By Mario Canseco

Race Relations Improving for More than Two-in-Five Canadians

June 9, 2023June 8, 2023By Mario Canseco

More than three-in-five Canadians have witnessed behaviour on social media that they would consider racist.

Vancouver, BC [June 9, 2023] – The proportion of Canadians who believe race relations are on the mend has risen since 2021, even if specific groups recall being targeted by racist behaviour in particular settings, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 45% of Canadians believe race relations in Canada have improved over the past two years, up four points since a similar Research Co. survey conducted in July 2021.

More than a third of Canadians (37%, +1) think race relations have worsened over the past two years, while 18% (-4) are undecided.

Almost half of British Columbians (48%) believe race relations have degraded. The numbers are significantly lower in Ontario (40%), Alberta (36%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (35%), Quebec (33%) and Atlantic Canada (24%).

Majorities of Canadians whose ancestry is African (71%, +18), South Asian (57%, -1) and Southeast Asian (54%, +11) feel race relations are better now than in 2021. The proportions are lower among respondents of First Nations (48%, -5), European (41%, +7) and East Asian (40%, -1) origins.

More than two-in-five Canadians say they have personally endured racism on social media (47%, -2), on day-to-day social interactions (46%, -3) and at work (42%, +1).

Fewer Canadians have personally experienced racism at work (39%, -1), during interactions with police or law enforcement officers (33%, -2) or during interactions with the health care system (32%, =).

“Just under four-in-five Canadians of East Asian origins (78%) have experienced racism during day-to-say social interactions,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Canadians of First Nations descent are significantly more likely to have endured racism at work (59%) or when dealing with the police (also 59%).”

When asked about behaviour they have witnessed in Canada, there are increases in the number of Canadians who have been exposed to racism on social media (63%, +5), on day-to-day social interactions (58%, +5) and at school (50%, +3).

Fewer than half of Canadians report seeing racist behaviour at work (45%, +2), engaging with police and law enforcement officers (42%, =) and dealing with the health care system (41%, +5).

Methodology: Results are based on an online survey conducted from May 19 to May 21, 2023, among 1,000 adults in Canada. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in Canada. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is +/- 3.1 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.

Find our data tables here and download the press release here.

For more information on this poll, please contact:

Mario Canseco, President, Research Co.

778.929.0490

[e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca

Photo Credit: Kenny Louie

Metro Vancouverites Endorse Various Ideas to Curb Opioid Crisis

June 7, 2023June 6, 2023By Mario Canseco

Still, opioids are way behind public safety, housing and the economy on the list of priorities for municipal governments.

Vancouver, BC [June 7, 2023] – There is high public support in Metro Vancouver for specific actions that could be taken to deal with the use of prescription and non-prescription opioid drugs, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative sample of Metro Vancouver residents, more than four-in-five respondents (81%) agree with promoting abstinence, rehabilitation and recovery.

Almost seven-in-ten Metro Vancouverites (69%) agree with regulating the drug supply to ensure that users do not die from tainted substances, while just over three-in-five (61%) are in favour of establishing tougher sentences for people charged and convicted of drug possession.

More than seven-in-ten Metro Vancouverites endorse both voluntary (77%) and mandatory (72%) treatment for individuals with substance use or addiction issues.

“Support for a properly regulated drug supply in Metro Vancouver is highest among residents aged 18-to-34 (77%),” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Majorities of those aged 35-to-54 (64%) and aged 55 and over (67%) are also in agreement.”

Respondents to this survey were provided with a list of six different priorities for their municipal government. More than two thirds of Metro Vancouverites want to focus primarily on either public safety (35%) or housing, homelessness and poverty (33%).

The rating as the most important priority is lower for the economy and jobs (17%), opioids (10%), municipal services (4%) and infrastructure (also 4%).

More than two-in-five Metro Vancouverites aged 35-to-54 (43%) and aged 55 and over (45%) placed opioids as their least important priority. The proportion is lower among those aged 18-to-34 (26%).

When asked why they think people use prescription and non-prescription opioid drugs in their community, more than seven-in-ten Metro Vancouverites (71%) believe it is to escape or abandon reality, while more than half (56%) think this is done to numb physical pain.

About two-in-five Metro Vancouverites (39%) think prescription and non-prescription opioid drugs are used in their community for fun or to experiment—a proportion that rises to 47% among those aged 18-to-34.

More than half of Metro Vancouverites (55%) have encountered empty bottles or cans of alcoholic beverages on the street or in a park. About a third (33%) have also found used needles in public places, while 28% have come across pipes or other drug paraphernalia on the street or in a park.

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from May 19 to May 21, 2023, among 600 adults in Metro Vancouver. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in Metro Vancouver. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is plus or minus 4.0 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

Find our data tables here and download the press release here.

For more information on this poll, please contact:

Mario Canseco, President, Research Co.

778.929.0490 [e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca

Photo Credit: Hisakazu Watanabe

British Columbians Displeased with Politicians on Opioid Crisis

June 2, 2023June 2, 2023By Mario Canseco

One-in-five of the province’s residents (20%) personally know someone who died after using opioid drugs.

Vancouver, BC [June 2, 2023] – Many British Columbians remain concerned about the use of prescription and non-prescription opioid drugs in their community, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative provincial sample, 61% of British Columbians describe the situation as a “major problem”, down three points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in October 2018.

More than half of British Columbians (56%, +14) think Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Canadian Federal Government have done a “bad” or “very bad” job coming up with solutions to deal with the use of prescription and non-prescription opioid drugs.

Pluralities of British Columbians are also dissatisfied with how their Member of Parliament (48%, +17), Premier David Eby and the provincial government (45%), their mayors and councils (44%, +9), and their member of the Legislative Assembly (43%, +13) have handled this issue.

More than two thirds of British Columbians support three ideas to address the use of prescription and non-prescription opioid drugs in their community: creating more spaces for drug rehabilitation (81%, -9), launching more education and awareness campaigns about drug use (76%, -14) and reducing the prescription of opioids by medical professionals (69%, -9).

Most British Columbians are also in agreement on establishing safe supply programs where alternatives to opioids, can be prescribed by health professionals (63%) and setting up more harm reduction strategies, such as legal supervised injection sites (58%, -8). Fewer of the province’s residents are in favour of decriminalizing all drugs for personal use (40%, -5).

“More than half of British Columbians who voted for the BC Liberals in 2020 (55%) agree with safe supply programs,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “The level of support is higher among those who cast ballots for the BC New Democratic Party (NDP) (68%) or the BC Green Party (73%) in the last provincial election.”

