Carbon Tax pushing Conservatives to vote
Nearly half oppose the Federal Carbon
Tax
Toronto, June 6th – In a random
sampling of public opinion taken by The Forum Poll™ among 1633 Canadian voters, nearly half (45%)
are opposed to the carbon tax, one-quarter (27%) are neither in favour nor
opposed to it, and about one-quarter (28%) say they are in favour of the carbon
tax.
Respondents most likely to say they oppose the
Federal Carbon Tax include those aged 45 to 54 (50%) and 55 to 64 (48%), males
(49%), those earning $40,000 to $60,000 (52%) and $80,000 to $100,000 (50%), the
least educated (54%), and those living in the prairies (59%) and Alberta (61%).
Respondents most likely to say they support the
Federal Carbon Tax include those aged 18 to 34 (36%), those earning $60,000 and
above (30%; 28%; 31%), those with post-graduate degrees (39%), and those living
in Atlantic Canada (31%), Quebec (32%), and Ontario (31%).
Conservatives are more likely to oppose the
Federal Carbon Tax (77%). Supporters of the New Democratic Party (38%) and the
Bloc Quebecois (37%) are more likely to be neither in favour nor opposed.
Liberal (49%) and Green (42%) party supporters are more likely to be in favour
of the carbon tax.
Two-thirds
say carbon tax will affect their vote
A majority of respondents (TOP2: 65%) say that
the carbon tax will affect their vote in the October Federal Election, with
4-in-10 (40%) saying it is very likely to affect their vote and one-fourth
(25%) saying it is somewhat likely to affect their vote.
One-third (BTM2: 34%) say it will not affect
their vote in the October Federal Election, with one-quarter (22%) saying it is
not very likely to affect their vote and one-tenth (12%) saying it is not
likely at all to affect their vote.
Respondents most likely to say the carbon tax
will affect their vote include males (68%), those earning less than $20,000
(71%) and $40,000 to $60,000 (70%), the least educated (70%), and those living
in Alberta (81%).
Respondents most likely to say the carbon tax
will not affect their vote include females (37%), those earning $60,000 and
more (38%; 36%; 35%), those who completed college or university (37%) and
post-graduate degree-holders (38%), and those living in Quebec (37%) and
Ontario (39%).
Of those that are opposed to the carbon tax,
more than 8-in-10 (84%) say that they carbon tax is likely to affect their
vote.
In contrast, only half (53%) of those that said
they are in favour of the carbon tax said it was likely to affect their vote.
Conservative supporters (80%) are far more
likely than others to say the carbon tax is likely to affect their vote.
Amongst other parties, two-thirds (68%) of Greens,
and more than half (58%) of New Democrats say the carbon tax will affect their vote.
Only half of Liberals (48%) say the carbon tax
will affect their vote.
“The carbon tax looks like it’s mobilizing its
opponents to vote in far greater numbers than its proponents,” said Dr. Lorne
Bozinoff, President of Forum Research. “Additionally, Conservative supporters
are far more opposed than Liberals are in favour. If the Conservatives can
consolidate the opposition around this issue, and make it the focal point of
the campaign, the Liberals’ re-election prospects may be severely diminished.”
