Jobs and growth most important issue in campaign

| Filed under: National

Two thirds approve of downtown revitalization capital projects

TORONTO September 4th, 2014 - In a random sampling of public opinion taken by the Forum Poll™ among 737 London, Ontario voters, two thirds (64%) approve of downtown capital-intensive revitalization projects, and this support is common to the youngest (69%), the wealthy ($60K to $80K - 78%) and the wealthiest ($100K to $250K - 76%), among renters (69%), provincial Liberals (79%), north of York Street and west of Richmond Street (72%) and among Matt Brown supporters (83%), but not among Cheng partisans (44%).

Two thirds approve of Official Plan

Two thirds of London voters approve of the city's official plan, calling for downtown densification and containing urban sprawl (65%), and approval is characteristic of the oldest (69%), males (70%), the wealthiest (84%), the best educated (post grad - 77%), those with children (89%), provincial Liberals (81%), in the south west of the city (72%) and among Matt Brown supporters (81%) and Caranci partisans (76% - caution: small sample size).

One half want a city integrity commissioner

One half approve of the idea of appointing a city integrity commissioner (52%), while just more than a third do not approve (37%). One tenth have no opinion (11%). Approving of the idea is common to mid-income groups ($60K to $80K - 63%), property owners (57%), the best educated (post grad  - 61%), provincial Liberals (66%) and Caranci supporters (72% - caution: small sample size).

Majority think London right size now

The majority of voters agree London is the right size now (57%), while one third think it needs to grow (35%), and just one tenth have no opinion (8%). Wanting a bigger city is characteristic of Gen Y (35 to 44 - 44%), males (44%), the wealthiest ($100K to $250K - 49%), those with children (41%), Liberals (51%) and Caranci voters (61% - caution: small sample size).

Jobs and growth most important issue in campaign

Jobs and growth is the most important issue in this campaign (38%), followed by about half this proportion for keeping taxes low (20%) and integrity and transparency at city hall (19%). Other issues are not seen to be as important (opportunities for youth - 7%, containing urban sprawl - 6%, downtown densification - 3%, something else - 6%). Matt Brown voters are equally concerned with jobs and growth (31%) and transparency at city hall (28%), and also keeping taxes low (12%) and containing urban sprawl (11%). Paul Cheng voters are most concerned with keeping taxes low (37%), followed by jobs and growth (31%), Caranci voters concern themselves almost completely with jobs and growth (55% - caution: small base size), while Swan voters want jobs, growth and low taxes (28% each - caution: small base size).

 

"Jobs and growth are what everyone wants more of in Ontario, it's the top issue in every municipal campaign. What's interesting is the other issues which matter. Matt Brown's people are interested in transparency and ethics at city hall because they're the anti-Fontanas. Matt also appears to have the pulse of the city on his support for the official Plan and capital projects," said Forum Research President, Dr. Lorne Bozinoff.

Lorne Bozinoff, Ph.D. is the president and founder of Forum Research. He can be reached at lbozinoff@forumresearch.com or at (416) 960-9603.