One Half Approve of
Scarborough Subway Decision
One fifth will not vote for a candidate who supported the
subway, however
In a random sampling
of public opinion taken by the Forum Poll™ among 868 Toronto voters, one half
approve of city council’s final decision to build the Scarborough subway over
the Scarborough LRT (49%). Just more than a third disapprove (35%), and one
eighth don’t venture an opinion (16%). Support for the subway is characteristic
of the youngest (53%), the least wealthy (often a proxy for youth - 55%), in
Scarborough, not surprisingly (63%), among mothers (57%), those with some
college (56%), motorists (56%), but not cyclists (26%) nor pedestrians
commuters (40%), among Doug Ford voters (66%), but not among Olivia Chow voters
(26%).
One fifth will not vote for a candidate who supported subway
In total, one fifth
of Toronto voters will not vote for a candidate in the 2018 municipal elections
who supported the Scarborough subway (20%), while just fewer will not vote a
candidate who opposed the subway (17%). Four-in-ten are not influenced in their
vote by the subway decision (43%) and one fifth do not venture an opinion
(20%). Among those who approve of the subway, about 3-in-10 will not vote for
an opponent of the project (29%), whereas, among those who oppose the subway,
the intention not to vote for a subway supporter is stronger (42%). It is clear
the engagement level is higher among subway opponents; just 3-in-10 say the
subway decision will not affect their vote (31%), whereas almost one half of
those who support the subway say the decision will have no impact on their vote
(47%).
Other groups who
will use their vote to punish subway proponents are the wealthiest (25%), in
the downtown (25%) and East York (26%), among the best educated (post grad -
26%), cyclists (36%) and Olivia Chow voters (38%).
Groups who would
reward subway supporters are especially likely to be wealthy ($80K to $100K -
25%), in Scarborough (27%) and Doug Ford voters (32%).
“Well, city hall
finally voted in favour of subways, subways, subways, and that’s two more
subways than this one has stops. Nevertheless, nearly half the voters are happy
a decision was made, at least. It appears, however, those who don’t like the
idea now, won’t like it in 2018, and they may be looking for revenge” 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.
