A woman gives mouth to mouth to Cpl. Nathan Cirillo at the War Memorial. Photo: Wayne Cuddington/Postmedia News Almost two-thirds of Canadians believe homegrown terrorism is a serious issue, but most do not perceive a threat from radicalized individuals in their communities, according to a new survey.
The national poll, conducted in the wake of deadly attacks on Canadian soldiers, found that just over half of respondents supported new anti-terror legislation that would boost the powers of Canada’s spies. Another 22 per cent said the government should go even further, suggesting they have not been swayed by civil liberties concerns.
At the same time, those surveyed recognized that there are many factors behind radicalization — religion, mental illness and marginalization — and seemed open to a range of preventative measures, not just punitive ones.
“People are sensitive to the fact this is a complex issue that requires a comprehensive approach,” said Christian Leuprecht, a security expert at the Royal Military College of Canada and Queen’s University.
People are sensitive to the fact this is a complex issue that requires a comprehensive approach.
The online survey of 1,609 residents was done by The Vancouver Province in conjunction with the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, The Laurier Institution and the Angus Reid Institute. A probability sample of this size carries a margin of error of plus or minus 2.4 percent 19 times out of 20, according to the institute.
The survey took place Nov. 10 to Nov. 12, not long after the country witnessed deadly back-to-back assaults on uniformed Canadian soldiers in Ontario and Quebec.
“That particular attack (on a soldier at the National War Memorial in Ottawa), even though it was carried out by one person … it did certainly, for many Canadians, shake our sense of security,” said Shachi Kurl, senior vice-president at the Angus Reid Institute. “This is the first time in a long time where we’ve had a sense of danger on our soil.”
Michael Zehaf-Bibeau seen on security footage running towards Parliament Hill with a gun. (RCMP image)
When asked whether the homegrown terrorism threat was serious or overblown, 62 per cent of respondents said it was serious. This perception was particularly acute among those 55 and older.
Residents of Saskatchewan and Quebec were more likely to perceive the threat as serious compared to residents in B.C. and the Atlantic provinces.
Respondents were less certain when asked whether they believed radicalized Canadians driven by violent ideology were living in their communities right now. Thirty-five per cent answered “yes,” 28 per cent said “no” and 37 per cent said “not sure.” Alberta and Ontario residents were most likely to say “yes.”
Similarly, about one-third of Canadians said it was “likely” that people were becoming radicalized in their communities, though this number surged to 47 per cent in Quebec, conceivably part of the fallout from Quebec’s recent debate over a “Charter of Values” and a reflection on Quebec’s distinct ethno-demographic composition and immigration trends, Leuprecht said.
The funeral procession for Cpl. Nathan Cirillo in Hamilton, Ontario. (Photo by Aaron Vincent Elkaim/Getty Images)
Overall, there does not appear to be a lot of knee-jerk reaction to the recent violence, Leuprecht said. “We don’t see people falling over themselves here, seeing there’s a terrorist lurking around every corner.”
If anything, Canadians seem to recognize that when violent events occur, they tend to be isolated, he said.
On public policy, 51 per cent said they support Bill C-44, proposed legislation that would give the Canadian Security Intelligence Service more powers to watch Canadians. An additional 22 per cent said the bill doesn’t go far enough.
Twenty-seven per cent, however, said the bill tramples on civil liberties. Those living in B.C. and people 18 to 34 were the most likely to subscribe to this view.
Another measure that showed solid support was the revocation or suspension of passports of homegrown terrorists wanting to travel overseas. Sixty per cent said they support this tactic, while 40 per cent said they were willing to “let them leave if they want.” Support for revoking passports was strongest in Quebec and weakest in B.C.
Canadians polled favour giving law enforcement greater powers to monitor suspects. (Pat McGrath / Ottawa Citizen)
“The poll bodes well for what the government has been floating,” Leuprecht said. “There is significant support for the government to have the backdrop of punitive action if the social policy and preventative mechanisms don’t work.”
However, Jez Littlewood, a professor of international affairs at Carleton University, said he was troubled that so many Canadians were willing to let radicalized individuals leave the country. He pointed to another poll question that showed 82 per cent supported deportation as a way to deal with them.
This suggests Canadians are willing to let violent extremists be “someone else’s problem,” he said. “Potentially, it speaks to the notion that terrorists are perceived to be part of this other, they’re not Canadian.”
Littlewood also said he was struck by how many Canadians (83 per cent) were OK with blocking access to Internet sites that promote extremist groups. This suggests that people are willing to overlook free speech concerns, taking the view that if you get involved in terrorism, “you don’t have similar rights than the rest of us.”
While the poll indicated support for punitive measures, it also showed support for preventative measures. In fact, 54 per cent said prevention should be the government’s priority, while 37 per cent said it should be punishment.
To that end, respondents identified mental illness and marginalization as key causes of radicalization after religion and culture. Women were more likely than men to cite mental illness.
The question of whether Michael Zehaf-Bibeau’s attack on Cpl. Nathan Cirillo in Ottawa last month was caused by mental illness or ideology has been the subject of intense debate.
Among those polled, 38 per cent said they would call the shooting an act by a person with mental illness, while 36 per cent would call it a terrorist attack. Twenty-five per cent weren’t sure.
Eighty-seven per cent said they support more training for mental health workers to identify signs of radicalization.
“What you see is that Canadians are aware of and alive to the issues, they’re paying attention. But they are also split in many cases around how seriously they view the threat of homegrown terrorism, what causes this kind of violence, and how to prevent future attacks,” Kurl said.
Dquan@Postmedia.com
Follow @dougquan
www.angusreid.org
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