Half (50%) Of Canadians Support Canada's Role
In Afghanistan

Toronto, ON - With the death of six soldiers in Afghanistan last week fresh in the minds of Canadians, fully one half (50%) maintain that they either `strongly' (23%) or `somewhat support' (27%) `the use of Canada's troops for security and combat efforts against the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan'. On the other hand, 45% of Canadians indicate that they either `strongly' (26%) or `somewhat oppose' (19%) the current mission in Afghanistan.

Support for Canada's combat role in Afghanistan has had a rocky road since the Canadian Forces began its tour of duty in the Kandahar region of Afghanistan in early 2006. Support for the mission was at 44% in early 2006, rose to 57% in the fall of 2006, but has steadily been declining to its current level -- 50% support.

These are the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of CanWest News Service and Global Television from July 10 to July 12, 2007. For the survey, a representative randomly selected sample of 1002 adult Canadians was 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 adult 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 that the sample's regional and age/sex composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population according to Census data.

One In Two (50%) Support Security And Combat Efforts...

Canadians are divided on their support of the use of Canada's troops for security and combat efforts against the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan, with one in two (50%) indicating their support, and slightly less (45%) indicating their opposition. Even the intensity of this support and opposition is comparable, with 23% indicating that they `strongly support' the current mission, and 26% indicating that they strongly oppose. 5% of Canadians do not have an opinion to share one way or the other.

• Men are much more likely (57%) than women (43%) to support the use of Canada's troops in Afghanistan.
• Middle-aged Canadians, aged 35 to 54, are most likely to support the mission (53%), followed by older Canadians (50%), aged 55 and over, and young Canadians (46%), aged 18 to 34.
• Residents of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario are the most likely of all provinces to support the mission (each at 58%), with at least one half of British Columbians (53%) and Atlantic Canadians (50%) supporting the mission as well.
• Individuals with a university degree are more likely (55%) than those with only some post-secondary education (51%), only a high school diploma (48%), or no high school diploma at all (43%) to support the use of Canadian troops in Afghanistan.
• Six in ten (58%) Canadians whose households earn at least $60,000 a year are in support of the mission in Afghanistan.

Just Three In Ten (30%) Quebecers Support The Mission In Afghanistan...

When one examines only the responses from Quebec, the results show that just three in ten (30%) either `strongly' (11%) or `somewhat support' (19%) the use of Canada's troops for security and combat efforts against the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. Conversely, two thirds (65%) of Quebecers either `somewhat' (29%) or `strongly oppose' (36%) the use of Canadian troops in Afghanistan.

Examining the results in the rest of Canada reveals that 56% of Canadians outside of Quebec either `strongly' (27%) or `somewhat support (29%) the mission, while four in ten (38%) either `somewhat' (16%) or `strongly oppose' (22%) the mission.

For more Information on this news release, please contact:
Dr. Darrell Bricker
President and COO
Ipsos Reid
Public Affairs
(416) 509-8460
[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.

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

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