More than a third of British Columbians (36%) say they know someone in their community who has used prescription or non-prescription opioid drugs in the last year—including a friend or member of their extended family (17%), someone they know from work, school, neighbourhood or place of worship (13%) or a family or household member (12%).

One-in-five British Columbians (20%) personally know someone who died after using prescription and non-prescription opioid drugs in their community—a proportion that rises to 27% in the Fraser Valley and to 25% in both Northern BC and Southern BC.

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from May 17 to May 19, 2023, among 800 adults in British Columbia. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in Canada. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

Find our data tables here and download the press release here.

For more information on this poll, please contact:

Mario Canseco, President, Research Co.

778.929.0490 [e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca

Photo Credit: Andrew Raun

How Alberta Voted: A Provincial “Exit Poll”.

May 31, 2023May 31, 2023By Mario Canseco

Ideas and policies won the election for the UCP, but things could have been different if the previous leader had decided to stick around.

Vancouver, BC [May 31, 2023] – Prior to the televised debate in Alberta’s provincial election, the New Democratic Party (NDP) had a slight two-point edge over the United Conservative Party (UCP) in a Research Co. survey. NDP leader Rachel Notley was connecting on her party’s traditional strengths—health care and education—and even was ahead of the UCP’s Danielle Smith on the preferred premier question. Smith was seen as a superior choice to deal with the energy file and was regarded as a better economic manager, but not by much.

After the debate and in the final days of campaigning, our final poll focused on likely voters, as well as those who had already cast their ballot prior to Election Day. The NDP saw its significant 26-point advantage in the Edmonton Metropolitan Area (61% to 35%), which had been enough to put the party in first place provincewide, fall to 13 points (55% to 42%). Still significant, but not overwhelming.

In the Calgary Metropolitan Area, the lead for the UCP fell to three points (50% to 47%). In the remaining areas of the province, two thirds of decided voters (68%) told us they would support the UCP, and fewer than three-in-ten (28%) were casting a ballot for the NDP. Our final forecast in the three regions deviates by a couple of points or less from the final results published by Elections Alberta.

Our “Exit Poll” outlines why the UCP consolidated the vote in the final stages of the campaign. Ideas and policies were the most important factor for 44% of voters in Alberta. On this indicator, UCP supporters have a higher score than their NDP counterparts (48% to 39%). Practically half of Albertans who voted for the winning party had ideas and policies in mind. This is higher than the percentages observed for the Progressive Conservatives in Ontario (40%) and the CAQ in Quebec (28%) in last year’s provincial elections.

Just over one-in-four voters in Alberta (26%) told us that the main motivator for their vote was the party’s leader. NDP supporters were more likely to be casting a ballot for Notley (33%) than UCP supporters directly endorsing Smith (22%). All other possible factors are ranked significantly lower: disgust with other contending candidates (11%), the party’s candidate in the riding (8%), desire for stability (also 8%) and desire for change (also 8%).

In an election where only two contending parties have a chance of winning seats, asking about “strategic voting” makes little sense. Instead, we relied on three questions to figure out specific feelings. The negativity was not intense. About one-in-four voters said they cast a ballot for a candidate or party they dislike (23%) or voted to avoid policies they dislike (24%).

Perceptions on the future are another matter. Only 42% of voters in Alberta thought the province would be in a good place, regardless of who won the election. This leaves practically three-in-five voters (58%) who expected Alberta to be in a bad place if a specific party emerged victorious. The polarization is palpable when we look at this question by party support: 60% of UCP voters and 59% of NDP voters predicted hard times if “the other party” formed the government.

At this moment, following the concession and victory speeches, one could assume that the Premier and the Leader of the Opposition would face each other again in 2027. Albertans, who flirted with smaller parties for months, are ready for fresh faces. Almost four-in-five (79%) wish that the province had better people serving as leaders of the main political parties. Of course, each side seems to be blaming someone else: 82% of NDP voters and 81% of UCP voters appear to thoroughly dislike each other’s standard-bearers.

Finally, we take a look at the first leader of the UCP. When asked if they would cast a ballot for the party if Jason Kenney was still in command, 42% of voters in Alberta agreed—a proportion that rises to 50% among men and 49% among those aged 55 and over.

The stark contrast is outside of Calgary and Edmonton, where only 38% of voters were ready to back the UCP with Kenney as leader—a severe drop from the 68% who voted for the party under Smith this year. The former premier may have lost the rural areas after failing to strike the right balance on COVID-19. This precipitated the creation of alternatives, such as the minor parties that, ultimately, did not come close to running full slates of candidates.

Smith, who recovered in time to be ahead on the Best Premier question on our final poll of the campaign, deserves credit for keeping the UCP together. Only 64% of UCP voters in 2023 would have supported the party with Kenney as leader. Some may say that this year’s election yielded a lower seat count and a diminished popular vote to the UCP, but these comparisons are being made with the best version of Kenney that existed and was no longer available in 2020, 2021 and 2022. This election would have been very different if the UCP had not changed leaders.

Find our data tables here.

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted on May 29 and May 30, 2023, among 500 adults in Alberta who voted in the 2022 provincial election. The margin of error — which measures sample variability — is +/- 4.4 percentage points for the sample of decided voters, nineteen times out of twenty.

Photo Credit: Marcel Schoenhardt

Majority of Canadians Report Living in a Noisier City or Town

May 29, 2023May 28, 2023By Mario Canseco

Unnecessary noise from vehicles, barking dogs and construction noises top the list of common nuisances for Canadians.

Vancouver, BC [May 29, 2023] – The proportion of Canadians who feel their city or town has become more strident has increased, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 54% of Canadians believe their city or town has become noisier over the past year, up five points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in August 2022.

More than three-in-five residents of Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia (61% each) think their city or town is more strident now than in 2022. The proportions are lower in Quebec (50%), Atlantic Canada (45%) and Saskatchewan and Manitoba (44%).

A third of Canadians (32%, +2) say their home is noisier now than last year, while more than two-in-five (43%, +2) feel the same way about their street.

Over the past year, almost a third of Canadians (32%, -4) have been bothered by unnecessary noise from vehicles (such as motorcycles and cars revving up) while inside their homes. Only two other nuisances come close to this level: dogs barking (30%, +3) and construction-related noises (such as roofing, land clearing and heavy machinery) (29%, =).

