A new Forum Research poll conducted exclusively for CityNews shows that most Torontonians oppose allowing women to wear the niqab during citizenship ceremonies (57 per cent) and close to half (46 per cent) find the niqab oppressive to women.

The random sampling of 454 Toronto voters showed that close to one fifth have negative feelings about Muslim people (18 per cent).

Political leanings seem to play a strong role in perception of Muslim people, the poll found, with dislike of Muslims twice as high among federal Conservative voters (36 per cent) and those who voted for Doug Ford in the last mayoral election (33 per cent).

“Toronto, a community of nationalities, is a good lens to look at the niqab issue through; it is clear the Liberals and Conservatives have staked out very identifiable positions which are aligned with the sentiments of their respective bases,” said Forum Research president Lorne Bozinoff.

“Throughout this poll, we find the Conservatives staked out against the niqab, while the Liberals express more tolerance. These partisan differences outweigh almost every other demographic factor including gender, age and ethnic background.”

A closer look at the poll’s findings:

Majority opposes niqab in citizenship ceremonies:

Just more than half of Toronto voters oppose allowing women to wear the niqab during citizenship ceremonies (57 per cent), while one quarter favour the idea (27 per cent). Virtually all federal Conservative voters oppose the niqab (85 per cent), as do those who dislike Muslims (86 per cent) and those who voted for Doug Ford in the last mayoral election (77 per cent).

Just one quarter finds niqab offensive:

Close to half finds niqab oppresses women

The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 per cent, 19 out of 20 times.