Canada ping!
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Posted on 06/10/2006 4:12:40 PM PDT by fanfan
71% believe terrorists will hit Canada: poll
A survey of Canadians conducted following the arrests of 17 terror suspects in southern Ontario found a significant shift in attitudes toward terrorism.
A poll conducted by The Strategic Counsel for CTV and The Globe and Mail found that 71 per cent of respondents believe an act of terrorism will take place on Canadian soil within the next few years.
That number is up nine per cent from a similar poll conducted between Aug. 3-7, 2005.
When asked about the likelihood of Canada being a terror target because of its military presence in Afghanistan, 56 per cent said we are more likely to be attacked.
This represents an increase of 18 per cent compared to one year ago. Thirty-four per cent say the military presence has no bearing; while five per cent say having soldiers in Afghanistan make us less susceptible to an attack.
"Clearly, Canadians feel the whole initiative in Afghanistan is making us more susceptible to terrorist attacks," The Strategic Counsel's Managing Partner Tim Woolstencroft told CTV.ca.
"But support for Afghanistan is up in all regions," he added.
Indeed, total support for sending troops rose to 48 per cent, compared to 40 per cent in a similar poll conducted May 3-4.
Those opposed dropped 10 points to 44 per cent since May.
Woolstencroft says, however, that "evidence suggests if there are more Canadian deaths, support for the war will probably go south."
Interestingly, an increasing number of people believe Canada is well prepared to deal with a terror threat should one occur.
Thirty-seven per cent say we're well prepared -- up 12 points since August, 2005; while 56 per cent say the nation is not well prepared, down 11 per cent.
Woolstencroft warned, however, that public opinion is far from being set, and that evidence suggests Canadians have a great deal of ambivalence about the mission in Afghanistan.
While the recent arrests of terror suspects have increased the public's confidence in the authorities, he warned there are still significant percentages of the population who believe Canada is not well prepared.
Immigration
A whopping 87 per cent of Canadians believe there are likely more active terrorist cells operating in Canada despite the recent arrests, and that terrorism will continue to be a threat.
When asked what measure against the war on terrorism that Canadians would support, 41 per cent said they would agree to restrict the numbers of immigrants allowed into Canada from Muslim countries.
The number, however, is up just two per cent since Aug. 2005.
Woolstencroft points out that Canadians' basic assumptions about immigration and the diversity of this country "haven't been shaken at all by (these latest arrests)."
"Clearly, the results suggest a high degree of tolerance (for immigrants). This hasn't shifted Canadian attitudes toward immigration at all," he said.
When asked whether Canadians should be doing more to integrate immigrants into our culture, 37 per cent said we should be increasing our efforts, while 56 per cent said no new efforts are required.
Critics, however, wish Canada would speed up efforts to assimilate immigrant communities. They also contend that Canada lets in far too many immigrants without thorough screening.
While Washington has congratulated Canada for the recent arrest of terror suspects, some U.S. congressmen took the opportunity to criticize Canada's immigration laws.
Rep. Peter King, a New York Republican who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee, said Canada has "a disproportionate number of al Qaeda. ... because of their very liberal immigration laws (and) because of how political asylum is granted so easily."
Rep. John Hostettler of Indiana said many Canadian immigrants don't share "traditional Canadian values."
And David Harris, a former Canadian security official, suggested this week that Canada suspend its immigration and refugee program until it reduces security risks.
Wilson defended the system, saying Canada's ratio of accepting asylum-seekers was roughly the same as that of the U.S.
Canada's ambassador to the United States, however, says the accusations are off-base.
"Is the process perfect? No," Michael Wilson told The Associated Press on Friday. "But I think the results are pretty darned good. ... We have a reputation for fairness and compassion, but we've also got a very good system for screening every applicant."
Wilson noted that Canada tightened immigration procedures after the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States. But no further changes are planned because of the recent arrests.
Technical information
Interviews for this poll were conducted between June 7 and 8, 2006.
Nationally, 1,000 people were sampled. The sampling error is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
With files from The Associated Press
Canada ping!
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Wait, I don't understand. Canada is such a bastion of peace, love and liberalism, and had nothing to do with the invasion of Iraq. Why should they have to worry?
And what percentage will blame Bush if it happens?
Polls I have seen have suggested that over half Canadians have lost faith in multiculturalism as the policy for the future.
was that question "believe" or "hope" ?
funny, I wondered the same thing.
Perhaps Canadians have finally woke up and "smelled the coffee." heir country has been overrun by immigrants who really don't want to be part of Canada (except for the benefits).
Let's hope we come to the same realization before we're as far down the road to ruin as the Canadians.
Incredibly, that question isn't in this article?!
It probably will be soon. Something like, "89% believe that if Canada is attacked by terrorists, it will be Bush's fault."
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The other 29% did not understand the question.
Likely the same percentage of Americans that would do so, unfortunately.
We seem to have finally achieved a critical mass of people united for common sense.
Woo-Hoo! Go Canada!
:-D
You're kidding, right?
LOL!
That's right!
Interesting. Do you have any sources on that?
The political pendulum does swing and all the signs I see coming out of Canada show that it is swinging to the conservatives.
The Globe and Mail has regular polls. You can read the results of past polls at their web site.
Yeah, 'cause Canada's not taking part in the WOT and we aren't losing soldiers. </sarcasm>
We may not be doing enough right now. However, you can blame the last government for that. The new government has already started correcting this.
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