Most Canadians wouldn’t move out if Homolka lived in their community: poll
Posted May 5, 2016 6:15 am.
Last Updated September 12, 2017 11:17 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Most Canadians would not move if they found out that convicted killer Karla Homolka was living in their neighbourhood, but would be reluctant to let their children interact with her family, a national survey has found.
According to a poll conducted by Mainstreet Research for Postmedia, 71 per cent of parents surveyed admit they would stay put. Thirteen per cent of respondents said they would consider moving out, while six per cent would move out.
The survey comes after parents in a Montreal suburb learned last month that Homolka was living in the community, with her children attending the local school.
Despite 40 per cent of respondents saying they are “not too closely” following the news surrounding Homolka, they don’t want their children to mingle with her children.
The poll asked parents whether they would exclude Homolka’s children from their own child’s birthday party, and 41 per cent said they would.
Moreover, 55 per cent say they would not allow their children to attend a sleepover if it was known Homolka’s children would be attending.
“Even in situations where Homolka would be unlikely to be present without supervision parents are wary of allowing their children to interact with Homolka’s,” Quito Maggi, president of Mainstreet Research, said in a statement.
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Thirty-seven per cent of parents polled also said they would let their child attend the same school as Homolka’s children.
“Homolka committed horrific crimes which will follow her for the rest of her life. It appears, through no fault of their own, her children may have to live with her sins as well,” Maggi said.
Mainstreet surveyed 1,009 Canadian parents by telephone from April 29-30. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.09 per cent, 19 times out of 20.
Read the poll results below or click here for a mobile-friendly link.