More than one-in-five Canadians have been exposed to other noises a home, such as loud people outside (23%, -5), a car alarm (22%, -3), loud music playing inside a vehicle (also 22%, +1), loud music at a nearby home (21%, +3) and drivers honking the horn excessively (also 21%, +1).

Fewer Canadians report being bothered by yard work (such as lawnmowers and leaf blowers) (20%, -5), yelling or screaming at a nearby home (20% (+1), fireworks (also 20%, +2), power tools (such as electric saws and sanders) (19%, -2), a loud gathering or party at a nearby home (16%, -1), a home alarm (11%, +1) or cats meowing (7%, =).

Across the country, 16% of Canadians (+2) say they are wearing earplugs to mitigate noise while inside their home, while 11% (+4) have acquired hardware, such as noise cancelling headphones or earphones.

Fewer Canadians have reported noise concerns to the police (9%, +1) or moved away from their previous home because of noise (6%, +1).

“The proportion of Canadians who have not taken any action to deal with noise inside their home has fallen from 74% in 2022 to 67% in 2023,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Canadians aged 18-to-34 are more likely to be wearing earplugs or acquiring special hardware to mitigate noise.”

Find our data tables here and download the press release here.

For more information on this poll, please contact:

Mario Canseco, President, Research Co.

778.929.0490

[e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca

Support for UCP Consolidates in Final Stages of Alberta Campaign

May 27, 2023May 31, 2023By Mario Canseco

UCP leader Danielle Smith now has a small lead over the NDP’s Rachel Notley in the “Best Premier” question.

Vancouver, BC [May 27, 2023] – The governing United Conservative Party (UCP) is ahead of the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) in Alberta, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative provincial sample of likely voters, half of decided voters in Alberta (50%) would cast a ballot for the UCP candidate in their constituency in this Monday’s election, while 46% would support the NDP.

“Since our previous survey conducted in mid-May, voter support for the UCP has increased by three points across Alberta,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Conversely, the NDP’s province-wide numbers are down by the same margin.”

Four per cent of decided voters are backing other parties, including the Green Party (1%, =) and the Solidarity Movement (also 1%, =).

The NDP was ahead of the UCP in Edmonton by 16 points earlier this month, but currently has a significantly smaller advantage (55% to 42%). The UCP holds the upper hand in Calgary (50% to 47%) and has expanded its advantage in the remaining regions of the province (68% to 28%).

Only 15% of decided voters say they may change their mind and support another party’s candidate on Monday’s election. NDP voters are more certain of their choice (95%) than UCP supporters (86%).

Over the past 10 days, the approval rating for Premier and UCP leader Danielle Smith increased from 39% to 47% across Alberta. Official Opposition and NDP leader Rachel Notley experienced a more modest rise, from 50% to 53%.

Fewer than one-in-four likely voters in Alberta approve of the way Green leader Jordan Wilkie (22%, +7) and Solidarity leader Artur Pawlowski (18%, +7) have handled their duties

On the momentum question, just over one-in-four likely voters in Alberta (26%) have an improved opinion of Smith since the start of the campaign, while 38% say it is worse now. Notley’s score on this indicator is even (27% improved, 27% worsened).

Smith heads to Election Day with a two-point edge over Notley on being regarded as the best premier for the province (43% to 41%). In our previous survey, Notley was ahead of Smith by five points.

As was the case in the middle of the campaign, Albertans point to two issues as the most important challenges facing the province right now: health care (27%, -2) and the economy and jobs (also 27%, =).

Housing, poverty and homelessness is third on the list of concerns with 12% (+4), followed by crime and public safety (8%, =) and government accountability (7%, =).

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted on May 26 and May 27, 2023, among 600 likely voters in Alberta, including 571 decided voters in the 2022 provincial election. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in Alberta. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is +/- 4.0 percentage points for the entire sample and +/- 4.1 percentage points for the sample of decided voters, nineteen times out of twenty.

Find our data tables here and download the press release here.

For more information on this poll, please contact:

Mario Canseco, President, Research Co.

778.929.0490

[e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca

Almost Three-in-Five British Columbians Say Crime is Rising

May 24, 2023May 23, 2023By Mario Canseco

The proportion of residents who have been the victims of a crime that merited a call to the police has been stable since 2018.

Vancouver, BC [May 24, 2023] – The proportion of British Columbians who hold negative perceptions about public safety has risen markedly, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative provincial sample, 59% of British Columbians say the level of criminal activity in their community has increased in the past four years, up eight points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in July 2022.

Just under one-in-five British Columbians (18%, =) say they have been victims of a crime involving the police (such as an assault or a car break-in) in their community.

“The perceptions of British Columbians on criminal activity have worsened every year since we started asking these questions in 2018,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “During the same period, there has been little movement when residents of the province are asked if they were victims of a crime that merited a police report.”

When asked about which factors are to blame “a great deal” for the current situation regarding crime and public safety in their community, a majority of British Columbians mention addiction and mental health issues (59%, +8).

Other factors that British Columbians blame “a great deal” are gangs and the illegal drug trade (41%, +4), an inadequate court system (39%, +7), poverty and inequality (34%, +2), lack of values and improper education for youth (28%, +1), a bad economy and unemployment (22%, -2), insufficient policing and a lack of resources to combat crime (also 22%, =) and immigrants and minorities (11%, +3).

More than half of British Columbians (52%, +4) say they fear becoming victims of crime in their community “a great deal” or “a fair amount”—a proportion that rises to 72% among those aged 18-to-34.

More than a third of British Columbians (36%, +2) say they would feel “moderately unsafe” or “very unsafe” walking alone in their own neighbourhood after dark, including 47% in the Fraser Valley and 45% in Northern BC.

Support for establishing a provincewide police force in British Columbia is up significantly, going from 39% in June 2022 to 51% in May 2023.

More than half of residents of Northern BC (54%) and Metro Vancouver (also 54%) favour the creation of a provincewide police force. Support is lower in the Fraser Valley (49%), Vancouver Island (45%) and Southern BC (43%).

At least four-in-five British Columbians voice support for banning military-style assault weapons (82%, =) and handguns (80%, +5) in their municipality.

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from May 14 to May 16, 2023, among 800 adults in British Columbia. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in Canada. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

Find our data tables here and download the press release here.

For more information on this poll, please contact:

Mario Canseco, President, Research Co.

778.929.0490 [e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca

Canada’s Moral Compass Steady on Humans, Tilting on Animals

May 19, 2023May 18, 2023By Mario Canseco

There is little change in perceptions on issues like contraception and pre-marital sex, but fewer find fur clothing acceptable.

