Opinion on Private
Garbage Collection in Scarborough Mixed
Toronto, February 08th
– In a random sampling of public opinion taken by The Forum Poll™ among
1,090 Toronto voters, support for private garbage collection in Scarborough was
divided.
Of those surveyed
(34%) were opposed to the plan, (32%) supported it, (21%) are neutral, and
(13%) are unsure.
Approval was most
common to those aged 44-54 (38%) and 55-64 (36%), the wealthiest (40%), and Progressive
Conservative supporters (58%).
Disapproval was most
common to those aged 18-34 (40%), those earning $40,000-$60,000 (49%), and NDP
supporters (61%).
In a small sample of
Scarborough residents (n=77), opinion on the plan was as divided as elsewhere, with
(32%) in support and (33%) opposed.
It’s About the Cost
Respondents were then
randomly asked one of two follow up questions about their opinion of
privatization if the plan cost more, or less, than it does currently.
If privatization costs
the city more money half or respondents oppose the plan (50%), with only a
quarter supporting (24%).
If privatization saves
the city money, half of respondents would support the plan (48%), with almost a
third opposed (30%).
“Such divided opinion
suggests an uncertainty toward the privatization proposal. In the end, it comes
down to cost: people want to pay less for city services, not more, so if
collection became more expensive, unsurprisingly, the majority would oppose it.
If it became cheaper, they would be more open to it, but three-in-ten are still
against privatization, even if it costs less,” said Dr. Lorne Bozinoff,
President of Forum Research.
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.
