If left up to average Canadians, controversial M-103 would have been toast.

And an Angus Reid Institute poll also found that most believe politicians and the media are overblowing the problem of Islamophobia.

M-103, a motion that condemns “Islamophobia and all forms of systemic racism and religious discrimination,” was passed by the House of Commons Thursday.

The poll, released Thursday, shows 42% would have voted against it given the opportunity with three in 10 Canadians seeing as a threat to freedom of speech.

Another 29% weren’t sure or would have abstained, leaving only 29% in support of M-103.

The pollster concluded M-103 would have failed had it been voted on by regular Canadians, and not MPs.

While 45% of those polled believe anti-Muslim attitudes and discrimination are “a serious problem,” 55% think the media and politicians have “overblown” the issue.

Men, seniors, Conservative supporters and those described as having “some college or tech school” were the most likely to oppose the motion.

M-103 was first proposed by Liberal MP Iqra Khalid, who has said that it would not give any one faith preferential treatment or stifle criticism.

Since then, six people were fatally shot in a Quebec mosque, allegedly by a university student who is believed to have expressed anti-Muslim sentiments.

According to the poll, about one in three Canadians believe M-103 should be passed for symbolic reasons, even if it doesn’t have any real impact, while 12% support it, convinced it will help reduce anti-Muslim attitudes and discrimination.

Angus Reid also polled Canadians on whether they know a lot of people who are “mistrustful of Canadian Muslims.”

Based on their answers, residents of Quebec were the most likely to know people who were mistrustful of Muslims — 58% — followed by folks from Alberta (43%), Saskatchewan (42%) and Manitoba (40%).

Forty per cent of Ontarians said they knew a lot of people who mistrusted Canadian Muslims.

Angus Reid surveyed 1,511 Canadian adults online between March 13-17, and the results carry a margin of error of 2.5%, 19 times out of 20.

aartuso@postmedia.com