Old age
pension, CPP, pharmacare and housing are key election issues
Marijuana, Bill C51, national day care less important
TORONTO June 16th,
2015 - In a
random sampling of public opinion taken by the Forum Poll™ among 1281 Canadian
voters, the election issues which are seen to be most likely to sway votes are
returning the age for OAS to 65 from 67, increasing Canada Pension Plan
contributions and benefits, creating a national drug plan and building
affordable housing. Issues which are not seen to sway as many undecided votes
include repealing Bill C-51, national daycare and legalizing marijuana.
OAS
More
than 4-in 10 (43%) say bringing the age for the Old Age Supplement back down to
65 from 67 is “very likely” to prompt them to change their vote. This is
especially the case among boomers (55 to 64 - 52%) and even the case among
Conservatives (33%).
CPP
More
than 4-in-10 are “very likely” to change their vote for a politician who
promises to increase CPP contributions and benefits (42%), especially among
boomers (52%) the less wealthy ($20K to $40K - 58%) and, once again, also among
Conservatives (33%).
National drug plan
More
than 4-in-10 (42%) are very likely to change their vote for this, especially
the oldest (55+ - 50%) and even among one quarter of Conservatives (24%).
Affordable housing
Four-in-ten
will very likely change their vote for this (42%), especially the oldest (50%),
females (47%), the least wealthy (58%). This is not so much the case among
Conservatives (22%) but is especially so among New Democrats (55%).
Other issues
In
order of likelihood of switching votes, the following issues were assessed:
Legalizing assisted suicide (37% very likely), abolishing the senate (36%),
restoring door-to-door mail delivery (36%), national day care (34%), legalizing
marijuana (34%) and, at the bottom of the list, repealing Bill C-51 (34%).
Jobs/growth the most important overall issue, followed by the
environment
When
voters are asked to rank a number of key election issues (broader in scope than
the specific policy promises assessed above), jobs and growth is first (which
is always the case - 33%), followed by the environment (18%). These two broad
issues are traditionally first and second when this ranking exercise is
undertaken, so it is instructive to look at what comes third. In this case it
is taxes (11%), rather than national security (6%), law and order (4%) or infrastructure
(7%). The budget comes right after taxes (9%). Thus, this election can be seen
to be about pocketbook issues. Conservatives are more interested in national
security, the budget and taxes than are others. New Democrats are much more
interested in the environment than other partisans.
"The policy planks which are
preferred by voters indicates a mature electorate, as they’re issues which
relate to aging and retirement. The concern for affordable housing is also
driven by older voters. If these are the issues which will move the
electorate’s vote, then the two opposition parties must be favoured, for none
of these positions is espoused by the government, even though Conservative
partisans say they will change their vote to support them," 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.
