Asylum Seekers
Should Enter the Country Legally: Plurality
Divided opinion on refugees who made their refugee claim in the
US, but now want to live in Canada
Toronto, March 12th – In a random sampling of public opinion taken by The Forum Poll™ among 1,340
Canadian voters, (44%) respond that asylum seekers who enter the country
illegally should not be allowed to seek asylum in Canada. (36%) say they should
be allowed, and (20%) do not know.
Those most likely to
be against illegal asylum seekers include those aged 55-64 (53%), males (52%),
earning $80,000-$100,000 (50%), living in Alberta (54%) or
Manitoba/Saskatchewan (53%), the least educated (51%), and supporting the
Conservatives (70%).
Those most open to
allowing illegal entrants to seek asylum include those aged 34 and under (40%),
females (42%), the most wealthy (51%), supporting the Liberals (51%) or NDP
(54%), and those with a post-graduate degree (46%).
On refugees wanting to come from Canada from the US, it’s split
(44%) of respondents
say that refugees who made their claim in the US, but now wish to live in
Canada should not be allowed. A similar proportion, (43%) say yes, they should
be allowed, and (12%) say they do not know.
Those most likely to
be opposed include those aged 35-44 (54%), males (51%), those earning
$80,000-$100,000 (50%), living in Alberta (57%), supporting the Conservatives
(73%), and the least educated (53%).
Those most likely to
be supportive include those aged 34 and below (54%), females (47%), earning
$60,000-$80,000 (55%), living in BC (57%), supporting the Liberals (62%) or the
NDP (63%), and with a post-graduate degree (55%).
“The images of people
illegally crossing the border into Canada has brought the issue of asylum and
refugee claimants to the forefront of the public’s attention. While more people
are opposed to illegal asylum seekers than not, there’s still a considerable
amount of people who are open to allowing them into Canada,” said
Dr. Lorne Bozinoff, President of Forum Research.
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.
