Canadians overwhelmingly oppose Iraq war

A recent poll tells us what we already knew:

Canadians are solidly (89%) opposed to the war in Iraq and most Americans (59%) now believe that our decision not to join that prolonged and unpopular conflict was a good one.

We have Jean Chretien to thank for keeping us out of that fiasco. It it had been up to Steven Harper, opposition leader at the time and now Prime Minister, we would now be up to our necks in it.

In my judgment Canada will eventually join with the allied coalition if war on Iraq comes to pass. The government will join, notwithstanding its failure to prepare, its neglect in co-operating with its allies, or its inability to contribute. In the end it will join out of the necessity created by a pattern of uncertainty and indecision. It will not join as a leader but unnoticed at the back of the parade.

• Hansard, January 29, 2003

In 2003 Harper was one of Canada's biggest hawks. Don't forget this when and if the federal election ever comes to pass.