A survey published by Angus Reid reports that 80 percent of Canadians feel that reconciliation has been negatively affected, and support for the pipeline has risen over the last two weeks from 51 percent to 61 percent. Almost 80 per cent also believe the blockades have hurt Canada’s reputation as a place for investment.
As to ending the blockades, Canadians are split. Half say use patience and half say use whatever force is necessary. NDPers overwhelmingly support the former and Conservatives the latter.
Few have much good to say about the politicians. Only one-in-five Canadians say the Prime Minister has handled the situation well. He isn't alone. Only 18 percent of British Columbians feel Premier Horgan has done a good job. Premier Kenney, however, did get the support of most Albertans.
The poll results aren't surprising. While I suspect most Canadians believe peaceful protest is a healthy part of democracy, most find the use of force unacceptable. Blockading railroads and burning tires simply crosses the line. And, as Angus Reid's survey demonstrates, they can produce contrary consequences.
2 comments:
What I found most interesting was the split between the prairie provinces and the rest of Canada; between Conservatives and the Liberals and New Dems. The prairies are the home of use of whatever force is necessary. That doesn't sell anywhere else, including in Trudeau's own party.
Civil disobedience isn't aimed at winning popularity. It operates to disrupt, derail. It seeks to compel a result. ML King's freedom march infuriated the great majority of Americans at the time but today he is revered for it.
Christiana Figueres, the former head of the UN Framework on Climate Change, came out a couple of days ago to call for widespread civil disobedience. "It's time to participate in non-violent political movements wherever possible." She argues that electoral politics have failed to meet the challenge, largely because of systemic roadblocks including corporate lobbying and partisan opposition.
"Civil disobedience is not only a moral choice, it is also the most powerful way of shaping world politics. ...Historically, systemic political shifts have required civil disobedience on a significant scale. Few have occurred without it."
We have barely 10 years to cut our greenhouse gas emissions by half if the world is to avert truly catastrophic climate change. Civil disobedience in every conceivable form may be our last, best chance.
We're out of time for popularity contests.
I thought you might like to read David Moscrop's recent piece in Maclean's.
https://www.macleans.ca/opinion/the-need-for-protest/
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