A Majority (55%) Believe Terrorists are in Canada and Waiting to Attack Civilians And Are Not Confident that Government and Security Forces Capable of Preventing Terrorist Attacks

Toronto, ONTARIO - According to the latest Ipsos-Reid/CTV/Globe and Mail poll released tonight, a majority (55%) remain of the belief that there are international terrorist in Canada, waiting to attack Canadian civilians. This level is unchanged from that recorded when the exact question was asked the week following the September 11th attacks. Forty-three percent (unchanged) disagree with this viewpoint.

At the same time a similar majority (55%) of Canadians do not express confidence that the federal government and its security forces are capable of preventing a terrorist attack. However, this represents a decrease of five points from the level recorded in last September's poll. Just over four in ten (44%; an increase of 5 points) are confident that Canadian security forces are capable of preventing terrorist attacks.p> Three quarters (74%) of Canadians indicate that the terrorist threats and attacks are actually the work of only a handful of radicals who are against Western values and Christianity. This compares to the 20% who say that the terrorist threats and attacks are due in general to Muslims, Arab nations, and those who follow Islam who are against Western values and Christianity. Six percent say `don't know'.

One-third (35%) of Canadians feel that the federal government has not done enough to protect their civil rights while providing new police powers to fight terrorism. This represents an increase of five points over the level found when the exact questions was posed in December 2001. Just over half (52%; down 5 points) indicate that the government has done `enough', while 7% (-4 points) believe they have done `too much'.

However, 59%, an increase of 13 points over December 2001, say that the federal government has not done enough to ensure that police have the tools to fight terrorism in Canada. One-third (36%; -5 points) believe the government has done `enough', while only 2% (-7 points) believe the government has done `too much'.

These are the findings of an Ipsos-Reid/CTV/Globe and Mail poll conducted between August 27th and August 29th, 2002. 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 (55%; unchanged from September 2001) remain of the belief that there are international terrorist in Canada, waiting to attack Canadian civilians. This compares to the 43% (unchanged) who disagree with this viewpoint.

• Those in Atlantic Canada (66%; +10 points) are the most agree with this view, while on the opposite side of the country, those in British Columbia (46%; -9) are least likely. These two areas also reflect the biggest change in their view from September 2001.
• While all age groups are equivalent in their views on this topic (18-34: 55%; 35-54: 55%; 55+: 56%) it is views of the older (-9 points) and the younger (+7 points) groups that have altered the most regarding this subject since last September. The middle age group remains unchanged in their view.
• There is no statistical difference in the views of women (56%) and men (54%). The views of both women and men remain unchanged since last September.
• Canadians in households with annual incomes of less than $30,000 (63%) are more likely than those from households with yearly incomes of $30,000 or more (53%) to believe this to be the case.

A similar majority (55%) do not express confidence that the federal government and its security forces are capable of preventing a terrorist attack. However, this represents a decrease of 5 points from the level recorded when the exact question was asked the week following the September 11th attacks. Just over four in ten (44%; an increase of 5 points) are confident that Canadian security forces are capable of preventing terrorist attacks.

• Regionally, the largest increase in agreement with this view occurs among Atlantic Canadians (53%; +15 points) and Quebecers (49%; +11 points). Agreement is also high in Saskatchewan/Manitoba (50%; +3 points). Lowest levels of agreement occur among those in Alberta (35%; -4 points) and British Columbia (35%), which also receives the largest decline (-9 points) recorded in the country. Ontarians (42%; +2 points) remains at about the same level as in September 2001.
• Demographically, women (46%; +5 points) are slightly more likely to express confidence on this topic than men (41%; +3 points).
• While Younger (48%; +2 points) Canadians are more likely than to express confidence in Canada's ability to prevent terrorist attacks, it is their middle aged (42%; +5 points) and older (42%; +7 points) counterparts that show the largest increase in agreement over last September.
• Canadians in lower (50%) and middle (46%) income households are more likely to express confidence than those in upper income households (39%).

Three quarters (74%) of Canadians indicate that the terrorist threats and attacks are actually the work of only a handful of radicals who are against Western values and Christianity. This compares to the 20% who say that the terrorist threats and attacks are due in general to Muslims, Arab nations, and those who follow Islam who are against Western values and Christianity. Six percent say `don't know'.

• This view is statistically consistent across regions, gender and age groups.

