In Wake of Paris Terror Attacks, Six in Ten (60%) Canadians Oppose Government's Plan to Settle 25,000 Refugees by End of Year
Toronto, ON - In the wake of the terror attacks that devastated Paris one week ago, a new Ipsos poll conducted on behalf of Global News has revealed that a majority of Canadians disagree (60%) with the government's plan to settle 25,000 refugees in Canada before the end of the year. Moreover, two in three (68%) Canadians support the use of Canadian Forces fighter jets in air strikes against ISIS, meaning that on both of these issues the government appears to be facing strong public-opinion headwinds. When it comes to the Prime Minister's campaign pledge to remove Canadian Fighter Jets from Iraq and Syria, Canadians are split on whether Trudeau should stay committed to his pledge and ground the jets or continue bombing ISIS.
Six in Ten Disagree with Government's Goal of Settling 25,000 Refugees in 2015...
Despite heightened security concerns in the aftermath of the Paris terror attacks, the government has stayed firm on its commitment to settle 25,000 refugees of the ISIS conflict by year's end. However, the results of the poll reveal that the government's goal is contrary to public opinion.
Six in ten (60%) `disagree' (36% very much/24% somewhat) that the government of Canada should `immediately accept up to 25,000 government-sponsored refugees in 2015', while just four in ten (40%) `agree' (15% very much/24% somewhat) with the government's goal. Agreement with the government's position is up just 1 point since the pledge was originally made by Justin Trudeau during the campaign; opposition is down 1 point.
Security Concerns are Paramount for Canadians...
Canadians were presented with a wide variety of statements relating to the settlement of refugees in Canada, and it appears that security concerns are paramount for Canadians, ahead of humanitarian concerns. Tracking is compared to Canadian data collected in September and October, 2015, before the Paris terrorist attacks.
Three Quarters (75%) See a Terrorist attack in Canada as a Real Threat, Up 14 Points since the Paris Attacks...
Most (75%) Canadians see a terrorist attack taking place in Canada as a real threat (29% very/46% somewhat), while just one quarter say it isn't (5% not at all/20% not much). This threat is up 14 points since last month. Canadians also see the possibility of other significant and growing threats to Canada, including:
Canada being involved in an armed conflict with another country: 66% real threat (21% very/45% somewhat) vs. 34% not a threat (8% not at all/26% not much). This threat is up 16 points.
- A nuclear, biological or chemical attack taking place somewhere in the world: 64% real threat (27% very/37% somewhat) vs. 36% not a threat (9% not at all/27% not much). This threat is up 1 point.
- A violent conflict breaking out between ethnic or minority groups in Canada: 52% see it as a threat (17% very/35% somewhat) vs. 48% not a threat (13% not at all/35% not much). This threat is up 3 points.
- The personal safety and security of Canadians personally, and their family, being violated: 45% real threat (15% very/30% somewhat) vs. 55% not a threat (15% not at all/39% not much). This threat is up 1 point.
Canadians Cautiously Confident that Canadian Security Agencies Could Respond Effectively to a Variety of Crises...
If any of these things were to happen in the next twelve months, Canadians appear cautiously confident that the Canadian government and its agencies could provide the appropriate levels of security and protection to respond effectively to the following:
- A violent conflict breaking out between ethnic or minority groups in Canada: 66% confident (17% very/49% somewhat) vs. 34% not confident (6% not at all/27% not very). Confidence is up 4 points.
- The personal safety and security of you or your family being violated: 66% confident (17% very/49% somewhat) vs. 34% not confident (7% not at all/27% not very). Confidence is up 2 points. Confidence is up 2 points.
- Canada being involved in an armed conflict with another nation: 65% confident (17% very/48% somewhat) vs. 35% not confident (6% not at all/29% not very). Confidence is up 4 points.
- A terrorist attack taking place in Canada: 62% confident (18% very/44% somewhat) vs. 38% not confident (7% not at all/30% not very). Confidence is down 1 point.
- A nuclear, biological or chemical attack taking place somewhere in the world: 51% confident (15% very/35% somewhat) vs. 49% not confident (14% not at all/35% not very). Confidence is up 1 point.
Most Support Canadian CF-18 Involvement in Airstrikes...
Despite the government's insistence that the air strikes against ISIS targets will end, two in three (68%) Canadians `agree' (36% strongly/32% somewhat) that they `support the use of Canadian Forces Fighter Jets in the international coalition's airstrikes against ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria', while one in three (32%) `disagree' (13% strongly/19% somewhat) with the mission. While strong, support for the airstrikes is down 6 points since March; opposition is up 6 points.
While there exists strong support for the current air-strike mission, Canadians are split on whether Trudeau should keep his election promise to end the mission: one half (52%) agree (24% strongly/28% somewhat) that the Prime Minister should `stay committed to his campaign promise to remove Canadian CF-18 jets from the airstrike mission against ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria', while the other half (48%) `disagree' (22% strongly/26% somewhat) that he should keep his promise, ultimately believing he should keep the jets in their current mission.
Three quarters (73%) of Canadians `agree' (33% strongly/40% somewhat) that `the coalition of allies can win the war against ISIS', while one quarter (27%) `disagrees' (6% strongly/21% somewhat) that this is a battle that can be won. These figures are unchanged since March.
A majority of Canadians appear willing to ramp up efforts against ISIS. In fact, six in ten (62%) `agree' (27% strongly/35% somewhat) that they `support the use of Canadian Forces on the ground in a combat mission against ISIS in Iraq and Syria', while four in ten (38%) `disagree' (14% strongly/24% somewhat) with this idea. Support is down 3 points, while opposition is up 3 points.
These are some of the findings of an Ipsos poll conducted between November 17 and 19, 2015, on behalf of Global News. For this survey, a sample of 1,002 Canadians from Ipsos' online panel was interviewed online. Weighting was then employed to balance demographics to 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. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll is accurate to within +/ - 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, had all Canadian adults been polled. The credibility interval will be wider among subsets of the population. 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, PhD
CEO
Ipsos Global Public Affairs
(416) 324-2001
[email protected]
About Ipsos in Canada
Ipsos 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 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' 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 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 is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group.
To learn more, please visit www.ipsos.ca.
About Ipsos
Ipsos is an independent market research company controlled and managed by research professionals. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos has grown into a worldwide research group with a strong presence in all key markets. Ipsos ranks third in the global research industry.
With offices in 86 countries, Ipsos delivers insightful expertise across six research specializations: advertising, customer loyalty, marketing, media, public affairs research, and survey management.
Ipsos researchers 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 and they measure public opinion around the globe.
Ipsos has been listed on the Paris Stock Exchange since 1999 and generated global revenues of e1,669.5 ($2,218.4 million) in 2014.
Visit www.ipsos.com to learn more about Ipsos' offerings and capabilities.
