As Quebec Regiment Suffers Losses In Afghanistan, Support In Quebec Receives A Boost

Toronto, ON - As the famed Van Doos Regiment from Quebec assumes its tour of duty in Afghanistan and suffers through its first three deaths in the past week, a new Ipsos Reid poll conduced exclusively on behalf of CanWest News Service and Global Television finds that support within Quebec for the combat mission in Afghanistan has climbed 5 points since July, rising from 30% support to 35% support. More specifically, one in ten (10%) Quebecers now `strongly support the use of Canada's troops for security and combat efforts against the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan', while one quarter (24%) are `somewhat' in support.

Conversely, opposition within Quebec for the war as declined from 65% in July of this year to 61% who currently oppose `the use of Canada's troops for security and combat efforts against the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan'. 35% of Quebecers currently `strongly oppose' the war, while one quarter (26%) `somewhat oppose' the use of Canadian troops for security and combat mission in Afghanistan.

Although support for the war is still considerably lower in Quebec than in the rest of Canada (35% in Quebec, 56% in the rest of Canada), perhaps the modest surge in Quebec is a symptom of Quebecers rallying around their own troops in support of their efforts in Afghanistan.

One quarter (23%) of Canadians maintain that they `strongly support the use of Canada's troops for security and combat efforts against the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan', while slightly more (28%) are `somewhat' supportive of this mission. Conversely, 45% of Canadians are either `somewhat' (18%) or `strongly' (27%) opposed to the current mission in Afghanistan.

These are the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of CanWest News Service and Global Television from Aug 21 to Aug 23, 2007. For the survey, a representative randomly selected sample of 1000 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.

Those Most Likely To Support The Mission...

In August, 2007, 23% of Canadians maintain that they `strongly support the use of Canada's troops for security and combat efforts against the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan', while slightly more (28%) are `somewhat' supportive of this mission.

• Albertans are the most likely among all regions in Canada to support current mission, with 72% indicating that they are supportive. The next most likely regions include Atlantic Canada (56%) and Ontario (55%).
• Middle-aged Canadians, aged 35 to 54, are the most likely (55%) of all age categories to be supportive of the war.
• Men (55%) are considerably more supportive of the current mission than women are (46%).
• Individuals whose families earn more than $60,000 a year are disproportionately supportive (59%) of the current mission in Afghanistan.

Those Most Likely To Oppose The Mission...

45% of Canadians are currently either `somewhat' (18%) or `strongly' (27%) opposed to the current mission in Afghanistan.

• As stated, Quebecers are disproportionately against the war, with six in ten (61%) indicating their opposition. Other provinces that are more likely to be opposed to the current mission in Afghanistan include British Columbians (48%) and residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba (42%), although a majority in Saskatchewan and Manitoba are still supportive (53%).
• One half (50%) of younger Canadians, aged 18 to 34, are opposed to the current mission in Afghanistan.
• Nearly one half (49%) of women are opposed to the current mission.

For more information on this news release, please contact:
John Wright
Senior Vice President
Ipsos Reid
Public Affairs
(416) 324-2002
[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.

Ipsos
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 2006, Ipsos generated global revenues of 857.1 million euros ($1.1 billion USD).

Visit www.ipsos.com to learn more about Ipsos offerings and capabilities.

Ipsos, listed on the Eurolist of Euronext - Comp B, is part of SBF 120 and the Mid-100 Index, adheres to the Next Prime segment and is eligible to the Deferred Settlement System. Isin FR0000073298, Reuters ISOS.PA, Bloomberg IPS:FP