by The Canadian Press on Sunday
February 2, 2014 12:55pm
OTTAWA – Almost half of Canadians (click here) followed Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s recent trip to the Middle East, and a third said they had positive views of his inaugural visit to the region, a new poll has found.
The survey, conducted from Jan. 23-Jan. 27 by Harris/Decima for The Canadian Press, suggests a third of Canadians held a favourable impression of Harper’s first foray to the Middle East.
Twenty-six per cent, meantime, said they held an unfavourable view.The majority of those polled, however — 42 per cent — said they had no opinion.
The survey also suggested a clear majority of Canadians feel it’s important for prime ministers to make international trips like Harper made last month to Israel, the West Bank and Jordan.
Nationally, 22 per cent said such overseas trips are very important to a prime minister while 41 per cent said they were somewhat important. Ontarians were more likely than Quebecers, at 67 per cent and 58 per cent respectively, to say such trips are significant.
More than a third of those polled said the primary benefit of prime ministerial trips is diplomacy and strengthening international relations. Only 12 per cent pointed to economic benefits, and even fewer — nine per cent — said they’re important in raising Canada’s profile.
Fifty-nine per cent of those polled believe Harper’s visit will have a positive impact on Canada’s ties with Israel. But respondents were divided evenly on what the trip would mean for Canada’s relationship with the Palestinian Authority: 32 per cent expect a positive impact, while 31 per cent anticipated a negative one....
Starting to get that anti-gay rights feeling yet?
January 28, 2014
Ten influential evangelical Protestant pastors and leaders (click here) flew with Prime Minister Stephen Harper on his recent trip to Israel, which included visits to holy sites and extensive photo opportunities.
No mainline Protestant leaders — from such large denominations as the United Church of Canada, the Anglican Church, the Lutherans or the Presbyterians — were on the trip, according to the official list of more than 208 selected guests, many of them donors to the Conservative Party.
Dozens of the official participants had their way funded by taxpayers, but the PMO’s office said those in the “accompanying party” did not. However, some journalists are starting to look into whether parts of the expenses of the “accompanying party” were covered by taxpayers....
...Even though the census shows more than four out of 10 Canadians are Catholics, there were no Catholic bishops or other Catholic officials on the prime ministerial tour, which was almost unprecedented for its size.
However, 21 rabbis (mostly Orthodox) plus scores of other Jewish figures and business people took part in the trip, including Winnipeg’s David Asper and Vancouver’s Sam Belzberg.
There were no Muslims, as far as anyone can tell. Nor Buddhists, Hindus or Sikhs. (Hard to tell re atheists :-))
February 2, 2014 12:55pm
OTTAWA – Almost half of Canadians (click here) followed Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s recent trip to the Middle East, and a third said they had positive views of his inaugural visit to the region, a new poll has found.
The survey, conducted from Jan. 23-Jan. 27 by Harris/Decima for The Canadian Press, suggests a third of Canadians held a favourable impression of Harper’s first foray to the Middle East.
Twenty-six per cent, meantime, said they held an unfavourable view.The majority of those polled, however — 42 per cent — said they had no opinion.
The survey also suggested a clear majority of Canadians feel it’s important for prime ministers to make international trips like Harper made last month to Israel, the West Bank and Jordan.
Nationally, 22 per cent said such overseas trips are very important to a prime minister while 41 per cent said they were somewhat important. Ontarians were more likely than Quebecers, at 67 per cent and 58 per cent respectively, to say such trips are significant.
More than a third of those polled said the primary benefit of prime ministerial trips is diplomacy and strengthening international relations. Only 12 per cent pointed to economic benefits, and even fewer — nine per cent — said they’re important in raising Canada’s profile.
Fifty-nine per cent of those polled believe Harper’s visit will have a positive impact on Canada’s ties with Israel. But respondents were divided evenly on what the trip would mean for Canada’s relationship with the Palestinian Authority: 32 per cent expect a positive impact, while 31 per cent anticipated a negative one....
Starting to get that anti-gay rights feeling yet?
Ten influential evangelical Protestant pastors and leaders (click here) flew with Prime Minister Stephen Harper on his recent trip to Israel, which included visits to holy sites and extensive photo opportunities.
No mainline Protestant leaders — from such large denominations as the United Church of Canada, the Anglican Church, the Lutherans or the Presbyterians — were on the trip, according to the official list of more than 208 selected guests, many of them donors to the Conservative Party.
Dozens of the official participants had their way funded by taxpayers, but the PMO’s office said those in the “accompanying party” did not. However, some journalists are starting to look into whether parts of the expenses of the “accompanying party” were covered by taxpayers....
...Even though the census shows more than four out of 10 Canadians are Catholics, there were no Catholic bishops or other Catholic officials on the prime ministerial tour, which was almost unprecedented for its size.
However, 21 rabbis (mostly Orthodox) plus scores of other Jewish figures and business people took part in the trip, including Winnipeg’s David Asper and Vancouver’s Sam Belzberg.
There were no Muslims, as far as anyone can tell. Nor Buddhists, Hindus or Sikhs. (Hard to tell re atheists :-))
