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A recent opinion poll revealed that nearly half of Canadians are against the pro-Palestinian encampments appearing on some university campuses. Only 31% of respondents supported the demonstrations, while 48% opposed them, and one in five were unsure.
The encampments, initiated over a week ago, involve students urging their institutions to disclose and cease investments in Israeli defense companies.
While McGill University has criticized the protests on its premises, the encampments at the University of Ottawa and University of Toronto have attracted less attention. Concerns have been raised about the impact on campus safety, with 44% of survey participants believing they should be disbanded. Meanwhile, 33% supported their removal if anti-Semitic sentiments were expressed, and 23% argued for respecting them as a form of free speech.
The survey, conducted by Leger with 1,519 participants, noted that 73% had not encountered anti-Semitic remarks during the Israel-Hamas conflict, while political leaders like Prime Minister Trudeau and Premier Ford have urged for peaceful resolutions.
Support for the encampments was notably higher among younger respondents, while older participants were more inclined to oppose them and advocate for their dismantling if necessary.
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