Mainstreet surveyed a random sample of 2,506 Canadians by Smart IVR on

September 4th-6th, 2015. A mixture of landlines and cell phones were surveyed.
Margin of error: +/- 1.96%, 19 times out of 20. Results were weighed by
language, geography, age and gender based on the 2011 Canadian Census.

A2
"Exclusive Mainstreet/Postmedia polls are protected by copyright.
The information and/or data may only be rebroadcast or republished
with full and proper credit and attribution to Mainstreet/Postmedia.

CANADIANS CLOSELY FOLLOWING REFUGEE CRISIS; PRIORITIZE REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT

September 8, 2015 (Toronto, ON) A new Mainstreet/Postmedia poll finds Canadians closely watching the unfolding
Syrian refugee crisis - many (48%) support a dramatic increase in refugee resettlement within Canada. With 2,506
respondents the Mainstreet Research poll conducted for Postmedia has a margin of error of +/- 1.96%, 19/20.
Canadians are divided on who is responsible for the current crisis with 32% saying ISIS is primarily responsible
compared to 31% who hold the current Syrian government led by Bashar Al-Assad responsible, said Quito Maggi,
president of Mainstreet. In recent days we have heard Conservative leader Stephen Harper make the case that it is
ISIS that is responsible while the opposition leaders have argued the crisis was brought on by Syrias civil war. Each
of their messages has had some limited success, with almost one in three Canadians not sure.
When it comes to the Canadian Government response to the crisis, almost 1 in 2 Canadians disapprove of the
governments response (48%). The highest approval comes from Alberta with 48% followed by the Prairies with 42%.
Disapproval is highest in Quebec with 53% followed by Atlantic Canada and Ontario at 49%. This suggests approval
is correlated with federal voting intention.
Almost half of Canadians want Canada to accept over 30,000 refugees from Syria, significantly more than Canadas
current commitments. Another 13% indicate Canada should accept between 20,000 and 30,000 and 11% said
between 10,000 and 20,000 while just 13% indicated less than 10,000 Syrian refugees should be taken in.
When asked what role Canada should play in the continuing crisis, more Canadians want to see efforts focused on
refugee resettlement (31%) than military deployment (18%).
Canadians clearly want to see more action taken on refugee resettlement, continued Maggi. They believe it is the
best way Canada can help and almost half of Canadians support resettling over 30,000 refugees. These are significant
numbers.
More Canadians believe that Tom Mulcair would be most effective in addressing the refugee crisis, with 26%, followed
closely by Justin Trudeau at 24% and Stephen Harper with 21%.
48% believe Canada is not doing its fair share and 39% feel the same about Europe. This may change as media
coverage of the European response becomes more positive following policy changes in Hungary that have allowed
migrants to reach Austria and Germany.
In the case of the Kurdi family that made international headlines after two children drowned while attempting to
escape from Syria, 44% do not believe the Government acted appropriately.
What the effects of the crisis and the case of the Kurdi family will be on the outcome of this election is yet to be seen.
What appeared to be a turning point in this campaign last week has been changed as further details emerge. It
appears that the Government has managed to avoid the eroding of its support, although perhaps further polarized
the opposition and provided further motivation for people to vote before October 19, finished Maggi.
ABOUT MAINSTREET
Mainstreet is a national public research firm. With 20 years of political experience at all three levels of government,
President and CEO Quito Maggi is a respected commentator on Canadian public affairs.
Differentiated by its large sample sizes, Mainstreet has provided accurate snapshots of public opinion, having
predicted a majority NDP government in Alberta (2015), a majority Liberal government in British Columbia, and a
majority Liberal government in Ontario. Most recently, Mainstreet was the most accurate pollster of Novembers
Toronto mayoral election.
-30Available for interview from Toronto: Quito Maggi, President, quito@mainstreetresearch.ca
Available for Phone Interview: David Valentin, (613) 698-5524 - david@mainstreetresearch.ca

A3

How closely have you been following stories involving Syrias refugee crisis?
3%
13%

