Prairie provinces split on Ottawa's use of Emergencies Act: Nanos Research poll
A Canada-wide Nanos Research poll found nearly 52 per cent of respondents in the Prairies supported Ottawa’s move to invoke the Emergencies Act following the Freedom Convoy to Parliament Hill.
Forty-four per cent said they were opposed or somewhat opposed.
The poll, commissioned by CTV News, surveyed 1,025 Canadians between Nov. 27 and 29, following a public inquiry on the Emergencies Act’s use.
Trevor Harrison, a sociology professor and political expert at the University of Lethbridge, says those results are a clear indication of the distaste Western Canada has for the prime minister.
“What you see in the Alberta results, particularly the Prairie results, is really a partisan thing – that is, we just don’t like Liberals,” he said.
“It would be interesting, had there been a Conservative government in office in Ottawa, would the reaction be the same?”
Two-thirds of Canadians overall supported the use of the act, with 48 per cent completely supporting and 18 per cent somewhat supporting its use.
Support was highest in Atlantic Canada, where 74.6 per cent indicated they support or somewhat support the decision. This was followed by Quebec, where 73.4 per cent said they at least somewhat support the use of the act.
About 30 per cent of Canadians were opposed to its use in some form.
Nanos also asked survey respondents whether they believed Canada would be prepared for another protest similar to the "Freedom Convoy." Of the respondents, 45 per cent said Canada is not prepared or somewhat not prepared, while 50 per cent said Canada would be at least somewhat prepared.
An organizer for the "Freedom Convoy" says there are plans for a "Freedom Convoy 2.0" protest in Ottawa in February 2023.
Solicitor General and Justice Minister Tyler Shandro says Alberta did not need the act to clear protesters from the Coutts border blockade, which cost the economy $44 million per day.
A cache of weapons was seized by the RCMP and several protesters were charged for conspiracy to murder Mounties.
Shandro says law enforcement can always learn from past events, to better prepare for future ones.
“We want an opportunity for law enforcement to be able to protect the rights of Canadians,” he said.
“We want them to do it in a safe way and a way for them to come home safely to their families at the end of the day.”
Poll results have a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points 19 times out of 20.
The results were statistically checked and weighted by age and gender using the latest Census information and the sample is geographically stratified to be representative of Canada.
Individuals were called using random-digit dialling with a maximum of five callbacks.
To see the poll, you can visit Nanos' website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING New York appeals court overturns Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction from landmark #MeToo trial
New York’s highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction, finding the judge at the landmark #MeToo trial prejudiced the ex-movie mogul with improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case.
BREAKING Monthly earnings rise, payroll employment falls: jobs report
The number of vacant jobs in Canada increased in February, while monthly payroll employment decreased in food services, manufacturing, and retail trade, among other sectors.
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
Metro Vancouver mayors call for serial killer Robert Pickton to be denied parole
A dozen mayors from around Metro Vancouver say federal Attorney General and Justice Minister Arif Virani should deny parole for notorious B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton, and reassess the parole and sentencing system for 'prolific offenders and mass murderers.'
What do weight loss drugs mean for a diet industry built on eating less and exercising more?
Recent injected drugs like Wegovy and its predecessor, the diabetes medication Ozempic, are reshaping the health and fitness industries.
2 military horses that broke free and ran loose across London are in serious condition
Two military horses that bolted and ran miles through the streets of London after being spooked by construction noise and tossing their riders were in a serious condition and required operations, a British government official said Thursday.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.