Angus Reid Group
Canadian Peace Alliance
Initial Results, February 26, 1998
(1502 adult Canadians)
I'd like to ask you a few questions about nuclear weapons, also called atomic weapons or atomic bombs. As you may know, there are over 30,000 nuclear weapons currently existing in the world.
1. Some people say that the existence of nuclear weapons helps keep the peace and makes the world a safer place. Other people say that the existence of nuclear weapons makes the world a more dangerous place.
Which of these views is closest to your own?
nuclear weapons make world safer 22% nuclear weapons make world more dangerous 75% don't know 3% total 100% 2. I'm going to read you a list of possible incidents involving nuclear weapons and I'd like you to tell me how serious a threat each incident is right now. For each, please tell me whether you think it is a serious threat, a moderate threat, a mild threat, or not threat at all. How about ....?
Serious threat (%) Moderate threat (%) Mild threat (%) No threat at all (%) Don’t know (%) Total The use of nuclear weapons by a terrorist organization 67 20 10 2 1 100 A world war involving the use of nuclear weapons 58 15 18 9 - 100 An environmental disaster caused by accidental damager to a nuclear weapon 58 26 13 3 1 100 The spread of nuclear weapons to countries who did not have them before 53 28 13 4 1 100 An accidental firing of a nuclear weapon 52 19 22 6 1 100 A limited nuclear war between countries in the Third World 49 25 19 6 2 100
Women generally perceive a graver threat from these incidents than men.
Percent perceiving a serious threat among Possible incident Men Women The use of nuclear weapons by a terrorist organization 60 75 A world war involving the use of nuclear weapons 50 67 An environmental disaster caused by accidental damager to a nuclear weapon 51 64 The spread of nuclear weapons to countries who did not have them before 50 56 An accidental firing of a nuclear weapon 44 59 A limited nuclear war between countries in the Third World 41 56
Quebecers are roughly 20% more likely than other Canadians to perceive each of these possible incidents as a serious threat. In contrast, more educated Canadians tend to see these possible incidents as less of a threat.
3. As you may know, Canada has signed global treaties to ban chemical and biological weapons. Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree that Canada should support the negotiation of an agreement to abolish nuclear weapons?
strongly agree 79% somewhat agree 14% somewhat disagree 4% strongly disagree 2% don't know 1% total 100% 4. As you may also know, Canada took a lead role in promoting the recent international t reaty which banned anti-personnel landmines. Would you support or oppose the idea of Canada taking a similar leadership role in promoting an international ban on nuclear weapons? Would you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose such a leadership role for Canada?
strongly support 76% somewhat support 16% somewhat oppose 4% strongly oppose 3% don't know 1% total 100% 5. Right now, Canada does not possess any nuclear weapons itself. However, we are involved in military alliances, such as NATO, with countries which have nuclear weapons, namely Britain, France and the United States. These alliances have military strategies which would allow the use of nuclear weapons under certain circumstances. Overall, do you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose Canada being part of alliances which include the use of nuclear weapons in their nuclear strategies?
strongly support 22% somewhat support 33% somewhat oppose 18% strongly oppose 24% don't know 3% total 100%