33%

15%

37%
Very Closely

Somewhat Closely

Not Too Closely

Not At All Closely

VERY CLOSELY
SOMEWHAT CLOSELY
NOT TOO CLOSELY
NOT AT ALL CLOSELY
NOT AWARE
SAMPLE

18-34
30%
26%
13%
28%
3%
303

VERY CLOSELY
SOMEWHAT CLOSELY
NOT TOO CLOSELY
NOT AT ALL CLOSELY
NOT AWARE
SAMPLE

BC
AB Prairies
27% 41%
35%
35% 37%
34%
22% 12%
19%
13% 7%
10%
2%
3%
3%
275 346
303

35-49
31%
40%
16%
9%
4%
404

50-64
32%
44%
18%
5%
1%
886

Not Aware

65+ Male Female

40% 38%
28%
38% 33% 40%
12% 14%
15%
7%
13%
13%
3%
2%
4%
913 1182 1324

ON
38%
36%
8%
14%
5%
667

QC
25%
39%
21%
14%
1%
621

Atlantic
29%
38%
18%
12%
3%
294

A4

From everything you have seen, heard or read, who would you say is most
responsible for the present refugee crisis in Syria? The Islamic State, also known as
ISIS, the Syrian Government Led by Bashar Al-Assad or Someone Else?

29%

32%

8%

31%
Islamic State

Syrian Government

Someone Else

Not Sure

ISLAMIC STATE
SYRIAN GOVERNMENT
SOMEONE ELSE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

18-34
24%
31%
7%
38%
303

ISLAMIC STATE
SYRIAN GOVERNMENT
SOMEONE ELSE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

BC
AB Prairies
33% 41%
32%
29% 33%
30%
6%
6%
7%
31% 21%
32%
275 346
303

35-49
30%
34%
9%
28%
404

50-64
40%
27%
9%
24%
886

65+ Male Female

34% 34% 30%
30% 33%
28%
8%
12%
5%
28% 21%
37%
913 1182 1324

ON
31%
29%
10%
30%
667

QC
29%
32%
8%
30%
621

Atlantic
30%
31%
9%
30%
294

A5

Do you approve or disapprove of the Canadian Governments response to the

refugee crisis in Syria?

17%

35%

48%

TOTAL APPROVAL: 35%

NOT SURE: 17%

TOTAL DISAPPROVAL: 48%

STRONGLY APPROVE
SOMEWHAT APPROVE
SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE
STRONGLY DISAPPROVE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

18-34
24%
5%
19%
26%
25%
303

STRONGLY APPROVE
SOMEWHAT APPROVE
SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE
STRONGLY DISAPPROVE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

BC
25%
13%
23%
23%
17%
275

35-49
16%
15%
15%
32%
21%
404

50-64
22%
15%
22%
29%
12%
886

AB Prairies
32%
29%
16%
13%
12%
15%
23%
27%
17%
16%
346
303

65+
21%
23%
25%
21%
9%
913

ON
18%
15%
21%
28%
18%
667

Male Female
25%
17%
15%
13%
16%
25%
29%
27%
16%
19%
1182 1324
QC
16%
12%
22%
31%
18%
621

Atlantic
21%
15%
20%
29%
16%
294

A6

Canada has resettled refugees in the past including 37,00 Hungarian refugees in
1956, 7,000 refugees from Uganda in 1972, 65,00 refugees from Vietnam in 1975
and 6,000 refugees from Kosovo in 1999. In your opinion, how many total
refugees do you think Canada should resettle from Syria?
13%

15%

11%

13%

48%
10,000 Or Less

10,000-20,000

20,000-30,000

10,000 OR LESS
BETWEEN 10,000 & 20,000
BETWEEN 20,000 & 30,000
OVER 30,000
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

18-34
14%
7%
15%
51%
13%
303

10,000 OR LESS
BETWEEN 10,000 & 20,000
BETWEEN 20,000 & 30,000
OVER 30,000
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

BC
17%
11%
11%
50%
11%
275

30,000 Or More

35-49
11%
10%
11%
51%
17%
404

Not Sure

50-64
12%
13%
13%
47%
16%
886

AB Prairies
15%
18%
4%
10%
11%
13%
57%
45%
13%
14%
346
303

65+ Male Female

15% 13%
12%
14% 12%
10%
14% 12%
15%
43% 52%
44%
14% 11%
19%
913 1182 1324

ON
7%
10%
11%
56%
15%
667

QC
18%
15%
20%
29%
18%
621

Atlantic
10%
11%
10%
55%
14%
294

A7

And in your opinion how can Canada best contribute to the Syrian Refugee
Crisis? Is it, Military Force, Humanitarian Aid, the Resettlement of Refugees in
Canada or something else?

