Half of respondents believe the federal government has not provided enough information about the war.

People in Canada are now more supportive of the country’s military commitment in Afghanistan, but are critical of the way their federal government has dispersed information related to the conflict, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.

The online survey of a representative national sample of 1,007 Canadian adults also reveals that a majority of respondents believe media outlets in Canada have provided the right amount of attention to Afghanistan.

The Mission

This month, 47 per cent of respondents (up five points since December) say they support the military operation involving Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan, while 49 per cent oppose it (down four points).

Since October, support for the military mission has increased by 10 points.

Western Canadians are particularly supportive of the mission (57% in British Columbia, Alberta, and Manitoba and Saskatchewan), while two-thirds of Quebecers (67%) oppose the operation.

Canadians remain divided on whether the country was right to send military forces to Afghanistan, with 37 per cent believing this was the correct decision, and 39 per cent stating that the operation was a mistake. Overall, 57 per cent of Canadians say they have a clear idea of what the war in Afghanistan is about.

When The War is Over

When asked about what they think will be the most likely outcome of the war in Afghanistan, nine per cent of Canadians expect a clear victory by U.S. and NATO forces over the Taliban, 27 per cent foresee a negotiated settlement from a position of U.S. and NATO strength that gives the Taliban a small role in the Afghan government.

In addition, 14 per cent of respondents believe the Taliban will play a significant role in Afghanistan after the war is over, and a further 10 per cent believe U.S. and NATO forces will ultimately be defeated by the Taliban.

Obama’s Plan

Canadians remain skeptical about the plan for Afghanistan outlined by U.S. President Barack Obama. Just over a third of respondents (36%) are very or moderately confident that the Obama Administration will be able “finish the job” in Afghanistan, while a majority (53%) are not too confident or not confident at all. These numbers show little fluctuation since December.

The Media and the Government

Canadians appear satisfied with the way the country’s media outlets have covered the ongoing conflict. A majority of respondents (56%) claim that the media has provided the right amount of attention to Afghanistan, while 20 per cent think it has been too little, and 13 per cent say it has been too much.

Only three-in-ten Canadians (29%) think the federal government has provided the right amount of information about the war in Afghanistan, while more than half (53%) think it has been too little.

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Jodi Shanoff, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs
+416 712 5498
jodi.shanoff@angus-reid.com