A recent survey conducted by Canada Pulse Insights for CityNews indicates that a significant majority of Canadian residents are concerned about the escalating war in Iran, with 84% expressing worries about the potential for the conflict surrounding the Strait of Hormuz to broaden into a larger Middle Eastern war. Additionally, 80% of respondents are anxious that Canadian military involvement could place personnel in danger.
The concerns are particularly pronounced among older demographics, with 92% of individuals aged 55 and over expressing apprehension about a wider war. Among those aged 35 to 54, 82% share similar concerns, while 75% of younger adults aged 18 to 34 feel the same way. Gender differences also exist in the level of concern, with 86% of women indicating worry compared to 82% of men.
Despite these fears, more than 70% of Canadians are open to Canada playing some military role in the conflict. The poll indicates that 37% of those supporting military involvement would do so if the mission were backed by a coalition of allies. Other conditions for support include a clear United Nations mandate, which garnered support from just over one-third of respondents, and a non-combat role for Canadian forces, supported by 32% of those surveyed. A minority of 15% indicated willingness to participate without a UN or coalition mandate if requested by key allies.
Excluding the 30% of participants opposed to any military action, the survey revealed that over 80% of Canadians favor diplomatic efforts to negotiate a ceasefire and reopen the Strait. Furthermore, 78% support humanitarian aid initiatives for civilians affected by the conflict. Nearly 60% expressed willingness to send Canadian military personnel into non-combat roles within a joint mission, while 53% would endorse deploying Canadian Navy ships alongside vessels from allied nations to escort commercial shipping near the Strait of Hormuz. Conversely, only 35% supported engaging in combat actions such as airstrikes against Iranian targets.
John Wright, a pollster, noted that Canadians might support collaboration with allies independently of anything involving the United States, recognizing that the perception of former President Donald Trump is overwhelmingly negative in Canada. If a request for involvement came from a European coalition, Wright posits that Canadians might be more receptive, depending on the conditions of their participation in that coalition.
Amid the ongoing conflict, Iranian authorities report over 1,900 fatalities, alongside 19 deaths in Israel. Additionally, there have been numerous casualties in Gulf states and the occupied West Bank, with at least 13 U.S. service members reported killed. The escalating violence underscores the complexity and ramifications of international military engagements in the region.
The Canada Pulse Insights survey included responses from 1,511 Canadian adults using the SAGO online panel platform, conducted between March 21 and 25, 2026. The results have a margin of error of ±2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, reflecting a significant snapshot of Canadian sentiment regarding military action in Iran.
