TORONTO September 6th, 2014 - In a random sampling of public opinion taken by the Forum Poll™ among 1267 Canadian voters, the majority (54%) approve of Prime Minister Harper's decision to send about 100 Canadian troops to Iraq to act as advisors in the conflict with ISIS. Four-in-ten disapprove (40%) and few don't have an opinion (7%). Approval of the troop deployment is common to Gen X (45 to 54 - 61%), the wealthiest ($80K to $100K - 63%, $100K to $250K - 61%), in Alberta (61%), among Conservative voters (77%), Protestants (60%) and Evangelical Christians (64%) and those who disapprove of Jean Chretien's decision not to send troops to Iraq in 2003 (82%).







Two thirds approve of Chretien's decision in 2003

Despite the finding above, two thirds of Canadian voters approve of Jean Chretien's decision not to send troops to Iraq in 2003 (69%), and approval is characteristic of the youngest (80%), the wealthy ($80K to $100K - 77%), in the Atlantic (76%) and Quebec (78%), among Liberal voters (81%), the best educated (post grad - 77%), Catholics (75%), non-Christians (78%), mothers of children (75%), Francophones (78%) and those who disapprove of Prime Minister Harper's decision to send troops now (88%).





Vast majority expect casualties

Eight-in-ten voters expect the Iraq deployment to result in casualties (82%) and this is especially the case with the wealthy ($80K to $100K - 91%), in the Atlantic (88%) and BC (87%) and among those who disapprove of Harper's decision (90%).





Just one third see strategic interest in Iraq

Just a third of voters think Canada has any national or strategic interests in Iraq (33%), and this perception is common to the youngest (39%), males (39%), the wealthiest ($100K to $250K - 42%), in BC (42%), the best educated (post grad - 42%), among those with children (43%), among those who disapprove of Chretien's original decision in 2003 (45%) and those who approve of Harper's now (41%). Among the minority who believe Canada has an interest in Iraq, one half say that interest is worth sustaining casualties for (51%), while 4-in-10 do not think so (42%).





Majority agree ISIS a threat to Canada

More than half of Canadian voters agree ISIS is a direct threat to Canada (56%), while 3-in-10 disagree (30%). One seventh have no opinion (15%). Believing ISIS is a threat is common to Gen X (64%), the wealthy ($80K to $100K - 67%), in Ontario (60%), among Conservatives (77%) but not Liberals (48%) or New Democrats (41%), those with some college (62%), Protestants (67%), Evangelicals (65%) and other Christians (69%) but not the non-religious (45%), among those who disapprove of Chretien's original decision (85%) and those who applaud Harper's (75%).





Two thirds agree troop deployment must be debated in Parliament

Two thirds of Canadian voters agree that Prime Minister's troop deployment to Iraq must be debated in Parliament (66%), and this is especially the case among Boomers (70%) and Seniors (71%), the less wealthy ($20K to $40K - 73%), in the Atlantic (73%), Quebec (70%) and BC (71%). New Democrats (81%) and Liberals (75%) see the need for debate, but Conservatives do not (47%). The best educated agree debate is necessary (post grad - 71%), as do those with no religion and non-Christians (71% each), Francophones (70%), those who approve of Chretien's 2003 decision (76%) and disapprove of Harper's 2014 decision (82%).





“It may sound counterintuitive; a solid two thirds agree we were right to stay out of Iraq in 2003, and the vast majority expect casualties if we go in now, yet the majority approve of this troop deployment. This bears testament to the impact ISIS has had on the Canadian psyche. Even though most think we have no strategic interests in Iraq, many want us to intervene," said Forum Research President, Dr. Lorne Bozinoff.

Lorne Bozinoff, Ph.D. is the president and founder of Forum Research. He can be reached at lbozinoff@forumresearch.com or at (416) 960-9603.