Wide approval for “Life Means
Life”
Still, half think it’s just
an election ploy
TORONTO August 25th, 2015 - In a random sampling
of public opinion taken by the Forum Poll™ among 1440 Canadian voters, the
majority (57%) express approval of the Conservative Party’s reintroduced “Life
Means Life” legislation, which would see the most serious murderers locked away
for the rest of their lives. Three-in-ten disapprove (31%) and one tenth don’t
have an opinion (12%). Support is especially strong among Gen X (45 to 54 -
63%), females (61%), mid income groups ($40K to $80K - 61%), in Alberta (65%),
among Conservatives, obviously (81%), but not among New Democrats so much
(45%), among Francophones (61%), mothers with children (65%) and the least
educated (high school or less (71%).
Despite support, most see it
as election ploy
One half of voters see the “Life Means Life” legislation as
just an election ploy to play on voter fear (51%) rather than a genuine attempt
to deal with violent crime (34%), and this is especially common to the youngest
(56%), males (55%), the wealthiest ($100K to $250K - 56%), in Atlantic Canada (57%)
and in the prairies (59%), among the best educated (61%) and among New
Democrats (69%) and Liberals (58%) but not, unsurprisingly, among Conservatives
(13%).
“This policy is a
no-brainer. Everyone knows it’s a good idea to shut cop-killers up for the rest
of their lives. The problem is, that it’s so obviously a populist policy, that
even the populace can see through it,"
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.
