Majority Disapprove of Cap and Trade Plan
Approval
highest among the youngest
In a random sampling
of public opinion taken by the Forum Poll™ among 1097 Ontario voters, the
majority of voters disapprove of the provincial government’s plan for a cap and
trade greenhouse gas emission control regime which is expected to add about $13
a month to the average household energy bill (56%), and just more than a
quarter approve (28%). About one sixth don’t have an opinion on the issue
(16%).
Approval of the
initiative is characteristic of the youngest (43%), the less wealthy ($20K to
$40K - 36%), among Liberals (45%), slightly less so among New Democrats (38%)
and among the best educated (post grad - 38%).
Disapproval is
common to boomers (55 to 64 - 70%), males (60%) rather than females (53%), mid
income groups ($60K to $80K - 67%), in eastern Ontario (63%), among PC voters
(78%) and among the least educated (62%).
“Any government
initiative which involves household spending is unpopular, no matter what the
stated benefit is. In this case, however, approval is common to the youngest,
as well as the best educated, so there may be hope the idea will grow more
popular with time and communication" 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.
