Approval of assisted death ruling increases
Canadians now more likely to consider
assisted death for themselves
TORONTO
April 6th, 2016 - In a random sampling of public opinion
taken by the Forum Poll™ among 1455 Canadian adults, three quarters support the
Supreme Court’s ruling in the Carter case which made physician-assisted dying
legal in Canada, as of June, 2016 (74%). Just one sixth do not approve (15%)
and as few as one tenth have no opinion (11%). These results represent an
increase in approval on this complex issue since we polled two months ago
(February 18 - 70% approve). Approval is especially common to younger Canadians
(35 to 44 - 82%), the wealthiest ($100K to $250K - 86%), in Quebec (83%) and
Atlantic Canada (80%), among New Democrats (84%), Bloquistes (90%),
Francophones (83%) and among college graduates (80%).
Assisted death more likely to be
considered now
Six-in-ten Canadian adults would consider
assisted dying for themselves (61%), while just one fifth would not (21%) and a
similar proportion don’t know if they would (18%). This represents an increase
in those saying they would consider assisted death for themselves since two
months ago (February 18 - 57%). Considering assisted dying is common to mid
aged Canadians (35 to 54 - 67%), the wealthiest ($100K to $250K - 73%), in
Quebec (70%) and Atlantic Canada (67%), among New Democrats (68%), Bloquistes
(72%), Francophones (70%), mothers of children under 18 (69%) and the best
educated (post grad - 67%). Three quarters of those who approve of the Supreme
Court’s ruling are likely to consider assisted death for themselves (76%).
“It
is interesting to see that approval for the Supreme Court’s ruling in Carter
has increased the more the ruling is discussed. I expect by the time the
government discloses its approach to assisted dying, approval will be even
higher, and even more Canadians will be willing to consider a planned end for
their own lives,” said
Forum Research President, Dr. Lorne Bozinoff.
Lorne Bozinoff, Ph.D. is the president and
founder of Forum Research. He can be reached at lbozinoff@forumresearch.com
or at (416) 960-9603.
