While Half (48%) of Canadians Say They Would Prefer a U.S. Style Republic System of Government With an Elected Head of State,

While half (48%) of Canadians would prefer a republic system of government with an elected head of state, like in the United States, and two-thirds (65%) believe the Royals are `simply celebrities' and should not have any formal role in Canada, eight-in-ten (79%) support the constitutional monarchy as Canada's form of Government, according to an Ipsos-Reid/Globe and Mail/CTV poll released today.

The poll shows six-in-ten (62%) believe that the constitutional monarchy helps to define Canada's identity and should remain as Canada's form of government, and an equivalent proportion (58%) express the view that the issue of the monarchy and the form of government in Canada isn't important to them and if the system is working okay why go through all the fuss to change it.

These are the findings of an Ipsos-Reid/Globe and Mail poll conducted between January 29th and 31st, 2002. The poll is based on a randomly selected sample of 1,001 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.

Half (48%) of Canadians say that the constitutional monarchy is outmoded and would prefer a republic system of government with an elected head of state, like in the United States.

• Quebecers (59%) are more likely to express support for a republic system of government than residents of any other region in the country. This compares to British Columbia (46%), Ontario (45%), Atlantic Canada (45%), Alberta (43%) and Saskatchewan/Manitoba (40%).
• Middle aged (51%) and younger (48%) Canadians are more likely to support this idea than older (43%) Canadians
• Those who indicated that the constitutional monarchy as a form of government is not outdated (49%) are most likely to be Saskatchewan/Manitoba (59%), followed by Alberta and Ontario (53% each), British Columbia and Atlantic Canada (52%). In Quebec 36% agree with this view. As well, older (54%) Canadians are more likely to feel this way then younger (48%) or middle-aged (47%) Canadians.

Moreover, two-thirds (65%) believe the Royals are simply celebrities and should not have any formal role in Canada.

• Over eight-in-ten (84%) Quebecers agree with this proposition, followed by Albertans (70%), those in Saskatchewan/Manitoba and Ontario (59% of both regions), British Columbia (56%) and Atlantic Canada (53%).
• Canadians between 18 to 34 (68%) and 35 to 54 (68%) are more likely than those 55 years of age and older (59%) to agree with this view.

Eight-in-ten (79%) support the constitutional monarchy as Canada's form of Government where we elect governments whose leader becomes Prime Minister.

• Support for the constitutional monarchy is highest in Atlantic Canada (87%) and Saskatchewan/Manitoba (84%) and Alberta (83%), followed by Ontario (80%), and British Columbia (79%). Quebecers (73%) are least likely to express support for the constitutional monarchy system.
• Younger Canadians (86%) are more likely to express support for the current form of government than middle-aged (78%) Canadians, while older Canadians (74%) are least likely to support the current system.

Six-in-ten (62%) feel that the constitutional monarchy helps to define Canada's identity and should continue to be Canada's form of government.

• Regionally, this view is more likely expressed by residents of Atlantic Canada (71%) and Alberta (68%), followed by those in Saskatchewan/Manitoba (67%), Ontario (65%) and British Columbia (63%), while only one-half (52%) of Quebecers believe this to be so.
• Younger (66%) and older (64%) Canadians are more likely to feel that the constitutional monarchy helps to define Canada's identity than their middle aged (57%) counterparts.

An equivalent proportion (58%) express the view that the issue of the monarchy and the form of Canada's government isn't important to them and if the system is working okay why go through all the fuss to change it.

• Regionally, this laissez-faire attitude is strongest in Atlantic Canada (65%). Followed by Ontario (60%), Saskatchewan/Manitoba (58%), Alberta (55%) and British Columbia (53%). Even 54% of Quebecers express this view.
• Older (63%) and younger (61%) Canadians are more likely to hold this view than middle age (52%) Canadians.

To view the complete release and tables, please download the PDF files.

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For more information on this news release, please contact:
John Wright
Senior Vice-President
Public Affairs
Ipsos-Reid
(416) 324-2900