NoMoreCons@cda.ca
2010-11-09 01:33:43 UTC
Friday, September 5, 2008 - CBC News
Public support for Afghan mission lowest ever: poll
The number of Canadians who disapprove of the country's military action in Afghanistan is
at its highest point since 2002, according to the results of a new poll sponsored by CBC
News.
The survey, conducted by Environics between Friday and Tuesday, found that 34 per cent of
respondents "strongly disapprove" of Canada's participation in military action in
Afghanistan, while 22 per cent "somewhat disapprove," making a total of 56 per cent.
By comparison, 41 per cent of respondents were in favour of military action, with 14 per
cent saying they "strongly approve" and 27 per cent "somewhat approve."
The latest figures stand in contrast to previous responses to the same survey question,
posed in March 2008, where 54 per cent of respondents said they disapproved and 44 per
cent said the opposite.
The March numbers had represented the highest level of disapproval since polling began in
2002, the same year Canada launched its military mission in Afghanistan.
Do you strongly approve or somewhat approve, somewhat disapprove, or strongly disapprove
of Canada’s participation in military action in Afghanistan?
Answer%
Strongly approve 14
Somewhat approve 27
Somewhat disapprove 22
Strongly disapprove 34
Don't know/No answer 3
"Overall, the level of disapproval of our involvement is at its highest point that we've
seen in our tracking, and support is at its lowest," Donna Dasko, senior vice-president of
Environics Research Group, told CBC News on Friday.
"So we can see the public is clearly, at this point, leaning against the mission."
A total of 2,505 people from across the country were surveyed by telephone for the latest
Environics poll. It is considered accurate to within plus or minus two percentage points,
19 times out of 20.
Also down is the number of Canadians who think the Canadian mission in Afghanistan is
likely to be successful.
Only 28 per cent of respondents said they think the Canadian mission in Afghanistan is
likely to be successful, compared with 34 per cent who responded affirmatively during a
November 2006 poll.
The current number of Canadians who said the mission wasn't likely to be successful was 65
per cent, compared with 58 per cent in the 2006 poll. In both instances, seven per cent of
people said they did not know.
These findings, Dasko said, are important because they could affect people's overall level
of support for Canada's military intervention in Afghanistan.
Public support for Afghan mission lowest ever: poll
The number of Canadians who disapprove of the country's military action in Afghanistan is
at its highest point since 2002, according to the results of a new poll sponsored by CBC
News.
The survey, conducted by Environics between Friday and Tuesday, found that 34 per cent of
respondents "strongly disapprove" of Canada's participation in military action in
Afghanistan, while 22 per cent "somewhat disapprove," making a total of 56 per cent.
By comparison, 41 per cent of respondents were in favour of military action, with 14 per
cent saying they "strongly approve" and 27 per cent "somewhat approve."
The latest figures stand in contrast to previous responses to the same survey question,
posed in March 2008, where 54 per cent of respondents said they disapproved and 44 per
cent said the opposite.
The March numbers had represented the highest level of disapproval since polling began in
2002, the same year Canada launched its military mission in Afghanistan.
Do you strongly approve or somewhat approve, somewhat disapprove, or strongly disapprove
of Canada’s participation in military action in Afghanistan?
Answer%
Strongly approve 14
Somewhat approve 27
Somewhat disapprove 22
Strongly disapprove 34
Don't know/No answer 3
"Overall, the level of disapproval of our involvement is at its highest point that we've
seen in our tracking, and support is at its lowest," Donna Dasko, senior vice-president of
Environics Research Group, told CBC News on Friday.
"So we can see the public is clearly, at this point, leaning against the mission."
A total of 2,505 people from across the country were surveyed by telephone for the latest
Environics poll. It is considered accurate to within plus or minus two percentage points,
19 times out of 20.
Also down is the number of Canadians who think the Canadian mission in Afghanistan is
likely to be successful.
Only 28 per cent of respondents said they think the Canadian mission in Afghanistan is
likely to be successful, compared with 34 per cent who responded affirmatively during a
November 2006 poll.
The current number of Canadians who said the mission wasn't likely to be successful was 65
per cent, compared with 58 per cent in the 2006 poll. In both instances, seven per cent of
people said they did not know.
These findings, Dasko said, are important because they could affect people's overall level
of support for Canada's military intervention in Afghanistan.