A vast majority of residents are “overwhelmingly worried” about the war in Iran, its potential escalation and the involvement of the Canadian military, according to a new poll.
A new survey from Canada Pulse Insights for CityNews found that 84 per cent of Canadians were concerned the conflict centred on the Strait of Hormuz could spread into a wider Middle East War. Eighty per cent were concerned that any Canadian military involvement could put personnel in harm’s way.
Those most concerned about the risk of a wider war in the Middle East are led by those who are the oldest at 92 per cent, followed by those aged 35-54 at 82 per cent, and people between the ages of 18 and 34 at 75 per cent, women at 86 per cent compared to men at 82 per cent.
However, over 70 per cent were prepared to accept some type of military role for Canada to play in the war.
The war in Iran began after the U.S. and Israel attacked the region on Feb. 28. Iran responded by effectively closing off the Strait of Hormuz, a transit point for a fifth of the world’s oil.
The poll found that 37 per cent of those 70 per cent would accept a military role if the mission was backed by a broad coalition of allies. Just over one-third would support a military role if there is a clear United Nations Mandate, 32 per cent said if Canadian forces are guaranteed a non-combat role.
Only 15 per cent said Canada should be willing to take part even without a UN or broad coalition mandate if key allies ask.
Not including the 30 per cent of those polled who don’t want Canada involved in any military action, Canadians shared what kind of actions they would support in the survey.
Over 80 per cent supported working with allies to lead diplomatic efforts to negotiate a ceasefire and reopen the strait, and 78 per cent supported providing humanitarian aid to civilians affected by the conflict.
Nearly 60 per cent said they would support sending Canadian military personnel in non-combat roles as a part of a joint mission, while 53 per cent supported sending Canadian Navy ships alongside other countries’ ships to escort commercial vessels in or near the Strait of Hormuz
Only 35 per cent agreed with joining allied countries in combat air or missile strikes against Iranian targets.
“There is a chance that Canadians would support some kind of work with the allies, quite separate from anything they would do with the United States. The view of Donald Trump in this country is toxic, and so if he were to ask us to be involved, Canadians would overwhelmingly say no,” shared pollster John Wright.
“If that request came for a coalition from Europe, that’s a different story, and Canadians would have to weigh it in terms of how we would be placed within that coalition.”
In Iran, authorities say more than 1,900 people have been killed, while 19 have been reported dead in Israel. More than two dozen people have died in Gulf states and the occupied West Bank, while 13 U.S. service members have been killed.
Canada Pulse Insights surveyed 1,511 Canadian adults powered by the SAGO online panel platform, March 21 – 25, 2026. The results have a comparable margin of error of ± 2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.