Two-Thirds (66% versus 31%) of Canadians Approve of Prime Minister's Handling of Iraq Crisis
The government's decision to stay out of an attack on Iraq that is not sanctioned by the United Nations is a supported by a full majority (69%) of Canadians who say that Canada should stay out of a U.S.-lead conflict in Iraq, while just three in ten (30%) feel that the country should join with the United States and its allies in the military action against Iraq.
In general, a majority (52%) of Canadians oppose the United States and its allies undertaking of military action against Saddam Hussein and Iraq. In fact, a plurality (38%) strongly oppose this move by the United States. Just under half (45%) of Canadians support the action.
And finally, when asked if, all things considered, President George W. Bush is doing the right thing or the wrong thing regarding Iraq, a full majority (54%) of Canadians believe that it is the wrong thing. This compares to four in ten (41%) who feel that it is the right thing.
These are the findings of an Ipsos-Reid/CTV/Globe and Mail poll conducted between March 18th and March 20th, 2003. The poll questions were revised slightly after the first two nights of calling to represent the actual situation unfolding. 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 2001 Census data.
Two-thirds (66%) of Canadians approve of Prime Minister Chretien's handling of the Iraq situation. Three in ten (31%) express disapproval of the Prime Minister on this topic. The Prime Minister's approval rate on this subject is up eight points since the questions was last asked four weeks ago.
- The Prime Minister's approval on this subject is highest in Quebec (80%), followed by Atlantic Canada (70%), Ontario (65%), British Columbia (65%), and Saskatchewan/Manitoba (55%), and lowest in Alberta (41%). In fact, a majority (56%) of Albertans disapprove of the Prime Minister on this topic.
- Women (71%) are more likely than are men (60%) to express approval of the Prime Minister's handling of the situation. Men (38%) are more likely than women (25%) to express disapproval.
- Younger (77%) Canadians are more likely to express approval than are older (64%) or middle aged (62%) Canadians.
- Canadians in lower income households (74%) are more likely to approve of the Prime Minister's handling of the Iraq situation than are those in middle (65%) or upper (64%) income households.
The government's decision to stay out of an attack on Iraq that is not sanctioned by the United Nations is a supported by a full majority (69%) of Canadians who say that Canada should stay out of a U.S.-lead conflict in Iraq, while just three in ten (30%) feel that the country should join with the United States and its allies in the military action against Iraq.
- Regionally, Quebecers (83%) are the most likely to say that Canada should stay out of the conflict, while Albertans (49%) are the most likely to feel that we should join with the United States and its allies in the military action against Iraq.
- Three-quarters (75%, versus 62% of men) of women say that Canada should stay out of an unauthorised military action. Looking at the flip side, more men (37%) than women (24%) support joining the U.S.-lead military action.
- Three-quarters (77%) of younger Canadians say the country should stay out of the conflict, compared to middle aged (67%) and older (65%) Canadians.
- Canadians in lower income households (79%) are more likely than either their counterparts in middle (69%) or upper (62%) income households to say that Canada should not join in an unauthorised attack on Iraq.
In general, a slight majority (52%) of Canadians oppose the United States and its allies undertaking of military action against Saddam Hussein and Iraq. In fact a plurality (38%) strongly oppose this move by the United States. Just under half (45%) support the U.S.-lead action.
- Two-thirds (65%) of Quebecers express opposition, compared to just 48% in the rest of Canada. Support is highest among Albertans (60%) and lowest in Quebec (33%). In total 49% of Canadians outside of Quebec express support, while an equal number (48%) oppose.
- While a majority (59%) of women oppose the military action (versus 45% of men), a majority (53%) of men support the action (versus 37% of women).
- Younger (59%) Canadians are more likely than older (48%) to express opposition, while older (49%) Canadians are more likely than younger (39%) Canadians to express support.
- Canadians in lower income households (60%) are more likely than their counterparts in upper (51%) or middle (50%) income households to express opposition to the military action.
And finally, when asked if, all things considered, President George W. Bush is doing the right thing or the wrong thing regarding Iraq, a full majority (54%) of Canadians believe that it is the wrong thing. This compares to four in ten (41%) who feel that it is the right thing.
- Quebecers (67%) are the most likely to feel that this is the wrong thing for President Bush to do regarding Iraq, compared to 50% of Canadians in the rest of the country. A majority (56%) of Albertans feel that it is the right thing for the American President to do regarding the situation in Iraq.
- Women (60%) are more likely than men (48%) to feel that it is the wrong thing to do. In fact men are evenly split in their view if the current action by President Bush is the right thing (48%) or the wrong thing (48%) regarding Iraq.
- Younger (60%) Canadians are more likely than their older (50%) counterparts to feel that it is the wrong thing to do regarding Iraq.
- Canadians in lower income households (62%) are more likely than are their counter parts in upper income households (52%) to say that President Bush is doing the wrong thing.
To view the release and detailed 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
