Despite the spectre of several years of federal deficits, budget cuts to Canada’s national defence would go against the majority of public opinion, according to a new online survey.

Fifty-eight per cent agree that “we should spend what the military needs to sustain our ability to fight terrorism in places like Afghanistan, support humanitarian ventures like Haiti and defend Canada’s homeland in places like the north,” reported the poll, conducted just before last week’s budget by Innovative Research Group on behalf of the Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute.

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced stable defence funding for the upcoming fiscal year, but $1.5 billion in planned cuts starting in 2012 after the Canadian military mission in Afghanistan has ended.

Only 22 per cent surveyed in the online poll favour military spending cuts, while 10 per cent believe the military should only be outfitted to defend Canada’s border.

However, 35 per cent believe Canada spends too little on its armed forces.

“There appears to be a renewed desire for Canada to play a leadership role in the world – one that goes well beyond the soft power words of yesterday, to concrete action that truly makes a difference,” wrote Elinor Sloan, a Carleton University political science professor and CDFAI member.

Sloan said the cuts would delay “hard decisions” on new Arctic patrol vessels, destroyers, supply ships, and fighter aircraft as promised in the 2008 Canada First Defence Strategy.  

The survey results were considered accurate with 2.7 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. More than 1,340 people were polled from all regions of Canada.