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% 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.
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%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.
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% said they would call the shooting an act by a person with mental illness, while 36% 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.
“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.”
When asked whether the homegrown terrorism threat was serious or overblown, 62% 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% said “no” and 37% said “not sure.” Alberta and Ontario residents were most likely to say “yes.”