Poll Says Support for Afghan Mission and Talks with Taliban Is Dwindling

A majority of Canadians continue to oppose the decision to keep troops in Afghanistan until 2011, a new Angus Reid Strategies poll has found.

A new Angus Reid strategies poll shows that a majority of Canadians continue to oppose the decision to keep troops in Afghanistan until 2011 and the numbers revealing a significant drop since May. The proportion of Canadians who support active negotiations with the Taliban and who think the federal government has efficiently explained the purpose of the mission also declined. In the online survey of a representative national sample, 36 per cent of respondents back the decision to extend the mission in Afghanistan until 2011, down five points since May. Those who agree with the Canadian government negotiating with the Taliban also showed a six point drop (35% versus 41% in May), while the number of Canadians who think the Harper government has properly outlined the reasons behind the mission also dwindled (28% versus 32% in May). Regionally, Albertans (46%) are most supportive of the mission’s extension, while those living in Manitoba and Saskatchewan (31%) and Quebec (31%) are least likely to agree. As was the case in May, the gender and political breakdowns also reveal striking differences. While half of males (51%) and 63 per cent of Conservative supporters back the decision to prolong the assignment for a few more years (more than any other groups), only 23 per cent of females and 14 per cent of respondents backing the Bloc Québécois show support. Alberta also houses the largest proportion of respondents who think the Harper government has effectively explained the mission in Afghanistan (40%), while only 14 per cent of respondents in the Atlantic Provinces concur. Males (34%) are also much more likely than females (22%) to feel that the Afghanistan mission does not require more clarification. Other interesting snippets reveal that negotiations with the Taliban—and idea that was the focus of some preliminary discussions in May—are supported by 40 per cent of men, 42 per cent of British Columbians, and 40 per cent of Quebecers. Also, more than half of Canadians still perceive the mission in Afghanistan as one of war (53%), including 63 per cent of males. Three-in-four (73%) still think that Canada is shouldering too much of the burden NATO’s mission in Afghanistan. Three-in-five (59%) agree that the Afghan people are clearly benefiting from Canada’s efforts in their country, with males (66%) and respondents in the Atlantic Provinces (69%) diverging from the national average. Full report and methodology is here as a pdf file. What remains to be seen is how this will play out in the coming federal election which is still some months away.