Data from a recent Angus Reid poll revealed that a majority of Canadians are in favour of mandatory national service for young adults, ranging from public health support, environmental support, youth services, and civil protection.

A survey by the Angus Reid Institute asked Canadians if they supported mandatory national service for people under 30, meaning one year of work in areas like health, community, or other public services. Many countries, such as Germany, France, and Norway, already have similar systems.

Most Canadians surveyed supported national service, with 73% in favour of environmental work, 72% for youth service, and 70% for civil protection. However, for mandatory military service, only 43% supported it, 44% opposed it, and 12% were unsure. Men were generally more supportive of the idea than women.

When asked about the type of mandatory national service preferred for young adults, 59% of Canadians chose civilian (non-military) service, 19% chose military, and 13% chose neither. In total, 82% of those surveyed believed mandatory non-military service would improve young adults’ personal development, with 40% saying it would improve it greatly. Many also thought it would improve public service (71%) and strengthen social connections in Canada (69%). The survey was conducted online with 1,619 Canadians and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2%.

Source: Chris Knight, National Post