Government spending on flights for Canadians fleeing the Middle East unpopular, Nanos survey finds

Amid escalating violence in the Middle East, a majority of surveyed Canadians say they don't believe the costs associated with Canadians fleeing the region should be funded solely by the government.

Amid escalating violence in the Middle East, a majority of surveyed Canadians say they don't believe the costs associated with Canadians fleeing the region should be funded solely by the government.

The survey by Nanos Research and CTV News of more than 1,000 Canadian adults showed that more than a third of respondents felt Canadian citizens fleeing Lebanon, Israel or the broader region should cover travel costs on their own (36.2 per cent). A slightly larger percentage said costs should be shared between evacuees and the federal government (37.4 per cent).

Only one in five of those surveyed between Sept. 29 and Oct. 2 said that Canada should pay for evacuations in full (20.4 per cent), and six per cent indicated they were unsure.

Broken out by demographic, central Canadians, men and those aged 55 and up were more likely to report that the financial responsibility should fall to the evacuees.

Uncertainty was uncommon, with just four to nine per cent of people across all demographics saying they weren't sure of their opinion.

Recent months have seen a steep rise in attacks between Israel and militant groups across the Middle East, as the yearlong war in Gaza threatens to develop into a wider regional conflict.