Vancouver, BC [May 19, 2023] – More than half of Canadians have no moral reservations about specific issues related to human relations, a new Research Co. poll has found.

The online survey of a representative national sample asked Canadians whether they considered 21 different issues as “morally acceptable” or “morally wrong.”

More than seven-in-ten Canadians think contraception (75%, unchanged since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in May 2022) and divorce (71%, -2) are morally acceptable, and more than two thirds feel the same way about sexual relations between an unmarried man and woman (69%, =) and having a baby outside of marriage (also 69%, =).

More than half of Canadians consider four other issues as morally acceptable: physician-assisted death (58%, -3), sexual relations between two people of the same sex (57%, -2), medical research using stem cells obtained from human embryos (55%, =), abortion (53%, -2) and gambling (52%, =).

“There is a sizeable gender gap when Canadians are asked about same-sex relations,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “While 65% of women find them morally acceptable, the proportion drops to 50% among men.”

Majorities of Canadians of East Asian (60%) and Indigenous origins (55%) believe abortion is morally acceptable. The proportions are lower among Canadians whose descent is European (46%) and South Asian (35%).

Just under a third of Canadians deem pornography (32%, +1) and prostitution (also 32%, +2) as morally acceptable. On each one of these issues, men are more likely to have no qualms (40%) than women (24%).

The most significant year-to-year fluctuation is observed on buying and wearing clothing made of animal fur. Three-in-ten Canadians (30%) think this is morally acceptable, down six points since 2022. Fewer Canadians think two other issues related to animal welfare are morally acceptable: medical testing on animals (22%, -3) and cloning animals (20%, +1).

Fewer than one-in-four Canadians think six other issues included in the survey are morally acceptable: polygamy (21%, +2), suicide (20%, +2), using illegal drugs (19%, +1), married men and/or women having an affair (18%, +2), cloning humans (11%, -1) and paedophilia (7%, +3).

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from May 12 to May 14, 2022, among 1,000 adults in Canada. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region. The margin of error, which measures sample variability, is +/- 3.1 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.

Find our data tables here and download the press release here.

For more information on this poll, please contact:

Mario Canseco, President, Research Co.

778.929.0490

[e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca

Tight Race in Alberta as Support for Minor Parties Fizzles

May 18, 2023May 27, 2023By Mario Canseco

Rachel Notley is ahead of Danielle Smith when Albertans are asked who would make the best head of government.

Vancouver, BC [May 18, 2023] – Alberta’s two main political parties are virtually tied as voters ponder their choices in the provincial election, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative provincial sample, 49% of decided voters in Alberta would support the New Democratic Party (NDP) candidate in their riding in this month’s election, while 47% would cast a ballot for the governing United Conservative Party (UCP).

Only 4% of decided voters in Alberta are currently choosing candidates from other parties, including the Green Party (1%) and the Solidarity Movement (also 1%).

Support for the UCP has increased by 17 points since a Research Co. survey conducted in March 2022, when Jason Kenney was still Alberta’s premier. The NDP has gained four points in that span, as voter support for third parties declined from 25% to just 4%.

At this stage of the campaign, the NDP has a significant advantage among decided voters in Edmonton (61% to 35%). The UCP is ahead in Calgary (52% to 44%) and in the remaining regions of the province (63% to 31%).

“Just under one-in-five decided voters in Alberta (19%) say they may change their mind and support a different party’s candidate in the election,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “This includes 27% of those aged 18-to-34 and 24% of those who do not reside in the Calgary or Edmonton metropolitan areas.”

Two topics continue to dominate when Albertans are asked about the most important issue facing the province: health care (29%, -1) and the economy and jobs (27%, -2). All other perceived challenges are in single digits, including crime and public safety (8%, +6), housing, poverty and homelessness (also 8%, +1) and government accountability (7%, -6).

Half of the province’s residents (50%, +1) approve of the way Official Opposition and NDP leader Rachel Notley is handling her duties. The rating is lower for Premier and UCP leader Danielle Smith (39%), Green leader Jordan Wilkie (15%, -5) and Solidarity leader Artur Pawlowski (11%).

All four party leaders post a negative momentum score: -2 for Notley, -7 for Wilkie, -15 for Pawlowski and -25 for Smith.

On the preferred premier question, Notley holds a five-point advantage over Smith (43% to 38%), with significant support from women (48%) and Albertans aged 18-to-34 (52%).

When asked which of the two party leaders is better suited to manage specific issues, Notley holds the upper hand on health care (50% to 32%), education (49% to 31%), the environment (47% to 29%), housing, poverty and homelessness (45% to 29%), accountability (45% to 34%), seniors care (44% to 29%) and child care (43% to 28%).

Smith is ahead on energy and pipelines (50% to 28%), the economy and jobs (44% to 35%), managing the province’s finances (40% to 37%), crime and public safety (39% to 34%) and transportation projects (37% to 33%).

The two leaders are tied, each with 38%, when Albertans ponder who would be the best at creating jobs.

Only 16% of Albertans (-5) support the introduction of a provincial sales tax (PST), while more than three-in-four (77%, +5) are opposed to it.

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted on May 16 and May 17, 2023, among 600 adults in Alberta, including 529 decided voters in the 2022 provincial election. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in Alberta. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is +/- 4.0 percentage points for the entire sample and +/- 4.3 percentage points for the sample of decided voters, nineteen times out of twenty.

Find our data tables here and download the press release here.

For more information on this poll, please contact:

Mario Canseco, President, Research Co.

778.929.0490

[e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca

Young Canadians Willing to Pay More for Organic, Non-GMO Food

May 17, 2023May 17, 2023By Mario Canseco

About one-in-four Canadians frequently check labels to see if the products they buy are organic and non-GMO .

Vancouver, BC [May 17, 2023] – Canadians aged 18-to-34 are more likely than their older counterparts to consider paying a premium for produce and groceries that are organic or free from genetically modified organisms (GMO), a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 41% of Canadians say they would not pay more for organic food. The proportion rises to 57% among those aged 55 and over, but drops to 41% among those aged 35-to-54 and to 23% among those aged 18-to-34.

A similar scenario is observed on non-GMO food. Just over three-in-ten Canadians (31%) would not pay more for produce and groceries that offered this guarantee, including 38% of those aged 55 and over, 31% of those aged 35-to-54 and 22% of those aged 18-to-34.

