DEVELOPING Jasper wildfire burns buildings, while poor air quality forces some fire crews out
A fast-moving wildfire has hit Jasper, Alberta, destroying buildings and chasing some wildland firefighters away with dangerously poor air quality.
A new poll suggests almost two-thirds of Canadians believe the Russian invasion of Ukraine has the potential to develop into a world war.
Just over half of those surveyed backed the idea of Canada providing military support for Ukraine against Russia as part of a joint North Atlantic Treaty Organization force.
The online survey of 1,519 Canadians and 1,004 Americans was conducted by Leger from Feb. 25 to 27, just after Moscow’s attack began.
The survey cannot be assigned a margin of error because internet-based polls are not considered truly random samples.
Perhaps not surprisingly, 89 per cent of Canadians surveyed said they were somewhat or very concerned about Russia invading Ukraine.
Asked which side they supported in the conflict, 83 per cent of Canadians said Ukraine, compared with 71 per cent of Americans who backed the target of Moscow’s assault.
Almost three-quarters of Canadians said Russian President Vladimir Putin was lying when he tried to justify the invasion by saying, "I have decided to conduct a special military operation … to protect people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide … for the last eight years.”
Just over two-thirds of Americans polled said Putin’s statement was a lie.
Sixty-six per cent of Canadians surveyed said they felt Russia’s invasion could escalate into a global conflict, a figure that surprised Leger executive vice-president Christian Bourque.
The figure indicates people see the war as more than just someone else's conflict in a faraway place, he said.
"I would imagine that this sort of concern is probably growing in the population."
In terms of first steps to address the conflict, 45 per cent of Canadians surveyed advocated stronger economic sanctions against Russia, the primary course of action Canada and its allies have pursued to date.
Just over one-fifth backed the idea of starting negotiations to find a peaceful compromise, while 14 per cent supported military action to help defend Ukraine. Just two per cent advocated military action against Russia.
Twelve per cent of Canadians polled said they backed waiting and seeing what happens, while seven per cent supported doing nothing.
Possible action by the Canadian military was supported by nine per cent of Canadians, while 52 per cent backed the idea if Canada were part of a joint NATO force.
Thirteen per cent said Canada should only send military supplies and money, and 11 per cent felt no military support should be provided.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 3, 2022.
A fast-moving wildfire has hit Jasper, Alberta, destroying buildings and chasing some wildland firefighters away with dangerously poor air quality.
More than 25,000 people have been displaced from Jasper National Park since wildfires started to threaten the picturesque corner of Alberta Rockies on Monday, but the mayor of its namesake municipality says not everyone received an evacuation alert when it was sent out.
The North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers flying near Alaska Wednesday in what appears to be the first time the two countries have been intercepted while operating together.
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country's democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Alberta has called in the Canadian Armed Forces to help assist with the worsening wildfire situation in the province.
An analyst and an assistant coach with Canada Soccer are being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and 'sent home immediately,' according to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
A B.C. man who was hired to help a non-profit build a food hub but instead spent the money on personal expenses – including travel, restaurants, booze and cannabis – has been ordered to pay more than $120,000 in damages.
A local First Nations elder and veteran is helping to bring the Ojibwe language to a well-known film for the first time.
A cat who fled her Montreal home nearly a decade ago has been reunited with her family after being found in Ottawa.
A woman in Waterloo, Ont. is out thousands of dollars for a car crash she wasn’t involved in.
A swarm of bees living in a lamppost in Winnipeg’s Sage Creek neighbourhood has found a new home for its hive.
Around 100 acres of Manitoba Crown Land near the Saskatchewan border is being returned to the Métis community.
Nova Scotia is suspending the licensed Cape Breton moose hunt for three years due to what the province is calling a “significant drop” in the population.
A well-known childhood prank known as 'nicky nicky nine doors,' or 'ding dong ditch,' has escalated into a more serious game that could lead to charges for some Surrey, B.C. teens.
It's been more than a month since their good friend was seriously hurt in an accident and two teens from Riverview, N.B., are still having a hard time dealing with it.
Halifax bridges have collected thousands of coins from around the world.