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Public Views on Commercial Hunting and Current Federal Seal Hunting Policy

DSS File #: FP858-040022/001/CY

Submitted to:
Department of Fisheries and Oceans

February 23, 2005

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

Methodology

Detailed Findings

Views on Commercial Hunting

Support for Current Federal Seal Hunting Policy

Appendix I - Topline Questionnaire

INTRODUCTION

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans wished to update its understanding of the Canadian public’s views on commercial hunting and the current federal seal hunting policy.

METHODOLOGY

This study was conducted as part of the Ipsos-Reid Express Poll, a weekly omnibus poll of 1,000 Canadian adults nationwide providing a ±3.1% margin of error, 19 times out of 20, and statistically reliable results in each major region of the country. Interviews were conducted by telephone from February 18th to 21st, 2005.

The geographic distribution of the sample is as follows:

DETAILED FINDINGS

Views on Commercial Hunting

Respondents were asked, using a scale of strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree, if hunting animals for commercial purposes is an acceptable practice, when it is carried out in a humane manner.

Slightly over half of Canadians (55%) either strongly (19%) or somewhat (36%) agree that hunting animals for commercial purposes is an acceptable practice, when it is carried out in a humane manner.

Four in ten (44%) disagree that it is an acceptable practice, with 28% saying they strongly disagree.

Views on Commercial Hunting

Using a scale of strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, strongly disagree, please tell me whether you agree or disagree with the following statement: Hunting animals for commercial purposes is an acceptable practice, when it is carried out in a humane manner?

Respondents most likely to strongly agree that hunting animals for commercial purposes is an acceptable practice, when carried out in a humane manner include:

• those with lower levels of academic attainment (peaking at 29% among those with less than high school),
• those who reside in rural areas (28%),
• residents of Saskatchewan/Manitoba (28%) and Alberta (26%),
• men (25%), and
• those between 35 and 54 years of age (21%).

Respondents most likely to strongly disagree that hunting animals for commercial purposes is an acceptable practice, when carried out in a humane manner include:

• residents of British Columbia (38%) and Ontario (31%),
• those between the ages of 18 and 34 (33%),
• women (32%), and
• those who reside in urban areas (30%).

Support for Current Federal Seal Hunting Policy

Respondents were offered the following conditions under which seal hunting is permitted under current federal policy: No nursing seals are hunted, the hunt is done is a humane manner and quotas are set to ensure that seal populations are sustained.

Based on this description, respondents were asked if they strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose the current policy.

Three in five Canadians say they support the policy (22% strongly and 38% somewhat), while 39% are opposed (23% strongly, 16% somewhat).

Support for Current Federal Seal Hunting Policy

Under the current federal policy, seal hunting is only permitted under the following conditions: no nursing seals are hunted, the hunt is done in a humane manner and quotas are set to ensure that seal populations are sustained. In general, would you say that you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose the current policy?

Respondents most likely to say that they strongly support the current policy include:

• those who reside in rural areas (33%),
• those who are older (peaking at 30% among those 55 years of age or older),
• residents of Saskatchewan/Manitoba (29%) and the Atlantic Provinces (28%),
• those with less than high school (29%), and
• men (25%).

Respondents most likely to say that they strongly oppose the current policy include:

• residents of British Columbia (32%),
• those with a high school education (29%),
• women (26%), and
• those who reside in urban areas (25%).

APPENDIX I – TOPLINE QUESTIONNAIRE

1. Using a scale of strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, strongly disagree, please tell me whether you agree or disagree with the following statement: Hunting animals for commercial purposes is an acceptable practice, when it is carried out in a humane manner?

2. Under the current federal policy, seal hunting is only permitted under the following conditions: no nursing seals are hunted, the hunt is done in a humane manner and quotas are set to ensure that seal populations are sustained. In general, would you say that you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose the current policy?

Last updated : 2005-08-29

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