More than a third of Canadians would not pay more for food from a company that guaranteed a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Once again, the country’s oldest adults are less likely to consider paying a premium (45%) than their counterparts aged 35-to-54 (38%) and aged 18-to-34 (23%).

“More than two-in-five residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba (42%), Atlantic Canada (41%) and Alberta (41%) would not be swayed by food producers guaranteeing lower greenhouse gas emissions than their competitors,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “The proportions are lower in British Columbia (37%), Ontario (35%) and Quebec (28%).”

Almost four-in-five Canadians (79%) agree that climate change threatens the world’s food supply. More than seven-in-ten feel the food supply in Canada (76%) and their province (73%) is in danger because of climate change.

One third of Canadians (33%) claim to frequently check labels in the food they buy to review the country or province of origin. About one-in-four check food labels frequently to see if products are organic (24%) or non-GMO (23%).

More than three-in-five Canadians (61%) think the agriculture sector is “definitely” or “probably” taking action to reduce its environmental footprint. The rating is similar for the forestry sector (60%), and lower for two other industries: natural gas (47%) and mining (42%).

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from May 4 to May 6, 2023, among 1,000 adults in Canada. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region. The margin of error, which measures sample variability, is +/- 3.1 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.

Find our data tables here and download the press release here.

For more information on this poll, please contact:

Mario Canseco, President, Research Co.

778.929.0490

[e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca

Most Canadians Jump on Maple Leafs Stanley Cup Bandwagon

May 12, 2023May 11, 2023By Mario Canseco

Toronto’s NHL franchise is the favourite team of 24% of Canadians, but 53% are rooting for them in this year’s playoffs.

Vancouver, BC [May 12, 2023] – More than half of Canadians are supporting the Toronto Maple Leafs in this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs, while more than one-in-four are siding with the Edmonton Oilers, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 53% of Canadians are currently rooting for the Maple Leafs, while 26% are choosing the Oilers. The remaining six National Hockey League (NHL) teams in contention—the Seattle Kraken, the Florida Panthers, the New Jersey Devils, the Las Vegas Golden Knights, the Dallas Stars and the Carolina Hurricanes—are in single digits.

“Residents of Ontario (79%) and Atlantic Canada (70%) are clearly with the Maple Leafs right now,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Two thirds of Albertans (67%) are behind the Oilers.”

Fewer than half of Quebecers (47%) and British Columbians (40%) are rooting for the Maple Leafs in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba are more likely to pick the Oilers (47%).

Canadians who are not supporting either of the two domestic franchises in the Stanley Cups playoffs were asked why they have chosen other teams to root for. One third (33%) say they just don’t like the Maple Leafs, while fewer said they have a favourite NHL team and will not root for any other (23%), dislike the Oilers (22%) or just don’t know much about hockey (20%).

When Canadians are asked about their favourite NHL team, 24% select the Maple Leafs while 22% choose the Montreal Canadiens. The fan base is smaller for the Vancouver Canucks (10%), the Edmonton Oilers (8%), the Winnipeg Jets (5%), the Calgary Flames (4%) and the Ottawa Senators (4%).

One-in-four Canadians (24%) do not have a favourite NHL team and almost half (47%) do not have a team they hate the most. The most loathed franchises are the Maple Leafs (17%, and 25% in Quebec) and the Canadiens (10%, and 27% in British Columbia).

More than two thirds of Canadians have favourable views of three former and current NHL stars: Wayne Gretzky (76%), Sidney Crosby (71%) and Mario Lemieux (67%). The rating is lower for Ken Dryden (53%), Connor McDavid (51%) and John Tavares (47%).

Former broadcaster Don Cherry is seen favourably by 45% of Canadians—a proportion that rises to 49% among both men and Canadians aged 55 and over.

Find our data tables here and here and download the press release here.

For more information on this poll, please contact:

Mario Canseco, President, Research Co.

778.929.0490

[e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca

BC NDP Extends Advantage in British Columbia’s Political Scene

May 9, 2023May 8, 2023By Mario Canseco

Crime and public safety rise markedly as issues of concern for residents, going from 5% in February to 14% in May.

Vancouver, BC [May 9, 2023] – Public backing for the governing BC New Democratic Party (NDP) has increased over the past three months in British Columbia, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative provincial sample, 46% of decided voters would support the BC NDP candidate in their constituency if an election took place today, up two points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in February.

BC United is in second place with 33% (-3 since the previous survey as BC Liberals), followed by the BC Green Party with 16% (=) and the Conservative Party of BC with 4% (+2).

“Female decided voters in British Columbia pick the BC New Democrats over BC United by a two-to-one margin (50% to 24%),” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “The two parties are practically tied among male decided voters (42% for the BC NDP and 41% for BC United).”

Respondents to this survey were asked if they would consider voting for each of the four main parties if they ran a candidate in their constituency in the next provincial election. The BC Conservatives featured candidates in 10 of 87 constituencies in the 2017 provincial election, and in 19 of 87 ridings in the 2020 ballot.

More than three-in-five British Columbians (61%) say they would “definitely” or “probably” consider casting a ballot for the BC NDP candidate in their riding. The rating is lower for BC United (46%), the BC Greens (37%) and the BC Conservatives (25%).

Premier and BC NDP leader David Eby maintains an approval rating of 59% across the province. The numbers are lower for BC Greens leader Sonia Furstenau (40%, -2), BC United leader Kevin Falcon (38%, -6) and BC Conservative leader John Rustad (18%).

Just under a third of British Columbians (32%, -2) select housing, homelessness and poverty as the most important issue facing the province, followed by health care (28%, -1), crime and public safety (14%, +9), the economy and jobs (12%, -1) and the environment (4%, -2).

Housing, homelessness and poverty is the prevalent concern for residents of the Fraser Valley (41%), Southern BC (35%) and Metro Vancouver (33%). Health care is the main worry for residents of Vancouver Island (32%), while the economy and jobs dominates in Northern BC (28%).

Public safety is a greater concern for residents of Metro Vancouver (16%), Vancouver Island (15%) and Southern BC (12%).

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from May 1 to May 3, 2023, among 800 adults in British Columbia. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in Canada. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

Find our data tables here and download the press release here.

For more information on this poll, please contact:

Mario Canseco, President, Research Co.

778.929.0490 [e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca

Most Canadians Back Status Quo on Medical Assistance in Dying

May 5, 2023May 4, 2023By Mario Canseco

Views are more nuanced on expanding the guidelines beyond “grievous and irremediable” medical conditions.

