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Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research
Canadians Examine What Is Immoral
(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Most adults in Canada believe a specific behaviour is unprincipled, according to a poll by Leger Marketing. 81 per cent of respondents consider paedophilia as immoral.
Extra-marital affairs are next on the list with 74 per cent, followed by prostitution with 68 per cent, alcohol abuse and underage sexual relations with 65 per cent each, and pornographic films with 58 per cent. 51 per cent of respondents believe blasphemy is immoral.
Just over one third of respondents believe abortion is immoral, and 31 per cent feel the same way about homosexuality. Divorce and contraception are last, with 17 per cent and eight per cent respectively.
In June 2004, the federal election campaign was dominated by a controversy over child pornography after an e-mail news release by the Conservatives—which was later re-worded—seemed to suggest that Liberal leader and prime minister Paul Martin supported child pornography. Tory leader Stephen Harper said Martin's record on the issue speaks of "failure to develop effective legislation that combats child pornography, and failure to pass even his own bills on the matter."
In July 2005, Canada legalized same-sex marriage. The legislation covers civil ceremonies, and states that no members of the clergy would be forced to perform a same-sex wedding unless they so desire.
Polling Data
Do you consider the following behaviour as immoral?
("Yes" answers only)
All | Men | Women | |
Paedophilia | 81% | 78% | 84% |
Extra-marital affairs | 74% | 68% | 81% |
Prostitution | 68% | 59% | 76% |
Alcohol abuse | 65% | 59% | 70% |
Sexual relations before the age of 16 | 65% | 61% | 68% |
Pornographic films | 58% | 46% | 68% |
Blasphemy | 51% | 45% | 57% |
Abortion | 34% | 35% | 33% |
Homosexuality | 31% | 37% | 26% |
Divorce | 17% | 19% | 16% |
Contraception | 8% | 9% | 8% |
Source: Leger Marketing
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 1,508 Canadian adults, conducted from Apr. 17 to Apr. 23, 2006. Margin of error is 3 per cent.