Nearly two-thirds of Canadians consulted in an opinion poll disapprove of the demonstration against health measures that has been taking place in Ottawa for more than ten days.
Among the respondents to the Leger firm’s survey, 44% sympathize all the same with the cause and the frustrations conveyed by the protesters.
Leger’s executive vice-president, Andrew Enns, says the poll results show the extent of divisions in Canada, to the point of believing protesters may have exposed more than the concerns of a small minority.
Thus, 65% of respondents believe that the convoys of truck drivers who traveled to Ottawa represent the interests of a selfish minority who do not think of the thousands of Canadians affected by the postponement of surgeries and treatment delays caused by the COVID-19.
On the other hand, 57% of those questioned maintain that the convoys were not organized in opposition to the vaccination obligation for truckers, but rather by far-right supremacist militants who saw an opportunity to out loud their frustrations against society in general.
Just over half of Canadians said they were frightened by the movement of the convoys, as it reminded them of the Capitol uprising on January 6, 2021, in Washington.
Nevertheless, 44% of those polled agree with the following statement: “I am vaccinated against COVID-19, but I sympathize with the concerns and frustrations put forward by the participants in the Ottawa demonstrations. »
On the other hand, 44% of people believe that the federal and provincial premiers “should share the blame for the Ottawa demonstrations because they have had a condescending attitude towards Canadians opposed to compulsory vaccination and confinement “.
Andrew Enns believes that the poll reveals frustration among a large proportion of the population about the pandemic and its handling by the authorities. He believes that trucking convoys have federated this frustration and crystallized it, and that leaders need to realize that the problem is possibly bigger than they think.
Regarding the nascent race for the leadership of the Conservative Party (CPC), 10% of survey participants said MP Pierre Poilievre should succeed Erin O’Toole. Ontario Premier Doug Ford received 7% support.
Most Canadians, however, said they did not know who the next leader should be.
The poll also showed that if Pierre Poilievre took over the leadership of the Conservatives, the popularity of the Liberal Party (PLC) would decline from 33% to 31%.
The Léger survey was conducted among 1,546 adults, from February 4 to 6; no margin of error can be attributed to it.