Public sees
controversy’s negative effect on trust in OPS
Both Watson and Bordeleau see approval plummet
In a random sampling
of public opinion taken by the Forum Poll™ among 859 Ottawa voters, close to
4-in-10 support the Ottawa Police Association in the controversy currently
embroiling the Ottawa Police Service (37%), while just one third support the
Mayor and the Chief of Police (33%). One fifth support neither side (21%), and
one tenth don’t have an opinion (9%). Support for the Police Association is
common to the boomer segment (55 to 64 - 40%), males (40%) rather than females
(34%) and those in mid income groups ($40K to $60K - 46%). Support for the
mayor and police chief is characteristic of the oldest (40%), males (36%)
rather than females (30%) and the wealthiest ($100K to $250K - 39%).
Wide majority sees negative effect on public trust in OPS
As many as 7-in-10
agree the controversy has had a negative effect on public trust in the police
(70%), and just one fifth think it has not (20%). One tenth don’t have an
opinion (9%).
Approval ratings for Watson and
Bordeleau suffer
Mayor Jim Watson has
the approval of two thirds of Ottawa voters (66%), primarily younger females. Police
Chief Charles Bordeleau has the approval of just more than half (54%). While
these are respectable approval ratings in isolation, they represent a sharp
decline for both since last month (July 22, Watson - 74%, Bordeleau - 74%).
Approval high for Skof, El-Chantiry
Matt Skof, president
of the Ottawa Police Association, has the approval of close to 6-in-10 voters
(59%), slightly higher than for Chief Bordeleau. Eli El-Chantiry, Chair of the
Ottawa Police Services Board, has the approval of just more than half (53%),
matching Chief Bordeleau’s rating.
Awareness of controversy is high
Seven-in-ten are
aware of the controversy in general (71%), awareness that a recruit who did not
initially pass investigation was hired is characteristic of about 6-in-10 (58%),
and awareness that the recruit was of Somali background is at the same level
(57%).
Majority disagree with Bordeleau’s
commitment to stand by recruit
Just one third agrees
with Chief Bordeleau’s stated intention of standing by the recruit in question
(33%), whereas the majority disagree with the chief (55%). One tenth don’t
share an opinion (11%).
Substantial minority think Bordeleau
should resign; not so Skof and El-Chantiry
Close to 4-in-10
Ottawa voters, when asked, agree Chief Bordeleau should resign (39%), while just more than 4-in-10 disagree
with this idea (44%). Close to one fifth don’t have an opinion (17%). Those who
see the Chief as unfit for his job include the boomers (55 to 64 - 44%), males
(43%) rather than females (35%) and the least wealthy (less than $20K - 54%),
Just more than a quarter
agree Matt Skof should resign (28%), compared to close to half who don’t agree
(47%). Those who think he should go are characteristically the youngest (32%),
males (33%) rather than females (23%) and the least wealthy (42%).
One third of Ottawa
voters agree Eli El-Chantiry should resign (35%), while 4-in-10 do not agree
(41%), and close to a quarter have no opinion (23%). It is primarily males
(43%) in the lowest income bracket (46%) who think he should go.
“This controversy
has had a significant impact on the way Ottawans view those who serve and
protect them. While the mayor and the police chief maintain approval levels in
the majority, they are down sharply since just last month, and it is apparent
that citizens are not entirely on their side. In fact it is Matt Skof who comes
out looking the best, by comparison" 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.
