Majority of Canadians concerned about internal extremists, poll finds

Threat greater than terrorists from outside

A strong majority of Canadians believe the threat of extremists and terrorists within Canada is more worrisome than external threats, according to recent polling.

The poll, done by the Conference of Defence Associations and Maru Public Opinion asked Canadians for their views on a variety of national security issues. It comes just days before the 89th Annual Ottawa Conference on Security and Defence, March 10-12, which will feature a variety of speakers discussing security issues.

Seventy per cent of Canadians said they thought internal threats from extremists were greater than external, the polling found.

“It gives you a sense of how much we've come along the past 20 years,” said Youri Cormier, the executive director of the Conference of Defence Associations Institute, an Ottawa-based defence and security think-tank. “There's a greater sense that there are more than one type of extremism.”

The perceptions of security risk vary somewhat based on geography and demographics. In Manitoba and Saskatchewan, 77 per cent of people polled said there is a higher risk from internal threats, followed by Quebecers, at 73 per cent, Atlantic Canada at 70 per cent, Ontario

at 69 per cent, and British Columbia and Alberta, both at 68 per cent.

Women, at 71 per cent, are slightly more likely to believe internal threats are a greater risk than men, at 69 per cent.

Younger Canadians, aged 18 to 34 are less likely — 67 per cent — to believe this, while older Canadians, ages 55 plus, are the most concerned about internal threats, at 75 per cent.

Those who have a college or technical school education are strong believers in internal threats with 75 per cent saying there is a greater risk than external threats. There was little variance between the least educated, at 69 per cent, and the most educated, with university degrees, at 67 per cent.

Generally speaking, Cormier said, there is a lot of cohesiveness across the country and among genders.

“The one place where we're seeing slightly more differences is in age,” said Cormier. “Older Canadians have a different view of risks and what constitutes risks than younger Canadians.”

The polling also found that 74 per cent of Canadians believe a new U.S. president makes the world a safer place. That view is most popular in Quebec, where 81 per cent of respondents agree, followed by B.C. and the Maritimes, at 79 per cent, then Ontario at 72 per cent, and Manitoba and Saskatchewan at 71 per cent. Alberta is least likely to believe that: Just 59 per cent of Albertans say the world is safer with a new U.S. president.

Women, at 78 per cent, are more likely than men, at 70 per cent, to agree the world is safer under a Joe Biden administration than a Donald Trump administration. There was no correlation between this view and income, but those with a university education are more likely — 77 per cent — than those with high school or less — 72 per cent — to believe it.

When the Trudeau Liberals came to power, they said

Canada was back. But the polling shows half of Canadians don't agree. Fiftyone per cent of Canadians say Canada doesn't have the same influence internationally it has had in previous decades. Albertans (60 per cent) are most likely to think this, followed by Manitoba and Saskatchewan (55 per cent), then British Columbia (54 per cent), Ontario (52 per cent), Quebec (47 per cent) and Atlantic Canada (40 per cent.)

Men, at 58 per cent, are more likely than women, at 45 per cent, to believe Canada has less influence now than in decades past. Those who have the most education, at 53 per cent, and the highest income, at 59 per cent, are more likely to hold this view than those with lower incomes and less education.

But 61 per cent of Canadians under the age of 34 believe Canada does have more influence today. This number declines with age — just 42 per cent of those over the age of 55 believe Canada has more influence today.

“Older generations of Canadians seem to think we've lost influence in the world,” Cormier said.

Still, the polling shows that 72 per cent of Canadians believe Canada is “pulling its weight” to improve human rights around the world.

That view is most popular in Atlantic Canada (81 per cent) and Quebec (79 per cent), then Manitoba and Saskatchewan, (74 per cent), followed by B.C. (69 per cent), and Ontario and Alberta (68 per cent).

Women, at 76 per cent, are more likely than men, at 69 per cent, to have this view, and those with college or technical school are more likely, at 76 per cent, to believe Canada is pulling its weight than their high school or less-educated counterparts, at 72 per cent, and university educated, at 69 per cent.

The polling was done on Feb. 12 and 13 by Maru Public Opinion, polling 1,506 randomly selected Canadian adults who are Maru Voice Canada online panellists. The margin of error is +/- 2.5 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

IT GIVES YOU A SENSE OF HOW MUCH WE'VE COME ALONG

THE PAST 20 YEARS.