A recent CTV story has suggested that a recent poll shows that “the majority of Canadians object to Harper leaving abortion out of the G8 Maternal Health plan”. I’d much rather it read something like “after polling over and over and over again to get the results that we wanted, the majority has finally objected to leaving abortion out of the G8 Maternal Health plan”.

This is the fourth of fifth “poll” of its kind. Each prior poll has clearly reflected that the majority of Canadians actually like Harper’s idea. I highly doubt the changes are a reflection of Canadians “taking their time to go through the complex pros and cons in their minds”. I haven’t been going through the complex pros and cons in my mind. Have you? I don’t think that Canadians lack the intelligence to understand what someone is asking the first time.

Perhaps the question is being asked in a different way this time. As researchers, we have to be careful not to impose our own bias on other when polling. As a Canadian, I’ve noticed the tone and diction changing slightly every single time there is a poll about this subject.

Apparently, the media is having a hard time accepting the fact that the majority of Canadians stand for life and don’t want to see their tax dollars going to providing abortions in ANY country, including their own.

Erin Stewart

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