Canadians fear wider war, open to limited role with allies in Strait of Hormuz

April 2, 2026 – Toronto, Ontario – A new CityNews/Canada Pulse Insights poll finds Canadians

deeply alarmed by the Strait of Hormuz crisis, with 84% concerned the conflict could escalate into

a wider Middle East war and 80% worried that any Canadian military involvement would put its

personnel in harm’s way.

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Despite these concerns, most Canadians (71%) are prepared to accept some form of military role

for Canada, although there is no clear consensus on the conditions that should be met before

joining any allied mission in the region.

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The findings also demonstrate that Canadians are prepared for Canada to work with allies in a

supportive role that keeps troops away from the front lines, and a slim majority even backs sending

Canadian Navy ships to escort and protect commercial vessels in or near the Strait of Hormuz — a

mission that could itself trigger the very risks they are most worried about.

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Beyond their broad worries, Canadians draw clear lines around how Canada should engage: more

than eight in 10 support working with allies to lead diplomatic efforts to negotiate a ceasefire and

reopen the Strait of Hormuz (81%) and providing humanitarian aid to civilians affected by the

conflict (78%); about six in 10 back sending Canadian military personnel in non‐combat roles only

as part of a joint mission (59%); but just over one in three support joining allied combat air or

missile strikes against Iranian targets (35%).

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