15%

18%

9%

27%

31%

Deploy Military

Humanitarian Aid

Refugees in Canada

MILITARY FORCE
HUMANITARIAN AID
REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT
SOMETHING ELSE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

18-34
17%
33%
32%
8%
10%
303

MILITARY FORCE
HUMANITARIAN AID
REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT
SOMETHING ELSE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

BC
17%
34%
29%
9%
11%
275

35-49
18%
28%
26%
10%
18%
404

Something Else

50-64
20%
25%
30%
11%
14%
886

AB Prairies
26%
21%
24%
27%
23%
27%
9%
11%
18%
14%
346
303

65+
15%
22%
38%
8%
17%
913

ON
16%
28%
32%
10%
15%
667

Not Sure

Male Female
24%
12%
28%
26%
27%
35%
9%
10%
11%
18%
1182 1324
QC
16%
25%
36%
8%
15%
621

Atlantic
18%
27%
31%
10%
14%
294

A8

And which Federal Leader do you think would be most effective in addressing
the Syrian Refugee Crisis?

21%

24%

2%
3%

26%

24%
Harper

Mulcair

Trudeau

May

STEPHEN HARPER
TOM MULCAIR
JUSTIN TRUDEAU
ELIZABETH MAY
GILLES DUCEPPE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

18-34
15%
27%
21%
3%
1%
34%
303

STEPHEN HARPER
TOM MULCAIR
JUSTIN TRUDEAU
ELIZABETH MAY
GILLES DUCEPPE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

BC
18%
30%
15%
10%
0%
26%
275

Duceppe

35-49
23%
25%
18%
4%
2%
26%
404

Not Sure

50-64
21%
25%
29%
3%
3%
20%
886

AB Prairies
47%
35%
14%
18%
14%
20%
2%
2%
0%
0%
22%
25%
346
303

65+
27%
27%
29%
2%
2%
14%
913

ON
21%
22%
29%
2%
0%
25%
667

Male Female
25%
17%
26%
27%
25%
24%
4%
2%
2%
2%
19%
29%
1182 1324
QC
11%
35%
22%
1%
9%
22%
621

Atlantic
7%
22%
43%
2%
0%
26%
294

A9

From everything you have seen, heard or read, is Europe doing its fair share to
address the Syrian Refugee Crisis, or not?

22%

39%

39%

Doing Its Fair Share

Not Doing Its Fair Share

DOING ITS FAIR SHARE

NOT DOING ITS FAIR SHARE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

18-34
15%
45%
39%
303

DOING ITS FAIR SHARE

NOT DOING ITS FAIR SHARE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

BC
23%
38%
39%
275

35-49
21%
40%
38%
404

Not Sure

50-64
27%
38%
35%
886

AB Prairies
33%
27%
33%
35%
34%
38%
346
303

65+ Male Female

27% 26%
18%
28% 39%
38%
45% 35%
43%
913 1182 1324

ON
20%
38%
42%
667

QC
19%
42%
39%
621

Atlantic
24%
39%
37%
294

A10

From everything you have seen, heard or read, is Canada doing its fair share to
address the Syrian Refugee Crisis, or not?

25%

27%

48%

Doing Its Fair Share

Not Doing Its Fair Share

DOING ITS FAIR SHARE

NOT DOING ITS FAIR SHARE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

18-34
25%
46%
29%
303

DOING ITS FAIR SHARE

NOT DOING ITS FAIR SHARE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

BC
25%
49%
25%
275

35-49
20%
53%
28%
404

Not Sure

50-64
31%
46%
23%
886

AB Prairies
39%
30%
36%
44%
24%
26%
346
303

65+ Male Female

25% 31%
20%
48% 45%
51%
27% 24%
29%
913 1182 1324

ON
25%
46%
29%
667

QC
17%
57%
26%
621

Atlantic
23%
50%
27%
294

A11

In the last week, the news media have reported extensively on a refugee family
whose two young boys drowned as their family fled from Turkey to Greece. The
family had hoped to come to Canada. Do you think the Canadian government
acted appropriately in their case, or not?

