May Poll: Natives are not justified in blocking rail lines

Recent Aboriginal protests over land claims do not have the support of most Canadians, a new Angus Reid Strategies poll has found.

In the past few weeks, Aboriginal groups have blocked railway lines to protest slow negotiations on over 800 native land claims. But in the online survey of a representative national sample, over half of respondents (56%) say these blockades are unjustified, with 44 per cent saying such actions are completely unjustified.

Earlier this month, Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice warned native leaders of financial penalties in the event federal money is used to plan blockades. Two-in three Canadians (67%) share Prentice’s opinion.

View the full results here