Vancouver, BC [May 5, 2023] – More than seven-in-ten Canadians believe the country has the right policies in place to allow people to seek medical assistance in dying, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 73% of Canadians (down three points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in January 2021) are in favour of the practice under the current federal guidelines:

Being eligible for health services funded by the federal government, or a province or territory (or during the applicable minimum period of residence or waiting period for eligibility).
Being at least 18 years old and mentally competent.
Having a grievous and irremediable medical condition.
Making a voluntary request for medical assistance in dying that is not the result of outside pressure or influence.
Giving informed consent to receive medical assistance in dying.

Compared to January 2021, there is little movement when Canadians are asked about their personal feelings on this issue. Almost three-in-five (58%, =) think medical assistance in dying should be allowed, but only under specific circumstances.

One-in-five Canadians (20%, =) believe medical assistance in dying should always be allowed, regardless of who requests it, while 12% (+1) believe it should never be permitted.

In Alberta, almost one-in-five residents (19%) would prefer to ban medical assistance in dying. In Atlantic Canada, almost three-in-ten residents (28%) think the practice should be available to anyone.

Almost half of Canadians (48%, +5) are satisfied with the regulations that are currently in place in the country to manage the issue of medical assistance in dying, while 27% (+1) are dissatisfied and 25% (-6) are undecided.

Satisfaction with the existing guidelines related to medical assistance in dying is highest in Quebec (53%), followed by British Columbia (52%), Ontario (46%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (also 46%), Atlantic Canada (44%) and Alberta (40%).

At this point, only an adult with a grievous and irremediable medical condition can seek medical assistance in dying in Canada. Respondents were asked if people should be able to seek medical assistance in dying because of five different reasons.

Half of Canadians would agree to allow adults in Canada to seek medical assistance in dying due to an inability to receive medical treatment (51%) or a disability (50%). Fewer than three-in-ten would consent to expand the guidelines to include homelessness (28%) or poverty (27%) as reasons to seek medical assistance in dying.

Canadians are split when pondering if mental illness should be a justification for an adult to seek medical assistance in dying: 43% support this idea, while 45% are opposed. The federal government has delayed a final decision for eligibility related to mental illness until March 2024.

Just over two-in-five Canadians (42%) think people who help a person to commit suicide should be prosecuted, while just over a third (34%) disagree and 23% are undecided.

“More than half of Canadians aged 18-to-34 (52%) think counselling a person to end their lives should continue to be a crime,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Fewer Canadians aged 35-to-54 (41%) and aged 55 and over (34%) hold the same view.”

When asked about the appropriate punishment for a parent who is found guilty of assisting a terminally ill son or daughter to die, one-in-four Canadians (24%) select no penalty at all.

Fewer than one-in-ten Canadians (8%) believe this action warrants a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment, while 29% would consent to a prison sentence at the discretion of a judge, and 14% would deal with it through a fine, but no time in prison.

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from April 22 to April 24, 2023, among 1,000 adults in Canada. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region. The margin of error, which measures sample variability, is +/- 3.1 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.

Find our data tables here and download the press release here.

For more information on this poll, please contact:

Mario Canseco, President, Research Co.

778.929.0490

[e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca

British Columbians Back Housing Action to Alleviate Homelessness

May 3, 2023May 6, 2023By Mario Canseco

More than half of the province’s residents are dissatisfied with how all three levels of government have managed this issue.

Vancouver, BC [May 3, 2023] – Sizeable proportions of British Columbians believe specific housing measures would reduce homelessness across the province, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative provincial sample, more than four-in-five British Columbians (82%) agree with Increasing temporary housing options for people experiencing homelessness, up two points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in August 2022.

More than three-in-four British Columbians (77%, -1) favour offering incentives to developers if they focus on building affordable housing units, and two thirds (67%, =) agree with devoting tax money to build units to house homeless residents.

More than three-in-five British Columbians (62%, +2) favour changing zoning laws to allow property owners to build more units on standard lots.

Most British Columbians believe three levels of government have done a “bad” or “very bad” job coming up with solutions to deal with homelessness: federal (64%, +3), provincial (59%, +3) and municipal (57%, +2).

Almost four-in-five British Columbians (78%, +5) believe homelessness in the province is a major problem. Fewer feel the same way about homelessness in their municipality (52%, =) or in their neighbourhood (24%, -3).

Two-in-five British Columbians (40%, -2) believe that homelessness has increased in their neighbourhood over the past three years. Almost two thirds (64%, +1) think there has been a surge in their municipality, and four-in-five (80%, +1) report a worsening situation in the province.

Residents of British Columbia remain divided when asked if the problem can be eradicated. Half (50%, +3) think this goal can be reached with the proper funding and policies, while 48% (+2) state that homelessness will always be a problem.

“Only 33% of British Columbians aged 55 and over foresee the eventual termination of homelessness in the province,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Their counterparts aged 35-to-54 (53%) and aged 18-to-34 (74%) are more hopeful.”

A majority of British Columbians (63%, +3) think addiction and mental health issues are to blame “a great deal” for the current situation regarding homelessness in British Columbia.

Fewer of the province’s residents share the same view on other possible causes, including a lack of affordable housing (47%, -6), poverty and inequality (34%, -7), personal actions and decisions (31%, +1) and bad economy and unemployment (19%, -5).

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from April 23 to April 25, 2023, among 800 adults in British Columbia. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in Canada. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

Find our data tables here and download the press release here.

For more information on this poll, please contact:

Mario Canseco, President, Research Co.

778.929.0490 [e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca

More Than 1/3 of Canadians See Trudeau & Poilievre as Arrogant

April 28, 2023April 27, 2023By Mario Canseco

Two-in-five Canadians (40%) describe Jagmeet Singh as compassionate.

Vancouver, BC [April 28, 2023] – Canadians rely mostly on negative attributes when they think of the leaders of the Liberal Party and the Conservative Party, a new Research Co. poll has found.

The online survey of a representative national sample provided Canadians with a list of 18 different words—nine positive and nine negative—and asked them to choose up to six to describe the leaders of Canada’s three main federal political parties.

The words used the most by Canadians to describe Prime Minister and Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau are arrogant (37%), dishonest (36%), out of touch (35%), intelligent (also 35%), inefficient (31%) and foolish (29%).

Official Opposition and Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre garners a slightly higher score on arrogant (39%). The other five words relied on the most to describe him are intelligent (34%), out of touch (29%), dishonest (28%), strong (26%) and uncaring (23%).

