Newsworthy: Canadians Want to Join the TPNW

A strong majority want Canada to join the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, according to a recent Canada-wide poll conducted by Nanos for the Simons Foundation Canada, the Hiroshima Nagasaki Day Coalition and Le Collectif Échec à la guerre. It presents a set of key findings on Canadians’ views on the elimination of nuclear weapons.

Eliminating nuclear weapons: A strong majority of Canadians think the world should work to eliminate nuclear weapons (80%).
Preparedness of Canada for nuclear weapon detonation: More than eight in ten respondents say Canada is not prepared (60%) or somewhat not prepared (25%) to deal with the emergency if nuclear weapons were detonated somewhere in the world.
Responding to devastation caused by nuclear weapons: Over eight in ten Canadians agree (58%) or somewhat agree (28%) that no government, health system or aid organization could respond to the devastation caused by nuclear weapons and that they need to be eliminated.
House of Commons committee hearings: More than three in four Canadians agree (46%) or somewhat agree (30%) that the House of Commons should have committee hearings and debate Canada’s position on nuclear disarmament.
Withdrawing investments that support nuclear weapons: Just over seven in ten Canadians agree (49%) or somewhat agree (22%) that they would withdraw money from any investment or financial institution if they learned it was investing funds in anything related to the development, manufacturing, or deployment of nuclear weapons.
Impact of political support for UN Treaty on future vote: Canadians are five times more likely to say a political party supporting Canada signing and ratifying the UN Treaty would make them more likely (21%) or somewhat more likely (29%) to vote for that political party rather than less likely (seven per cent) or somewhat less likely (three per cent) to do so.
Support for Canada ratifying the UN Treaty: A strong majority of Canadians support (55%) or somewhat support (19%) Canada signing and ratifying the new United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
Canada joining the UN Treaty despite pressure: About three in four Canadians agree (51%) or somewhat agree (23%) that Canada should join the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, despite pressure it may face from the United States not to do so.