TORONTO, September 9, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Liberal government plan that would change the definition of marriage has Canadians sharply divided: 46 per cent are opposed to homosexual ‘marriage’ and 46 per cent support it, suggests a public opinion poll by NFO CFgroup released last week. The survey notes however that those who support the traditional definition of marriage are more resolved in their views. One-third of adults (34 per cent) say they strongly oppose redefining marriage to include same-sex unions, compared to one quarter (23 per cent) who strongly support it.
Survey results differed significantly based on age. The poll found six in ten adults under the age of 35 in favour of homosexual ‘marriage’ while the same proportion of those older than 65 reject it. “Few policy issues divide the generations as significantly as same-sex marriage does in Canada,” said Richard Jenkins, corporate director of public opinion research at NFO CFgroup. Regionally, majorities in the Prairie provinces and Ontario oppose redefining marriage, while six in ten Quebecers and a slight majority of British Columbians support the measure. When presented with three options for dealing with same-sex couples, 37 per cent of Canadians would prefer extending marriage to gay and lesbian partnerships. An equal percentage would favour a union between same-sex couples that is not called a marriage. And only a small minority (19 per cent) would prefer that there be no legal status of same-sex relationships whatsoever. Among other findings about Canadians’ opinions on same-sex marriage: · One-third think that allowing gays and lesbians to marry is a threat to the institution of marriage, compared to 56 per cent who disagree with this view. · Two-thirds believe that churches should stay out of political matters. · Nearly half (48 per cent) think that the courts in Canada have too much power. · Women are more likely than men to support same-sex marriages. · Urban-dwellers tend to be more supportive of gay marriage than rural residents. · Support for same-sex marriage rises in step with household income and education. For the poll, 1,015 Canadian adults were interviewed by telephone between August 25 and 31, 2003.