Canadians used mostly positive words when asked about New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jagmeet Singh: compassionate (40%), intelligent (37%), honest (35%), down to earth (also 35%), open (30%) and in touch (27%).

“Sizeable proportions of Canadians aged 55 and over describe Justin Trudeau and Pierre Poilievre as arrogant (46% and 49% respectively),” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Only 12% feel the same way about Jagmeet Singh.”

The words used the least to describe Trudeau are honest (19%), strong (also 19%), efficient (17%), boring (15%), in touch (14%) and exciting (9%).

Fewer than one-in-five Canadians relied on words like secretive (19%), inefficient (18%), boring (17%), compassionate (16%), weak (15%) and exciting (14%) to describe Poilievre.

Only 10% of Canadians labelled Singh as uncaring. The proportions are slightly higher for dishonest (16%), arrogant (14%), boring (also 14%), secretive (12%) and exciting (also 12%).

Most Liberal Party voters in the 2021 election (57%) described Trudeau as intelligent. A majority of Conservative Party voters from the previous federal ballot (53%) rely on the same word to label Poilievre. The word used the most by NDP voters to describe Singh is honest (58%).

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from April 22 to April 24, 2023, among 1,000 adults in Canada. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region. The margin of error, which measures sample variability, is +/- 3.1 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.

Find our data tables here and download the press release here.

For more information on this poll, please contact:

Mario Canseco, President, Research Co.

778.929.0490 [e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca

Fun and No Boss Motivate Canada’s Prospective Entrepreneurs

April 26, 2023April 25, 2023By Mario Canseco

More than a third of Canadians who have considered starting a new business say not having enough savings holds them back.

Vancouver, BC [April 26, 2023] – Canadians who have thought about entrepreneurship are primarily moved by the promise of doing something they enjoy and not having to report to anyone, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 44% of Canadians say they have considered starting or operating a business of their own.

Canadians aged 18-to-34 are significantly more likely to have pondered entrepreneurship (54%) than their counterparts aged 35-to-54 (47%) and aged 55 and over (28%).

Canada’s prospective entrepreneurs are looking at a wide range of industries for their new businesses, including hospitality and food (13%), technology (10%), finance and business services (also 10%), entertainment and recreation (8%) and arts and fashion (also 8%).

When asked about their motivations for starting a new business, more than half of Canada’s prospective entrepreneurs mention doing something they enjoy (53%) and being their own boss and not reporting to anyone (52%).

More than a third of Canada’s prospective entrepreneurs also envision earning more than they currently do (40%) and having flexibility and work-life balance (35%). Fewer are motivated by a sense of adventure (23%), providing a new service or creating something new (18%) and managing and mentoring others (6%).

“Almost two-in-five Canadian women who are considering entrepreneurship (39%) are encouraged by flexibility and a better work-life balance,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “More than two-in-five men who have considered starting or operating a business of their own (43%) see themselves making more money than now.”

When asked what is holding them back from starting a new business, almost two-in-five of Canada’s prospective entrepreneurs (38%) say they do not have enough savings.

More than a quarter of Canadians who have considered starting or operating a business of their own are worried about the risks involved (33%) and their lack of experience (28%). Fewer are held back because they are happy with their current job situation (20%), not knowing if the service or product is viable (also 20%), not knowing how to get started (also 20%), difficulties to secure proper financing (18%), dealing with too much regulation and bureaucracy (also 18%) and lacking the time to develop and implement a plan (15%).

Canada’s prospective entrepreneurs aged 18-to-34 are more likely to say that they are held back due to complications to secure financial backing (25%) than their counterparts aged 35-to-54 (19%) and aged 55 and over (11%).

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from March 10 to March 20, 2023, among 2,000 Canadian adults, including 883 who have considered starting or opening a business of their own. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for gender and region. The margin of error, which measures sample variability, is +/- 2.2 percentage points for the entire sample and +/- 3.3 percentage points for the sample of prospective entrepreneurs, nineteen times out of twenty.

Find our data tables here and download the press release here.

For more information on this poll, please contact:

Mario Canseco, President, Research Co.

778.929.0490

[e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca

Confidence in Health Care Down 10 Points in Canada Since 2021

April 21, 2023April 20, 2023By Mario Canseco

Just over a third of Canadians think a shortage of doctors and nurses is the biggest problem facing the system right now.

Vancouver, BC [April 21, 2023] – The proportion of Canadians who are convinced that the country’s health care system will be there for them has fallen over the past year and a half, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 67% of Canadians are “very confident” or “moderately confident” that Canada’s health care system would provide the help and assistance that they would need if they had to face an unexpected medical condition or disease, down 10 points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in October 2021.

Confidence in the health care system is highest in Saskatchewan and Manitoba (72%, -8), followed by Alberta (71%, -2), Quebec (68%, -7), British Columbia (67%, -11), Ontario (63%, -16) and Atlantic Canada (59%, -7).

One-in-five Canadians (20%, -5) believe Canada’s health care system works well, and only minor changes are needed to make it work better.

While most Canadians (56%, -3) think there are some good things in Canada’s health care, 17% (+5) believe the system has so much wrong with it that we need to completely rebuild it.

“In August 2020, 30% of Canadians believed the health care system only needed minor modifications,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “This year, only 20% feel the same way.”

Just over a third of Canadians (34%, +2) believe a shortage of doctors and nurses is the biggest problem facing the health care system right now, while just under one-in-four (23%, -4) think it is long wait times.

Fewer Canadians select bureaucracy and poor management (17%, -3), inadequate resources and facilities (9%, +1), lack of a wider range of services for patients (6%, +1) little focus on preventive care (6%, =), and insufficient standards of hygiene (1%, -1) as the main problems in Canada’s health care system.

More than half of Atlantic Canadians (52%) identify a shortage of doctors and nurses as the main problem for the health care system. The proportions are lower in Saskatchewan and Manitoba (39%), British Columba (37%), Ontario (31%), Quebec (30%) and Alberta (23%).

More than three-in-five Canadians (78%, -4) disagree with the federal government making cuts to health care funding in order to reduce government debt.

Half of Canadians (50%, -6) disagree with the idea that health care in Canada would be better than it is now if it were run by the private sector.

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from April 16 to April 18, 2023, among 1,000 adults in Canada. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region. The margin of error, which measures sample variability, is +/- 3.1 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.

Find our data tables here and download the press release here.

For more information on this poll, please contact:

Mario Canseco, President, Research Co.

