Majority of Canadians concerned about U.S. takeover of Greenland and want Ottawa to protest
Most Canadians reject the idea of the United States taking over Greenland, according to a new national poll.
The Leger survey, which was commissioned by the Association for Canadian Studies, found that 61 per cent of Canadians think the federal government should protest a U.S. takeover. The poll also found that 71 per cent of Canadians think C anada should be concerned about U.S. President Donald Trump’s attempts to acquire Greenland from Denmark. Only 13 per cent said should not be concerned.
“There is a fairly robust consensus amongst Canadians that we will be affected negatively by a U.S. takeover of Greenland and to a significant degree those who are concerned want our politicians to let the U.S. know about it and do so unambiguously,” said Jack Jedwab, president of the Association for Canadian Studies.
The poll was conducted between Jan. 16 and 18, before Trump announced on social media that he had “formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region,” after his speech at the World Economic Forum on Tuesday.
“This solution, if consummated, will be a great one for the United States of America, and all NATO Nations.”
Canada is geographically much closer to Greenland than the U.S., Jedwab noted, with the two countries separated by only about 26 kilometres across the Nares Strait, near Ellesmere Island. Canada and Denmark also share a land border on Hans Island, a small, uninhabited island that is located between Canada’s Ellesmere Island and Greenland.
A majority of Canadians in every province across the country were concerned about Trump’s plans for Greenland, ranging from 67 per cent in Manitoba and Saskatchewan to 76 per cent in Atlantic Canada. Canadians 55 years of age and older were most concerned (84 per cent), while those aged 18 to 34 were less concerned (56 per cent).
Jedwab explained the view held by younger Canadians as not so much “attributable to support for a U.S. takeover (as) related to less awareness or interest in the issue.”
Similarly, 84 per cent of Canadians in the older age bracket said a U.S. take over would be detrimental for Canada, while only 47 per cent of younger Canadians agreed. Among all Canadians, 61 per cent said they believe a U.S. takeover of Greenland will negatively affect Canada. Concern across Canada ranged from 66 per cent of B.C. residents to 57 per cent of Albertans.
While 61 per cent of Canadians think the federal government should protest a U.S. takeover, among Canadians 55 and over that number jumps to 72 per cent, and it drops to 47 per cent among Canadians aged 18 to 34.
Overall, 24 per cent of survey respondents weren’t sure Canada should speak up.
The numbers might be mixed because “those who prefer Canada stay low do nonetheless feel that Canada will be negatively affected,” Jedwab said. “They’re probably more concerned with the damage a government protest against U.S. actions in Greenland will adversely affect relations with our neighbour.”
However, he added, the consensus for “speaking up is too wide for our government to overlook, and we’ll have to see how the issue evolves to determine whether there is any shift in public opinion.”
The online Leger survey was conducted among 1,527 respondents in Canada. A margin of error cannot be associated with a non-probability sample in a panel survey for comparison purposes. A probability sample of 1,527 respondents would have a margin of error of plus or minue 2.5 per cent, 19 times out of 20.
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