An overwhelming majority of Calgarians believe the city will be hit by protests during the G-8 summit, a new poll reveals.
However, most residents don't believe the protests will be violent, and will not flee the city or alter their daily routines because of the summit.
"There are some concerns about personal safety, and there's a perception there will be demonstrations," said Jon Hartenberger, spokesman for the polling firm Hargroup Management Consultants.
"But they're not concerned about violent protests. Calgarians are not going to change what they do day-to-day. They are going to carry on with their lives."
This was the third survey conducted by the company on attitudes toward the G-8 summit in Kananaskis.
In this latest instalment, 519 Calgarians were polled between June 11 and 14 on a variety of G-8-related subjects. The survey was conducted just before the G-7 finance meetings in Halifax, which were marred by street fights between police and protesters.
According to the new poll:
- 91 per cent of Calgarians believe some form of public protest will take place during the summit;
- 56 per cent believe the protests will not be violent;
- Only 18 per cent of Calgarians believe the G-8 will be hit by a terrorist attack;
- Most Calgarians say they will not let the G-8 disrupt their daily lives.
Only four per cent plan to flee the city during the summit, and just six per cent plan to stay home from work during the event next week. Some Calgarians (36 per cent) will avoid certain areas of the city to bypass protests or other summit-related events.
Calgary activists have insisted G-8 protests will be peaceful. Yet activist Web sites are suggesting some protesters will try to blockade roads and paralyse the downtown during the June 26 and 27 summit.
The Web sites say activists are calling for a "Showdown at the Hoedown," in reference to the $300,000 city-sponsored gala for summit delegates and journalists.
Mayor Dave Bronconnier said, "Calgarians are not going to be intimidated by a group of people who think they are going to . . . blockade roads and not allow people to go to work.
"Those who wish to disrupt (the city) do so at their peril."
Calgary police Insp. Al Redford said police are hoping for an uneventful summit, but are also prepared to deal with protests that get out of hand.
Hartenberger said he's surprised the level of support for the G-8 -- about 52 per cent -- remained virtually unchanged in all three surveys conducted between November 2001 and June 2002.
"The level of support has remained very consistent," Hartenberger said.
He said the Calgarians who were surveyed seemed realistic about the possibility of protests.
"I think Calgarians are very pragmatic," he said. "Calgary has hosted major events before . . . so they're very pragmatic about what it takes to hold such an event."
The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 per cent, 19 times out of 20.
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