778.929.0490

[e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca

Canadians Split on Whether the Justice System is Fair for Everyone

April 19, 2023April 18, 2023By Mario Canseco

A majority (56%) believe criminal courts do a good job in determining whether or not an accused person is guilty.

Vancouver, BC [April 19, 2023] – A significant proportion of Canadians question the impartiality of the country’s justice system, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 45% of Canadians agree that the justice system in Canada treats every person fairly, while 43% disagree and 12% are undecided.

Canadians aged 18-to-34 are more likely to think that the justice system is fair for everyone (51%) than their counterparts aged 35-to-54 (46%) and aged 55 and over (38%).

A majority of Canadians (56%) believe Canada’s criminal courts do a good job in determining whether or not an accused person is guilty.

More than a third of Canadians (37%) believe Canada’s prison system does a good job in helping prisoners become law-abiding.

Respondents to this survey were asked about the use of alternative penalties—such as fines, probation or community service—rather than prison for specific offences.

More than two-in-five Canadians support relying on alternative penalties for cases of credit card fraud (46%) and online harassment or cyberbullying (45%). Fewer believe fines, probation or community service are warranted when dealing with people convicted of drunk driving (38%) and arson (25%).

Residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba (53%) and Quebec (48%) are the most supportive of the alternative penalty approach for online harassment. The proportions drop to 44% in both Alberta and Ontario and to 39% in both British Columbia and Atlantic Canada.

“There is a gender divide when Canadians assess alternative penalties instead of prison for drunk drivers,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Men are more likely to endorse fines, probation or community service (42%) than women (33%).”

The survey also queried Canadians about the Youth Criminal Justice Act, which governs the application of criminal and correctional law to people who have committed an offence between the ages of 12 and 18.

At least two thirds of Canadians agree with three elements of the Youth Criminal Justice Act: allowing non-violent, first-time offenders who are unlikely to re-offend to avoid trial in youth justice court by taking part in programs of extrajudicial sanctions (69%), having the possibility of finding parents in contempt of court if they do not attend hearings or participate in the legal process (also 69%) and disclosing the identity of the youths who have been charged only under special circumstances (67%).

Fewer than half of Canadians (48%) are in favour of the provision establishing that no person can be convicted of an offence while he or she is under the age of 12 years.

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from April 7 to April 9, 2023, among 1,000 adults in Canada. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region. The margin of error, which measures sample variability, is +/- 3.1 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.

Find our data tables here and download the press release here.

For more information on this poll, please contact:

Mario Canseco, President, Research Co.

778.929.0490

[e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca

By a 3-to-1 Margin, Canadians Choose Evolution Over Creationism

April 14, 2023April 13, 2023By Mario Canseco

More than two-in-five Canadians (43%) think creationism should be part of the school curriculum in their province.

Vancouver, BC [April 14, 2023] – More than three-in-five Canadians side with evolution when asked about the origin and development of human beings on earth, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 63% of Canadians think human beings evolved from less advanced life forms over millions of years, down two points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in March 2022.

Just over one-in-five Canadians (21%, +3) believe God created human beings in their present form within the last 10,000 years, while 16% (-2) are not sure.

Canadians aged 18-to-34 are more likely to endorse evolution (71%) than their counterparts aged 35-to-54 (63%) and aged 55 and over (61%).

More than a quarter of Canadians who voted for the Conservative Party in the 2021 federal election (28%) think God created human beings in their present form within the last 10,000 years. Fewer Canadians who cast a ballot for the Liberal Party (21%) or the New Democratic Party (NDP) (12%) feel the same way.

Consensus is not as clear when Canadians ponder whether creationism—the belief that the universe and life originated from specific acts of divine creation—should be part of the school curriculum in their province.

This year, 43% of Canadians (+5) believe there is a place for creationism in the classroom, while 38% (-4) disagree and 19% (-2) are undecided.

“Over the past three years, the numbers have fluctuated wildly on the question of discussing creationism at school,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Support peaked at 44% in 2021, fell to 38% in 2022, and has now jumped to 43% in 2023.”

Just under half of Ontarians (47%, +3) and Atlantic Canadians (46%, +15) are in favor of teaching creationism in schools. The proportions are lower in Saskatchewan and Manitoba (41%, +4), Alberta (40%, +9) and British Columbia (39%, +11).

Find our data tables here and download the press release here.

For more information on this poll, please contact:

Mario Canseco, President, Research Co.

778.929.0490

[e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca

Many Full Time Employees in Canada Are Stressed and Fatigued

April 12, 2023April 13, 2023By Mario Canseco

More than two-in-five have had to work through lunch to finish a project or task in the past year.

Vancouver, BC [April 12, 2023] – Many full time workers in Canada experience a variety of ailments when the day is done, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample of Canadians who are currently employed full time, 49% of respondents say they feel fatigued at the end of a regular workday.

At least three-in-ten full time employees in Canada experience back pain (36%), trouble sleeping (33%) or stressed-out eyes (30%) on weekday nights. Fewer also endure headaches (28%) or neck pain (also 28%) at the end of a regular weekday.

Just under two thirds of full time employees in Canada (64%) describe their position as “very stressful” or “moderately stressful”.

More than two-in-five full time employees in Canada (44%) say they had to work through lunch to finish a project or task in the past year, while at least a third were asked to take on more responsibilities without a raise (35%) or felt depressed because of work (33%).

“Female full time employees in Canada are more likely to report having to do more at their workplace without the benefit of a larger paycheque (44%) than their male counterparts (27%),” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Women are also more likely to feel dejected by work (41%) than men (25%).”

Fewer full time employees in Canada say they had to work on a project or task on a weekend or holiday (29%), had to work on a project or task after hours from home (28%) or postponed vacation due to work obligations (20%) in the past year,

Just over two thirds of full time employees in Canada (68%) think the company they work for appreciates the effort they put into their job and just over three-in-five (61%) think their employer cares for their health and well-being.

While 55% of full time employees in Canada believe the company they work for pays them what they deserve, 41% disagree with this assessment.

Women (49%), full time employees aged 35-to-54 (45%), Ontarians (also 45%) and those in the middle income bracket (46%) are more likely to believe that they are not getting paid what they deserve.

Methodology: Results are based on an online study conducted from March 10 to March 20, 2023, among 895 Canadian adults who are currently employed full time (at least 30 hours a week). The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for gender and region. The margin of error, which measures sample variability, is +/- 3.3 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.

Find our data tables here and download the press release here.

For more information on this poll, please contact:

Mario Canseco, President, Research Co.

778.929.0490

[e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca