One out of two Quebecers believes that the convoys were the result of unreasonable measures by the Legault government and the administration of other provinces.
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This is revealed by an Ipsos poll commissioned by Global News and made public on Friday. A sample of 1001 Canadians aged 18 and over, weighted to reflect the Canadian population, was interviewed.
Quebecers are those in the country who most adhere to this idea that the harsh provincial measures have generated this protest movement. Conversely, Albertans (25%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (29%) and residents of the Atlantic provinces (33%) agree much less with this idea.
In the aftermath of a siege that lasted more than 20 days in downtown Ottawa, more than half (54%) of Canadians believe that the protests have at least partially contributed to the relaxation of the various measures. However, the same percentage argue that what the protesters have done is wrong and have no sympathy for them.
Several media have drawn a parallel between the various convoys and the events on Capitol Hill on January 6, 2021. Minister Mélanie Joly had also very clearly expressed the wish not to want a “Canadian January 6”. “We are aware of what happened on January 6, 2021 in the United States. It’s not true that we’re going to see that here.”
Most Canadians agree with this comparison. More than 60% (29% strongly/32% somewhat) agree that truckers are mostly fringe anti-government activists using pandemic restrictions as an excuse to create mayhem and disorder in Canada, as the January 6 protesters in the United States. Conversely, four in ten (39%) disagree (20% strongly/19% somewhat) with this premise, rising to 56% among Conservative voters.