Two-thirds Approve
of $14 Minimum Wage
Its projected effect on the economy is
polarizing
Toronto, January
15th – In a random sampling of public opinion taken by The Forum Poll™ among 1022
Ontario voters, two-thirds (TOP2: 62%) said they approve of the provincial
government increasing the minimum wage to $14 per hour, with almost 4 in 10
(38%) saying they strongly approve.
A third (BTM2: 32%)
say they disapprove, with 2 in 10 (20%) saying they disapprove strongly.
Few (6%) have no
opinion or say they do not know (1%).
Respondents most
likely to approve of the minimum wage increase include those aged 65+ (73%),
females (70%), earning $20,000-$40,000 (74%), with some college or university
(67%) or a post-graduate degree (66%), living in Toronto (77%), and supporting
the Ontario Liberals (91%).
Respondents most
likely to say they disapprove of the minimum wage increase include those aged
35-44 (39%), male (40%), earning $40,000-$60,000 (37%), $60,000-$80,000 (35%),
$80,000-$100,000 (36%), or the most wealthy (37%), the least educated (35%) or
with a college/university degree (36%), living in Southwestern (43%) or
Northeastern (40%) Ontario, and supporting the PCs (53%).
Overall opinion is divided on
effectiveness of the increased minimum wage
Almost half (TOP2: 45%)
say that the increase in minimum wage will have a positive effect on the
provincial economy, with one-sixth (17%) saying it will be very positive. More
than a third (BTM2: 38%) say that the effect on the economy will be negative,
with 2 in 10 (20%) saying it will be very negative.
Fewer than one-sixth
(12%) think that the increase will have no effect on the provincial economy for
good, or ill, and few (4%) say they do not know.
Respondents most
likely to say that the minimum wage will have a positive effect on the economy
include those aged 65+ (53%), females (51%), earning $20,000-$40,000 (65%),
with some college or university (53%), living in Toronto (61%), and supporting
the Liberals (76%).
Respondents most
likely to say that the minimum wage will have a negative effect on the economy
include those aged 34 and younger (40%) or 35-44 (43%), males (48%), earning
$60,000-$80,000 (43%) or $80,000-$100,000 (45%), the least educated (44%)
or those with a college or university degree (41%), living in Southwestern
Ontario (51%), and supporting the PCs (59%),
“Ontarians overwhelmingly support the minimum
wage increase to $14, with two thirds saying they approve of it, and the lowest
earners, and therefore the most likely beneficiaries, most strongly in favour," said
Dr. Lorne Bozinoff, President of Forum Research. “And while slightly more feel
the increased minimum wage will have a positive effect on the economy, than a negative one, the
issue is clearly polarizing, particularly amongst partisan lines with a massive
amount of Liberals in favour, and a majority of Progressive Conservatives
opposed."
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.
