Survey: Support By Canadians For Military Mission In Afghanistan Down To 45 Percent

October 27, 2009 4:01 a.m. EST

Ottawa, Ontario (AHN) - Support for Canada's military mission in Afghanistan is waning. According to a survey made by the Innovative Research Group from Oct. 20 to 23, the percentage of Canadians who support the mission has gone down to 45 percent from 59 percent in June 2006.

Aside from the withdrawal of support for the military mission, more Canadians are less willing to send troops to conflict zones as more casualties are reported. Only 47 percent said Canada must be prepared to intervene militarily even if the troops may lose their lives or be hurt. In 2006, the percentage of Canadians who had that view was 55 percent.

The most vocal against the Canadian mission to Afghanistan are Quebec residents, with 68 percent opposing the military contingent. In Alberta and other Atlantic provinces, about 51 percent of the residents were against the continued Canadian presence in Kabul, while in Ontario, the Prairies and British Columbia opposition ranged from 42 to 44 percent.

Political observers were not surprised by the high rate of opposition in Quebec since the residents of the French-speaking countries often have a contrary view to the average Canadian. Quebecois have been showing their different outlook since the Korean and the two World Wars.

Many Canadians were also not in favor of staying in Afghanistan beyond 2011. About 63 percent of Quebec residents and 55 percent of Alberta residents have that opinion, while the national average against the extension of the Canadian mission to Afghanistan was 49 percent.