared with women (47%); and,
• Those with a higher household income ($60,000 or more: 55%) compared to those with a lower income (less than $30,000: 44%).

Most Canadians Want Troops Home on Schedule

Nearly two in three Canadians (63%) say that Canada's troops should come home in February 2009 as scheduled. One in three (32%) say the troops should have their mission extended to a time when joint political and military officials feel the country is stable and self supporting.

Those significantly more likely to say Canada's troops should come home in February 2009 as scheduled include:

• Residents of Atlantic Canada (73%) and Quebec (69%);
• Younger respondents (18-34 years: 67%); and,
• Women (68%).

Those significantly more likely to say that Canada's troops should have their mission extended to a time when joint political and military officials feel the country is stable and self-supporting include:

• Residents of Alberta (45%); and,
• Men (38%).

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.

To learn more, please visit www.ipsos.ca.

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