Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks at a news conference Friday, August 26, 2016 in Saguenay, Que. Trudeau leaves for China Monday.Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press
Canadians are split on whether trade or human rights should be the priority as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau launches his first official visit to China, a new poll has found.
The Globe and Mail/Nanos survey found that 44 per cent of Canadians feel that ensuring Canada has good trade relations with China should be the priority for Canada's relations with China. On the other hand, 43 per cent of respondents said that China's human-rights record within its own borders is more important.
Pollster Nik Nanos added that increasing trade with China is a top priority for males (53 per cent), while promoting human rights is more important for women (48 per cent), as well as younger Canadians (49 per cent).
Given that the Liberal Party owes much of its electoral success to women and young voters, he said the government cannot ignore concerns over China's treatment of minorities and dissidents.
"It's pretty clear in looking at both of those key parts of the population that human rights is more important than good trade relations," Mr. Nanos said in an interview. "What I find interesting is that in an era where the economy is fragile, human rights tracks so well."
The poll results echo Mr. Trudeau's parallel messaging in the lead-up to his eight-day trip to China, in which he said he would address issues of human rights and democracy even as he tried to boost Canadian exports to China.
"We want to set a very clear and constructive relationship with China that, yes, looks at the potential economic benefits of better trade relationships, while at the same time ensuring that our voice is heard clearly on issues of human rights, labour rights, democracy and environmental stewardship," Mr. Trudeau told reporters last week.
Mr. Nanos said that with this split in public opinion, Mr. Trudeau now has the power to shape it to suit his government's priorities for China.
"In a way, when the numbers are like this, there is a lot more flexibility for the Prime Minister in terms of not just what he wants to achieve, but what is realistic in terms of engagement with the Chinese," he said.
The Nanos survey of 1,000 respondents, which was conducted by telephone and online between Aug. 22 and 25, offers a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
Another recent poll commissioned by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada found growing support for the idea of a free-trade agreement with China. The poll, which was conducted by Ekos Research Associates, found 46 per cent of Canadians would support a free-trade agreement with China, up from 36 per cent in the foundation's 2014 report. Forty-six per cent would oppose such a deal, down from 50 per cent two years ago.
Still, the poll also found fewer Canadians believe the human-rights situation in China is improving, and more than half (51 per cent) would be willing to forgo economic opportunities in Asian countries with human-rights concerns.
Eva Busza, vice-president of research and programs at the foundation, said in some respects Canadians appear to be developing a more positive view of Asia. She said the poll found 48 per cent of Canadians believe Asia should be this country's foreign-policy priority, up from 37 per cent in 2014. Forty-nine per cent viewed China's growth as an opportunity, up from 41 per cent.
"I think this poll suggests the Canadian public is taking a more nuanced approach to Asia," she said in an interview.
The Ekos poll surveyed 3,526 Canadians during a three-week period in June and July and has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.6 per cent.
With a report from Sunny Dhillon