Younger Canadians royally indifferent to tour

The Toronto Star:

Ottawa — The youthful royal newlyweds might be the best hope to revitalize the monarchy with some fresh-faced glamour and enthusiasm, but a new survey suggests younger Canadians are largely indifferent to the upcoming visit.

More than half of young Canadians between 18 and 34 expressed indifference as one of the feelings they associate with the pending visit of William and Kate, according to an Angus Reid Public Opinion poll commissioned by the Star.

That compares to 37 per cent Canadians over the age of 55, and 43 per cent of those 35-54 who feel the same way about the visit, which begins Thursday when Prince William and Catherine — the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge — lay a wreath at the National War Memorial in Ottawa.

Fifty-three per cent of the younger age group disagreed with the idea that Canada should sever all ties with the British monarchy and 43 per cent disagreed with the idea of abolishing institutions like the governor general.

Sixty-four per cent of French-speaking respondents said they agreed with the idea of severing ties with the monarchy and 74 per cent of them agreed with getting rid of the governor general role or the lieutenant-governor of Quebec, compared to 25 per cent and 31 per cent, respectively, of English-speaking Canadians.

Sixty-five per cent of Quebec respondents said they felt indifferent to the royal visit, compared to 44 per cent of the general population.

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