OTTAWA - A strong majority of Canadians support the federal ban on polygamy and want to keep it in place, according to a new poll.

When asked whether polygamy should be legal, just 15% of Canadians polled by Abacus Data said yes, 68% said no and 16% were unsure.

The Supreme Court of British Columbia wrapped up hearings last week in a reference case that was called to determine if the ban on multiple spouses is constitutional.

A break-away sect of Mormons has been practicing polygamy in Bountiful, B.C., for more than 50 years, and according to several Imams in Toronto, it is a growing practice among Muslims in Canada's largest city.

If Canadians have their way, the anti-polygamy law will remain on the books.

Women were much more likely to favour a ban, with 75% saying they oppose legal polygamy, while just 62% of men want it banned.

Among Canadians between 18 and 29, support for banning polygamy falls to 51%. In that age group, 30% support its legalization.

If the law is struck down, 74% said that they would strongly or somewhat support the federal government using "all means necessary to fight the ruling."

The poll of 1,005 adult Canadians was conducted online with participants chosen from a panel of over 75,000 Canadians. The margin of error -- which measures sampling variability -- is comparable to 3.2%, 19 times out of 20.