Majority Approval For Safe Injection Site In Ottawa

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Majority Approval For Safe Injection Site In Ottawa

Popular among young, wealthy and well educated

OTTAWA, May, 19th, 2016 – In a random sampling of public opinion taken by the Forum Poll™ among 890 Ottawa voters, the majority approve of a safe injection site in downtown Ottawa for intravenous drug users (54%). Just more than a third disapprove of this idea (37%) and one tenth don’t have an opinion (9%).

Approval of a supervised injection site is characteristic of the youngest (64%), the wealthy ($80K to $100K - 65%), among mothers of children under 18 (58%), the best educated (post grad - 64%), those who have used marijuana (64%), provincial Liberals (66%) and New Democrats (77%). Opposition is common to the oldest (48%), the less wealthy ($20K to $40K - 45%), homeowners (41%), the least educated (secondary school or less - 54%), those who have never used marijuana (44%) and provincial Progressive Conservatives (66%). Francophone voters are less likely to have an opinion (23%) than Anglophones (8%).

In comparison to Toronto, levels of approval are very similar (March 23, 2016 – 57%), but those who disapprove are fewer (March 23, 2016 - 32%).

“There is clearly a sentiment in urban centres in favour of harm reduction over sanctions and enforcement. Vancouver already has InSite, and Toronto and Ottawa are both contemplating similar centres. These results bode well for a successful outcome” 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.