Half
approve of Robertson as mayor, half don’t
Voters prefer ward councillors to at-large councillors 2 to 1
TORONTO April
24th, 2016 - In a random sampling of public opinion taken by
the Forum Poll™ among 1033 Vancouver voters, one half approve of the job Gregor
Robertson is doing as mayor (50%) and one half do not (50%). Approving of the
mayor is characteristic of the youngest (58%), females (56%), the least wealthy
(often a proxy for youth - 62%), renters (56%), mothers (63%), the least
educated (secondary school or less - 54%), those who voted for the mayor,
obviously (81%) and those who have used marijuana in the past (56%). It should
be pointed out that as many as one fifth who voted for the mayor are no longer
happy with his performance (19%).
Ward-based councilors preferred 2 to 1 to at-large councillors
One half of Vancouver voters would prefer a
ward-based city councillor system (51%) to the current system where councillors
are elected at-large in the city (27%). One fifth don’t know which system they
prefer (22%). Those who prefer the ward system are commonly mid aged (55 to 64
- 57%), male (54%), the wealthy (80K to 100K - 60%), the best educated (post
grad - 59%) and Kirk Lapointe voters (58%).
Recycling is best-liked city service, automobile infrastructure
least-liked
In total, close to 8-in-10 voters are
satisfied with the recycling services they receive from the city (78%) and more
than 4-in-10 are “very satisfied” (41%). After recycling comes sold waste
removal (72% satisfied, 36% “very satisfied”), then policing (74% satisfied,
33% “very satisfied”), followed by bicycle infrastructure and bike paths (59%
satisfied, 30% “very satisfied”). The least liked services are transit (58%
satisfied, 19% “very satisfied”) and, especially, automobile infrastructure and
roads (51% satisfied, 15% “very satisfied”).
“Mayor
Robertson’s approval sits comfortably between that of Canada’s most
controversial mayor, Rob Ford, at about 35%, and Canada’s least controversial
mayor, John Tory, at about 70%. This is probably a good place for an activist
mayor to be. Meanwhile, it appears Vancouver’s unique, at-large city
councillors, are not an idea that is well-liked in the city," 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.