One-third (35%) of Canadians feel that the federal government has not done enough to protect their civil rights while providing new police powers to fight terrorism. This represents an increase of five points over the level found when the exact questions was posed in December 2001. Just over half (52%; down 5 points) indicate that the government has done `enough', while 7% (-4 points) believe they have done `too much'.

• Regionally, British Columbians (43%; +7 points) are the most likely to feel that not enough has been done in this regard. The largest change in view occurs among Quebecers (35%; +10 points.
• Statistically, there are no differences in the views of men and women, or between age groups. Women (36%) and younger Canadians (34%) however, both record an increase of 7 points over their views of last December.

However, 59%, an increase of 13 points over December 2001, say that the federal government has not done enough to ensure that police have the tools to fight terrorism in Canada. One-third (36%; -5 points) believe the government has done `enough', while only 2% (-7 points) believe the government has done `too much'.

• Atlantic Canadians (68%; +22 points) are the most likely to express the view that not enough has been done in this regard. This represents the largest increase for any region. Albertans (64%; +18 points) and Ontarians (63%; +18 points) follow in both overall result and change from last December.
• Women (62%; +16 points) are more likely than men (56%; +10 points) to feel that not enough has been done in this area.
• Middle aged (63%) and older (61%) Canadians are more likely than younger (52%) Canadians to feel not enough has been done. The views of all three age groups is up over last December (older: +19 points; middle aged: +13 points; younger: +8 points).

The views of Canadians have not changed regarding the actions of the federal governments in providing airline and airport security for travelers, since last December. In fact, just over one-third (37%) indicate that they think that the federal government has not done enough in this regard. This is almost identical to the level found when the question was asked of Canadians in December 2001 (35%). In the same way, just over half (53%; December 2001 54%) believe that the government has done `enough', while 7% (the same level as in December) believe `too much' has been done in this regard.

• Regionally, those most likely to say not enough has been done are located in Ontario (42%; +4 points), while the least likely to say this are in Quebec (30%; +4 points).
• Middle aged (43%; +9 points) Canadians are most likely to express the view that not enough has been done in this regard. This compares to the views of older (36%; +4 points) and younger (32%; -5 points) Canadians.

Much has been made of the efforts by the Canadian government to tighten boarder security between Canada and the United States. However, Canadians are increasingly under the belief that `not enough' (41%) has been done in this regard. This represents an increase of 5 points over the level recorded in December 2001. Just under half (48%; -5 points) believe `enough' has been done, while 8% (-2 points) say `too much' has been done in this area.

• Regionally, those most likely to say not enough has been done in this regard, are in Atlantic Canada (44%; +8 points), Alberta (44%; +3 points), Ontario (43%; +8 points) and in Quebec (42%; +10 points) where there is the largest change in view since last December. The lowest proportion of those saying not enough has been done are in British Columbia (33%; +4) and in Saskatchewan/Manitoba (32%; +7 points).
• The views of middle aged Canadians (45%) that not enough has been done has increased 13 points over that recorded in December 2001, followed by older (41%; +5 points) and younger (36%; +3 points) Canadians.
• Women (43%; +7 points) remain more likely than men (38%; +8 points) to indicate that not enough has been done in this regard.

Concern over the screening of immigrants to Canada to ensure they are not potential terrorists remains at a high level. In fact, two-thirds (67%) say that the federal government has not done enough to make sure that immigrants to Canada are properly screened for potential terrorist activities. In comparison, in December 2001, 69% said that `not enough' was done in this regard. One quarter (27%; +4 points) say that `enough' has been done by the federal government on this issue, while 3% (-2 points) believe `too much' has been done.

• Albertans (83%) are the most likely to feel that not enough has been done in this area. This is an increase of 18 points over the views of Albertans in December 2001.
• Older Canadians (75%; unchanged) are the most likely to say that not enough has been done on this subject, followed by middle aged (69%; -2 points) and younger (59%; -3 points) Canadians.
• Women (70%; unchanged) are more likely to indicate not enough has been done than men (65%; -3 points).

A majority (56%) of Canadians say that local Canadian police, firefighters and emergency crews are adequately trained to deal with a terrorist attack. The opposing view is held by four in ten (42%) Canadians.

• Regionally, 64% of Atlantic Canadians express agreement with this view, followed by British Columbia (60%), Alberta (58%), Saskatchewan/Manitoba (57%), Quebec (54%), and Ontario (53%).
• Statistically, women (58%) and men (54%) are equally as likely to agree with this view.

To view the release and tables, please open the attached PDF files.

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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