Afghanistan poll conducted by Public Square Research in partnership with Maru/Blue on Aug. 18, 2021.

1. Crisis in Afghanistan
Heather Bastedo • hbastedo@publicsquareresearch.ca
With special thanks to Valen Arnesto and Rob Berger

2. Survey Methodology
The questionnaire was designed by Public Square Research in partnership
with Maru/Blue and the Hub, with the aim of understanding Canadian
attitudes towards the recent crisis in Afghanistan.
The research involved an online survey of 1500 Canadians from the Maru
Voice panel.
The survey was fielded on August 18th, 2021.
Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have registered to participate in the Maru Voice
panel. The data have been weighted to reflect the demographic composition of each country, according to in
country statistics. Because the sample is based on those who initially self-selected for participation in the Maru
Voice panel rather than a probability sample, no estimates of sampling error can be calculated.

3. 23%
60%
13%
4%
Very aware - I'm glued to
the news about it
Somewhat aware - I
haver heard about it and
read or watched some
coverage
Not very aware - I've
heard about it, but don't
really know what's going
on
Not aware at all - I
haven't read or heard
about it
Percentage Aware
83% aware or
somewhat aware
Q1. Are you aware of the events going on in Afghanistan in the past few days? Canada=1252.
Awareness of Events in Afghanistan

4. 28%
24%
18%
9% 9%
7%
5%
Sad Horrified Worried Angry Indifferent Hopeless Mad
Q2. [Of those aware] If you had say which emotion best captures your feelings about the news in Afghanistan? N=1252
Emotional Reaction to Events

5. 16%
50%
31%
3%
Very important Somewhat important Not very important Not important at all. I
don't care what happens
66% say that the
issue is somewhat
or very important
to them personally
Q3. [Of those aware] How important is this issue to you personally? Canada=1252
Importance to you Personally

6. 42%
37%
11% 10%
I'm very supportive Somewhat supportive Not very supportive Not suppotive at all
8-in-10
are very or somewhat
supportive of Canada’s
response so far
Q4. [Of those aware] Canada has reportedly provided safety 807 Afghanistan people and has committed to rescuing
20,000 in total. How do you feel about Canada’s response so far? Canada=1252
Canada’s Commitment to Rescue 20,000
Afghanistan People

7. 77%
81%
85%
77%
76%
Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+
Total Support
Q4. [Of those Aware] Canada has reportedly provided safety 807 Afghanistan people and has committed to rescuing
20,000 in total. How do you feel about Canada’s response so far? Canada=1252
Canada’s Commitment to Rescue 20,000
Afghanistan People By Age & Gender

8. 21%
46%
33%
More than enough Enough Not nearly enough
Q5. [Of those aware] Would you say Canada has done enough so far to help so far? Canada=1252
Is Canada Doing Enough to Help?

9. 36%
30%
39%
31% 31%
Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+
Q5. [Of those aware] Would you say Canada has done enough so far to help so far? Canada=1531
Not Doing Enough by Age & Gender?

10. 28%
22%
17%
1%
3% 3%
26%
Justin
Trudeau
Erin O'Toole Jagmeet Singh Annamie Paul Yves-Francois
Blanchet
Other None of these
people
Q5. [Of those aware] As you may know there is also an election on September 20th. Which Canadian leader do you think
would handle the issue the best? N=1252
Who’s best to handle this issue?

11. Yes
7%
No
70%
Not sure
19%
Don't care
4%
Q7. [Of those aware] Do you think the Taliban should be recognized as the government in Afghanistan? N=1252
* not shown
Should the Taliban be recognized?
70%
say that the Taliban
should not be
recognized as the
government, but
that number
tumbles to 62%
among those under
35 years of age*

12. 77%
69% 66%
61%
27%
20%
5%
Women being
mistreated
People who
cooperated with
Canada and the
US being in
danger
Increase in
terrorism
Instability in the
Middle East
Increase in
heroin trafficking
Greater power in
Pakistan
I don't think any
of these things
will happen
Q8. [Of those aware] America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan could potentially raise some issues, which if any, do you
think might happen? N=1252
What do you think might happen?

13. 71%
66%
58%
47%
22%
15%
5%
Women being
mistreated
Increase in
terrorism
People who
cooperated with
Canada and the
US being in
danger
Instability in the
Middle East
Increase in
heroin trafficking
Greater power in
Pakistan
None of these
things worry me
Q9. [Of those aware] Which, if any, of these things worry you? N=1252]
Which of these things worry you?

14. Yes
54%
No
46%
Q 10. [Of those aware] Finally, do you think Joe Biden did the right thing in withdrawing American troops from
Afghanistan? N=1252
Did Joe Biden do the right thing?