Most Canadians haven't pre-judged terror suspects

NEWS RELEASE

IPSOS REID PUBLIC AFFAIRS

******************** Despite awareness of terror-plot arrests, majority believe suspects will get fair trial

66 percent not pre-judging suspects without more information and 67 percent believe suspects must be treated no differently

TORONTO/ONTARIO - June 17, 2006 - As the nation's media buzzes with daily stories into the recent arrests of 17 terror-plot suspects in the Toronto area, a new Ipsos Reid survey for CanWest/Global News reports that of those Canadians (89 percent) who are familiar with the story, most (66 percent) are taking a pragmatic approach and are not passing judgement on the suspects until more information emerges.

Further, seven in ten Canadians (72 percent) feel that despite the massive media publicity surrounding the charges, "these 17 individuals will be able to get a fair trial from a jury".

When it comes to the question of how the alleged terror-plotters should be treated while in custody, a majority (67 percent) say it should be" … no differently than any other Canadian citizen who is arrested and accused of a serious crime" - but, one quarter (24 percent) are of the mind that they should be treated differently, such as having their normal legal rights suspended.

These are the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted for CanWest News Service/Global News and fielded from June 13-15.

For this survey, a representative randomly selected sample of 1006 adult Canadians were interviewed by telephone.

With a sample of this size, the aggregate results are considered accurate to within ±3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire adult Canadian population been polled.

The margin of error will be larger within each sub-grouping of the survey population.

These data were weighted to ensure the sample's regional and age/sex composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population according to the 2001 Census data.

Nine in ten Canadians are aware of terror plot arrests

As you may know, a week and a half ago Canadian police and security forces charged 17 individuals for allegedly being involved in a terrorist plot concerning a number of targets in Ontario. Have you seen read or heard anything about this?

- awareness is highest in Alberta (96 percent) and Quebec (92 percent).

- but of those who are aware (89 percent), most (66 percent) are withholding their judgment about those arrested.

Based on what you have seen, read or heard, do think that for the most part, these individuals are likely guilty or not guilty of the charges laid against them by the police, or that you don't have enough information to tell either way? Of those Canadians who are aware of the terror-plot arrests:

* Albertans (35 percent) are the most likely to think the individuals arrested are guilty, followed by those Atlantic Canada (32 percent) and Ontario (31 percent).

- and, despite media publicity, seven in ten (72 percent) feel the suspects will be given a fair trial…

Do you think these 17 individuals will be able to get a fair trial, despite the publicity surrounding the charges?

* belief that they will get a fair trial is consistent across all regions of the country

* men are more likely than women to believe they will get a fair trial (76 percent vs. 67 percent).

Two-thirds (67 percent) feel terror-plot suspects should be treated no differently than other Canadian citizens who are arrested and accused of a serious crime ... 24 percent disagree…

Some people say that even though the 17 accused people, who are all Canadian citizens, face serious charges related to alleged potential terrorist activities, they are simply allegations that have not been proven so they must have their legal rights and due process protected and they must be treated no differently than any other Canadian citizen who is arrested and accused of a serious crime. Other people say that regardless of whether anything has been proven or not, these 17 Canadian citizens face serious charges related to alleged potential terrorist activities and should be treated differently than other Canadian citizens who are arrested and accused of a serious crime, such as suspending their normal legal rights and due process. Which of these opinions is closest to your point of view?

* Ontarians (27 per cent) and residents of Quebec (26 percent) are the most likely to feel that the arrested should be treated differently than other criminals and have their rights suspended.

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