27%

30%

44%
Acted Appropriately

Did Not Act Appropriately

ACTED APPROPRIATELY
DID NOT ACT APPROPRIATELY
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

18-34
39%
39%
22%
303

ACTED APPROPRIATELY
DID NOT ACT APPROPRIATELY
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

BC
30%
41%
29%
275

35-49
22%
46%
32%
404

Not Sure

50-64
32%
42%
26%
886

AB Prairies
49%
41%
33%
33%
18%
26%
346
303

65+ Male Female

23% 35%
24%
50% 44% 44%
27% 21%
32%
913 1182 1324

ON
29%
43%
27%
667

QC
18%
54%
28%
621

Atlantic
25%
47%
28%
294

A12

SCRIPT
How closely have you been following stories involving Syrias refugee crisis?
Very Closely
Somewhat Closely
Not Too Closely
Not At All Closely
Not Aware of These Stories
From everything you have seen, heard or read, who would you say is most responsible for the present
refugee crisis in Syria? The Islamic State, otherwise known as ISIS, the Syrian Government Led by
Bashar Al-Assad or Someone Else?
The Islamic State otherwise known as ISIS
The Syrian Government Led by Bashar Al-Assad
Someone Else
Not sure
Do you approve or disapprove of the Canadian Governments response to the refugee crisis in Syria?
Strongly Approve
Somewhat Approve
Somewhat Disapprove
Strongly Disapprove
Not Sure
Canada has resettled refugees in the past including 37,00 Hungarian refugees in 1956, 7,000 refugees
from Uganda in 1972, 65,00 refugees from Vietnam in 1975 and 6,000 refugees from Kosovo in 1999. In
your opinion, how many total refugees do you think Canada should resettle from Syria?
10,000 refugees or less
Between 10,000 and 20,000 refugees
Between 20,000 and 30,000 refugees
Over 30,000 refugees
Not sure
And in your opinion how can Canada best contribute to the Syrian Refugee Crisis? Is it, Military Force,
Humanitarian Aid, the Resettlement of Refugees in Canada or something else?
Military Force
Humanitarian aid
Resettlement of Refugees in Canada
Something else
Not sure

A13

SCRIPT CONTINUED

And which Federal Leader do you think would be

most effective in addressing the Syrian Refugee Crisis?
Stephen Harper of the Conservative Party
Tom Mulcair of the NDP
Justin Trudeau of the Liberal Party
Gilles Duceppe of the Bloc Qubcois (Qubec Only)
Elizabeth May of the Green Party
Not Sure
From everything you have seen, heard or read, is Europe doing its fair share to
address the Syrian Refugee Crisis, or not?
Yes, Europe is Doing Its Fair Share
No, Europe is Not Doing Its Fair Share
Not Sure
From everything you have seen, heard or read, is Canada doing its fair share to
address the Syrian Refugee Crisis, or not?
Yes, Canada is Doing Its Fair Share
No, Canada is Not Doing Its Fair Share
Not Sure
In the last week, the news media have reported extensively on a refugee family whose two young
boys drowned as their family fled from Turkey to Greece. The family had hoped to come to
Canada. Do you think the Canadian government acted appropriately in their case, or not?
Yes, The Canadian Government Acted Appropriately
No, the Canadian Government Did Not Act Apprropriately
Not Sure

Mainstreet is a national public research firm. With 20 years of political experience at all
three levels of government, President and CEO Quito Maggi is a respected commentator
on Canadian public affairs.
Differentiated by its large sample sizes, Mainstreet has provided accurate snapshots of
public opinion, having predicted a majority NDP government in Alberta (2015), a majority
Liberal government in British Columbia, and a majority Liberal government in Ontario.
Most recently, Mainstreet was the most accurate pollster of Novembers Toronto mayoral
election.

2015 Mainstreet Research. All rights reserved