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Canadians split on Afghan mission, poll shows
CanWest News Service
Published:Â Friday, August 24, 2007OTTAWA - As Canadians expressed their solidarity with Canada's soldiers risking their lives in Afghanistan, a poll released Friday reveals that overall support for the five-year-old military mission remains stable, even in Quebec, which lost its first three soldiers over the past week.
The study, conducted for CanWest News Service and Global National by Ipsos Reid, found that 51 per cent of respondents across the country said they support the mission, while 45 per cent oppose it. The numbers remained virtually unchanged from a month ago and are, in fact, consistent with long-term historic trends.
In Quebec, support for the nation's overseas combat activities actually rose to 35 per cent this week from 30 per cent in July, while opposition dropped to 61 per cent from 65 per cent. The Ipsos Reid poll runs counter to a CROP survey, released earlier this week, which showed opposition to the mission had risen in the province by 11 percentage points, to 68 per cent.
Steve Martin of Toronto holds a flag supporting troops in Afghanistan at a rally at Toronto's CNE, Friday afternoon.
Peter J. Thompson/National Post
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Printer friendlyThe Ipsos-Reid poll was conducted following the death of the first soldier from Quebec's Royal 22nd Regiment - the Van Doo. Partway through the survey, which ran from Tuesday through Thursday of this past week, two more Quebec soldiers were killed in action in Afghanistan. Both were based at Quebec's Canadian Forces Base Valcartier. A high-profile French-language TV personality also was caught in an attack, which seriously injured his cameraman.
John Wright, senior vice-president of Ipsos Reid, said the slight increase in support for the mission in Quebec captured in his poll may be "a symptom of Quebecers rallying around their own troops in support of their efforts in Afghanistan." However, the change falls within the margin of error for the province.
The poll involved 1,000 interviews with adults. The results are considered accurate to within 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
Meanwhile, people across Canada were finding ways to express their solidarity with Canadian troops. The Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto was the site of a rally of about 4,000 people wearing red in support of the soldiers. Defence Minister Peter MacKay told the crowd Canadian soldiers are involved in a "noble cause" in Afghanistan. Gen. Rick Hillier, chief of the defence staff, said Canadian troops believe in their mission, adding that they draw strength from the public's support.
"From the soldiers' perspective, we do not believe a group of people who will whip women for (wearing) heels that will click on pavement should be allowed to resume control of their country and the lives of those people in it," said Hillier, referring to the Taliban. Because of the "incredible work" of Canadian soldiers, there are now 6,000 Afghan women in training as school teachers, the general said.
At a solemn ramp ceremony at Canada's main military airfield at Kandahar, Canadian troops bade farewell to their two latest fallen comrades.
Master Warrant Officer Mario Mercier, 43, and Master Cpl. Christian Duchesne, 34, were killed Wednesday after their armoured vehicle struck an improvised explosive device.
At a dawn ceremony, close friends of the two men carried the flag-draped caskets as about 1,000 troops from Canada and other NATO countries stood at attention. A bagpiper followed, playing Amazing Grace.
The caskets were loaded into a Hercules transport plane, which will carry them back to the Canadian military base in Trenton, Ont.
Duchesne, known as "Conan," was a medic with the 5th Field Ambulance. Mercier, a member of the Van Doo regiment, and affectionately known as "Papa Bear," was a veteran soldier who was planning to retire after his tour in Afghanistan.
"Mario was and will always be a man with lots of integrity," his widow, Lucie Ardouin, said in a short and emotional statement. "He believed in the mission as much as he believed in life. So, in adversity, we have to roll up our sleeves and keep on going."
Ardouin added: "He leaves behind his bear cubs, who give the best of themselves to help others live a better life. And that's what I want people to remember."
The soldiers' bodies are scheduled to return to Canada on Sunday afternoon, just a week after Pte. Simon Longtin became Quebec's first casualty since the Van Doo took command of the mission on Aug. 1. The men's families have asked that the arrival ceremony be closed to media, although MacKay and Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean are scheduled to attend.
After a soldier's body is repatriated to Trenton, it is transported by hearse along Highway 401 to the coroner's office in Toronto. In recent months, Canadians have taken to lining this 172-kilometre stretch of Canada's busiest highway, to show their support for the grieving families.
Responding to a groundswell of public pressure, Ontario's transportation minister announced Friday this portion of the thoroughfare will be renamed the Highway of Heroes to honour the fallen.
"When someone does give that sacrifice it's a way to pay that kind of deference and honour and respect, not only to those individuals but to their families," Transportation Minister Donna Cansfield said. "It's like a living legacy."
It was also learned Friday that NATO's top generals will meet in Canada in early September to work out new methods to ensure the alliance's missions, such as the one in Afghanistan, proceed smoothly in the future and have the equipment, training and personnel needed for the job.
The meetings in Ottawa and Victoria, to be hosted by Hillier, are not about day-to-day operations in Afghanistan, but instead are focused on long-range planning to ensure NATO's capacity for future deployments.
The annual meeting of the alliance's military committee, the senior military authority in NATO, provides the alliance's civilian decision-makers with advice on defence matters. The committee is currently chaired by Canadian Gen. Ray Henault, who proposed the main focus this year be on "delivering coherent capabilities on future operations," a NATO official said.
In Canada, despite the mounting death toll in Afghanistan, 6,547 people signed up last year to serve in the military - 121 more than recruiters were looking for, according to figures published by the defence department. Among major cities, Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Quebec City and Ottawa surpassed their targets, while Montreal fell short of its goal.
Recruitment officials credit more aggressive recruiting and advertising campaigns, a "flashier"_website, and a more streamlined recruiting process for the unexpected trend. The war in Afghanistan also appears to be a drawing card, officials said.
Canada has about 2,500 troops in Afghanistan. Since 2002, 70 Canadians have died there, including one diplomat. The mission is currently scheduled to end in February 2009, unless a majority in Parliament votes to extend it.
