Even a plurality of Liberal supporters agree.
As the Prime Minister continues to evade calls to hold a public inquiry into China’s efforts to interfere in our elections, a poll shows nearly 70% of Canadians believe the federal government is afraid to stand up to China.
According to the Angus Reid survey, 69% of Canadians agreed with the statement “the federal government is afraid to stand up to China.”
21% disagreed, while 11% said they were “not sure/can’t say.”
The partisan breakdown is notable.
91% of Conservatives think the federal government is afraid to stand up to China, a view also held by 62% of NDP supporters and 78% of Bloc supporters.
Interestingly, even 46% of Liberal supporters agreed the federal government is afraid to stand up to China, while 43% disagreed.
Those kinds of numbers demonstrate the significant political challenge facing Justin Trudeau.
Canadian public opinion has turned dramatically against China in recent years, following the kidnapping of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, the emergence of Covid-19 from China, the cultural genocide against the Uyghurs, the crackdown on freedom in Hong Kong, and China’s overall increase in belligerence.
With his evident reluctance to hold a public inquiry, and the perception that he is unwilling to stand up to China, Justin Trudeau finds himself offside not only the broad opinion of the Canadian public, but many of his own supporters as well.
Spencer Fernando
