Can't say I agree with the slight majority here....
http://news.sympatico.msn.ctv.ca/Top...howbyline=True
Prime Minister Stephen Harper's public support for Israel dring the current crisis in Lebanon is making some Canadians uncomfortable. They prefer a more neutral stance, a poll finds.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has been a staunch supporter of Israel throughout the current Mideast crisis. (file)
In the poll conducted by The Strategic Counsel for CTV and The Globe and Mail, 45 per cent said they disagreed with Harper's open support for Israel. Thirty-two per cent agreed with the prime minister, while six per cent didn't know or wouldn't answer the question.
When asked who Canada should support, a majority, 77 per cent, said Canada should be neutral. Only 16 per cent said Canada should support Israel and one per cent said Hezbollah. Six per cent didn't know or declined to answer.
Interestingly, when asked if they thought the government is neutral or supporting one side, the majority of respondents, 49 per cent, said they didn't know or wouldn't answer. Thirty-nine per cent said the government is supporting one side while 12 per cent said the government is neutral.
While Canadians may not have been sure if Ottawa's position on the Israeli-Lebanon conflict was neutral, 51 per cent thought Harper's stance represented a departure from the policies of previous governments, versus 22 per cent who thought it was consistent. Twenty-seven per cent wouldn't say or didn't know.
When asked why they thought Harper had taken this stance, a majority, 51 per cent, said because it is in line with the position of U.S. President George Bush and his administration. Nineteen per cent thought the prime minister did so out of principle and 10 per cent said because of domestic political considerations. Four per cent cited other reasons, while 14 per cent didn't know or wouldn't say.
The Strategic Counsel conducted its poll between Thursday and Sunday. The Israeli attack on the Lebanese village of Qana, which killed at least 56 civilians and drew widespread condemnation, happened Sunday.
Peacekeeping, dual passports
The CTV-Globe and Mail poll also found that 53 per cent of Canadians support the creation of an international peacekeeping force to ensure a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel. Thirty-four per cent are opposed, and 13 per cent don't know or won't say.
On whether Canada should participate in such a force, 57 supported the idea while 39 per cent opposed it. Four per cent didn't know or wouldn't say.
In a poll conducted about two weeks ago, 56 per cent said they opposed the Canadian mission in Afghanistan, where Canadian troops have been heavily involved in combat operations.
On the issue of dual passports and what sort of assistance Canada owes to Canadian citizens who are permanent residents of Lebanon Canadians are divided.
Forty per cent support the right of people to hold the passport of another country in addition to Canada and 40 per cent were opposed.
And while 51 per cent of respondents thought that permanent residents of Lebanon who were Canadian citizens should no longer be able to receive protection and assistance from the Canadian government, 40 per cent thought they should, Nine per cent didn't know or wouldn't say.
Party standings
While the Conservatives might be on the wrong side of public opinion on the Middle East issue, it isn't hurting their popularity so far.
When asked which party's local candidate they would support if an election were held tomorrow the Conservatives are still in front of the Liberals (percentage-point change from the July 13-15 poll in brackets):
The Strategic Counsel polled 1,000 people between July 27 and 30. A poll that size has a margin of error of 3.1 per cent, plus or minus 19 times out of 20.