Winnipeg – Have you ever read a poll result and thought, “Wait, how did we get here?” That’s the feeling rippling through Canada’s Jewish and pro-Israel communities after a new Leger survey found that nearly half of Canadians, 49%, agree that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. If you’re shaking your head, you’re not alone.
Let’s break down the numbers. The poll, conducted between June 6 and 8 with 1,511 Canadians and 1,011 Americans, asked respondents if they “agree or disagree that Israel is committing genocide in the Gaza Strip,” based on their own definition of genocide. The results?
- 23% of Canadians strongly agree, and 26% somewhat agree, adding up to 49% in total.
- 21% disagree (10% somewhat, 11% strongly).
- A whopping 30% said they didn’t know or refused to answer.
If you’re wondering if this is just a Canadian phenomenon, it’s not. In the U.S., 38% agreed with the genocide accusation, while 26% disagreed and 36% were unsure. But here’s where it gets interesting: support for the “genocide” label is much higher among Liberal, NDP, Green, and Bloc Québécois supporters, over 60%, while only 37% of Conservative supporters agreed, and a third outright disagreed.
Now, before you start thinking Canada has turned into a nation of international law experts, consider this: more than half of Canadians (54%) admit they don’t follow news about the Middle East or the Gaza conflict at all. Only 9% say they’re following it very closely, and 35% somewhat closely. Despite that, 49% say they have a “very good or fairly good” understanding of the conflict. (If only self-confidence counted as expertise, right?)
Let’s pause for a second. The United Nations defines genocide as acts “committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group,” a legal threshold that international courts have rarely met, even in cases of mass violence. Yet, in the current political climate, the term “genocide” is being thrown around in headlines, protests, and now, apparently, in the minds of half the country.
Why does this matter? For Jewish Canadians, it’s not just about numbers. It’s about the climate we live in, a climate where Israel is routinely singled out and demonized, often with little understanding of the facts or the complexity of the conflict. As one pro-Israel advocate put it, “When people who don’t follow the news closely start using the word ‘genocide’ about the world’s only Jewish state, it’s time to ask: Who’s shaping the narrative?”
The poll comes at a tense moment. The Canadian government is under pressure to take stronger action against Israel, with recent sanctions on Israeli cabinet ministers and public letters from Prime Minister Mark Carney and other world leaders condemning Israel’s military operations in Gaza. The political winds are shifting, and, as the poll shows, public opinion is following.
But here’s the kicker: opinions on media coverage are split, too. Only 20% of Canadians think the media has been “generally balanced.” Another 20% say coverage is more favorable to Palestinians, and 21% say it’s more favorable to Israel. In other words, nobody’s happy, and everyone’s confused.
If you’re feeling frustrated, you’re not alone. It’s hard to have a real conversation about Israel and Gaza when the loudest voices are shouting “genocide,” and most people aren’t even following the story. For those of us who care deeply about Israel’s security, Jewish safety, and the truth, it’s a reminder that we have a lot of work to do, educating, advocating, and making sure facts matter more than slogans.
So, what can you do? Keep talking. Share real information. Challenge the easy narratives. And remember: polls measure opinions, not facts. The truth is more complicated and more important than any headline or hashtag.
This article is based on verified data from Leger’s June 2025 poll, as well as reporting from CTV News, Yahoo News, Castanet, and official statements from Canadian government and party leaders.