One quarter think Ebola outbreak in Ontario likely
Two thirds approve quarantining arrivals
from West Africa
TORONTO November
1st, 2014 – In a random sampling of public opinion taken by the Forum
Poll™ among 1104 Ontarians 18 years of age and older, as many as one quarter
say an Ebola outbreak in Ontario is likely (25%), and one tenth describe this
possibility as "very likely" (9%). Belief in the strong likelihood of
an Ebola outbreak is characteristic of the youngest (16%), the less wealthy
($20K to $40K - 17%), in Toronto 416 (14%), Green Party voters (34% - caution:
small sample size), moms (18%) and those with children in general (16%).
Just one half agree Ontario is up to an
Ebola outbreak
One third of Ontarians disagree the province's health system
is prepared for an Ebola outbreak (34%), and just one half agrees it is
prepared (48%). One fifth don't know enough to form an opinion (19%). Disagreement
is common among the youngest (48%), females (37%), the very wealthy ($80K to
$100K - 46%), in Toronto 905 (41%) and northern Ontario (48%), PC voters (43%),
moms (47%) and those with college degrees (41%).
Two thirds approve of quarantine for West
Africa arrivals
Two thirds of
Ontarians agree travelers arriving from West Africa should spend time in
quarantine (68%), and just one fifth disagree (20%). One tenth haven't formed
an opinion (12%). Approval of quarantine is highest among the older respondents
(55 to 64 - 77%, 65+ - 76%), females (74%), the less wealthy ($20K to $40K -
82%), in Toronto 905 (74%), PC voters (78%), moms (76%) and the least educated
(82%).
“As unlikely as it sounds now, people are genuinely afraid
Ebola will travel to Canada, and they are willing to do whatever is necessary to
stop it from getting in the door, because they don't really have a lot of faith
in the ability of our provincial health system to handle it," 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.
