This just came in this morning
Nik on the Numbers...Political Impact of Foreign Policy
SES was retained by the National Council on Canada- Arab Relations (NCCAR) to survey Canadians on the political impact of foreign policy on their vote.
Consistent with our past polling, almost two of every three Canadians (63%) would prefer that Canadian foreign policy be consistent with the United Nations rather than having Canada pursue its own interests (27%) - (10% were unsure).
Asked if our foreign policy in the Middle East favoured any particular group if any, 39% of Canadians said the Harper Government foreign policy favoured neither the Israelis or the Arabs. Another 33% of Canadians said our foreign policy favoured the Israelis while only 2% said our foreign policy favoured the Arabs (26% were unsure).
Significantly, Canadians are more likely to think that the Harper Government favours the Israelis by a margin of 17 to 1.
Surprisingly 54% of Canadians said they would consider changing their current vote preference if they disagreed with Conservative foreign policy.
As we look forward, it quite well may be that foreign policy may play a significant role in the dynamic of the next federal election.
Methodology
Polling between August 18th and August 23rd, 2006 (Random Telephone Survey of Canadians, 18 years of age and older). The survey is accurate to within 3.1 percentage points, plus or minus, 19 times out of 20. Percentages may not add up to 100 due to rounding.
Canadians (N=1003, MoE ± 3.1%, 19 times out of 20)
Question: Thinking about Canada's foreign policy what is more important to you: [Rotate] that our foreign policy be consistent with the United Nations or that Canada pursue its own interests outside of the United Nations?
Be consistent with the UN 63%
Pursue own interests 27%
Unsure 10%
Question: Would you say that the Conservative government’s policy in the Middle East favours [Rotate] the Israelis, the Arabs, neither the Arabs or the Israelis?
Favours Israelis 33%
Favours Arabs 2%
Favours neither Arabs nor Israelis 39%
Unsure 26%
Question: Thinking about the next federal election and Canada’s Foreign policy in the Middle East, would you consider changing your preference if you disagreed with the Conservative government?
Would consider changing 54%
Would not consider changing 33%
Unsure 13%
The detailed tables with the regional sub-tabs and methodology are posted on our website at: http://www.sesresearch.com
Also this poll taken 27 August regarding the comfort level of Canadians with a Tory Majority ( in PDF format)
http://www.sesresearch.com/library/polls/POLNAT-SU06-T185.pdf
