Majority (72%) Gives Canadian Government
Thumbs Up for Subdued Egypt Reaction

Toronto, ON - The events in Egypt over the last month which saw mass protests and a mostly-peaceful public uprising force out the regime of President Hosni Mubarak appear to be having a dramatic effect on nearby countries. Citizens of many countries, including Libya, Iran, Tunisia, Bahrain, are taking to the streets to protest their governments in a pro-democracy movement that is rippling through northern Africa and the Middle East.

The Government of Canada came under some criticism for not speaking out more about the protests much in the same way as other leaders, in including U.S. President Obama, encouraged President Mubarak to step down. The reaction to the events as they occurred has prompted a debate in Canada about whether or not Ottawa acted appropriately.

A new Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of Postmedia News and Global Television has revealed that a majority (72%) of Canadians more closely believe that `the government was right not to be so vocal about the issue'. Conversely, three in ten (28%) are closer to the opinion that `Canada's government should have spoken out more strongly in favour of the protests'.

• Across the country, Quebecers (41%) were most likely to believe the federal government should have been more vocal about the issue, followed by those living in Atlantic Canada (33%), British Columbia (27%), Ontario (25%), Alberta (19%) and Saskatchewan and Manitoba (16%).
• Conversely, residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba (84%) are most supportive of the government's approach to the Egypt crisis, followed by Albertans (81%), Ontarians (75%), British Columbians (73%), Atlantic Canadians (67%) and Quebecers (59%).
• Canadians aged 18 to 34 are most likely (40%) to believe that the government should have been more vocal, while those aged 35 to 54 (25%) and 55+ (22%) are less likely.
• Those aged 55 and older (78%) and aged 35 to 54 (75%) are most likely to believe the government was right not to be so vocal about the issue, while significantly fewer younger Canadians (60%) think so.

These are some of the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted between February 15 to 17, 2011, on behalf of Postmedia News and Global National. For this survey, a sample of 1,097 adults from Ipsos' Canadian online panel was interviewed online. Weighting was then employed to balance demographics and ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the adult population according to Census data and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe. A survey with an unweighted probability sample of this size and a 100% response rate would have an estimated margin of error of +/-3.0 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what the results would have been had the entire population of adults in Canada been polled. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.

For more information on this news release, please contact:

Darrell Bricker
CEO
Ipsos Public Affairs
(416) 324-2001
[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.

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Ipsos is a leading global survey-based market research company, owned and managed by research professionals. Ipsos helps interpret, simulate, and anticipate the needs and responses of consumers, customers, and citizens around the world.

Member companies assess market potential and interpret market trends. They develop and build brands. They help clients build long-term relationships with their customers. They test advertising and study audience responses to various media. They measure public opinion around the globe. Ipsos member companies offer expertise in advertising, customer loyalty, marketing, media, and public affairs research, as well as forecasting, modeling, and consulting. Ipsos has a full line of custom, syndicated, omnibus, panel, and online research products and services, guided by industry experts and bolstered by advanced analytics and methodologies. The company was founded in 1975 and has been publicly traded since 1999. In 2009, Ipsos generated global revenues of e943.7 million ($1.33 billion U.S.).

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