Majority approve of Ontario pension plan
Less popular among small business owners
TORONTO November
1st, 2014 – In a random sampling of public opinion taken by the Forum
Poll™ among 1104 Ontario voters, the majority (52%) approve of the Ontario
Retirement Pension Plan, or ORPP, when it is briefly described to them
(including the 1.9% payroll contribution from employees and employers).
Approval is strongest among Gen X (45 to 54 - 58%) and Boomers (55 to 64 -
59%), the least wealthy (58%) and the wealthiest (57%), in Toronto 416 (64%),
among Liberals (70%), but not New Democrats (48%) or, especially, PC voters
(31%). Green voters like it (75% - caution: small base size) as do the best educated
(post grad - 63%). Small business owners are less enthusiastic about this plan
(46%), but having a pension or not having one has no effect on results.
One sixth claim to be small business
owners
One sixth of
Ontarians claim to be small business owners, defined as 2 to 99 employees and
up to $5 million in annual revenues (15%). This is common among the young
(19%), Gen X (45 to 54 - 18%), lower income groups ($20K to $40K - 19%) and the
wealthy ($80K to $100K - 20%, $100K to $250K - 19%), in Toronto 905 and
southwestern Ontario (18%), Green voters (33% - caution: small sample size),
mothers of children under 18 (19%) and the best educated (post grad - 20%).
Majority have pensions
In our sample, a majority claim to have pensions (58%),
primarily public sector pensions (usually defined benefit plans - 38%), but
also private sector pensions, which are usually defined contribution plans
(20%). Four-in-ten don't have pensions (42%). Not having a pension is most
common to younger groups (35 to 44 - 52%), the least wealthy (less than $20K -
58%), in the Toronto 905 (48%) and among PC voters (48%).
“The ORPP is popular across
almost all socio-economic groups, with the exception of small business owners,
who will feel the sting of the additional payroll contribution the most keenly.
The unpensioned, young males and the less wealthy, like it though," 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.
