Majority opposes publicly funded olympics

Majority opposes publicly funded olympics

Split opinion on closing of King Street for TIFF

TORONTO AUGUST 2^nd - In a random sampling of public opinion taken by the Forum Poll™ among 892 Toronto voters, the majority, just over half, oppose hosting the Olympic Games in Toronto using public funds (53%), while just more than a third support the idea (36%). One tenth don’t venture an opinion (11%). Opposition to spending public funds on the Games is common to mid ($40K to $60K - 60%) and higher income groups ($80K to $100K - 60%), in Scarborough (55%), among Doug Ford mayoral voters (63%), Torontonians with a background in the British Isles (57%) and provincial PC voters (58%).

One half support closing King Street, just fewer don’t

One half of Toronto voters support closing several downtown blocks of King Street to traffic for 4 days during the Toronto International Film Festival (49%), while 4-in-10 do not support the idea (40%). One tenth don’t have an opinion (11%). Opposition is highest among younger respondents (35 to 44 - 45%), females (44%) rather than males (35%), the less wealthy ($20K to $40K - 48%), Etobicoke (45%) and York (46%), Doug Ford voters (49%) and PC voters provincially (45%).

Pan Am Games were successful - three quarters

Three quarters of Toronto voters found the Pan Am Games successful (74%), including 4-in-10 who describe them as “very successful" (39%). Just one fifth say they were not successful (19%) and fewer than a tenth don’t know (7%). Finding the games very successful is common to the oldest (47%), mid income groups ($4K to $60K - 46%), in Scarborough (44%) and among provincial Liberal voters (46%).

City leaders’ approvals are steady

Mayor John Tory has the approval of three quarters of Torontonians (72%), very close to last month’s result (74%). Chief Mark Saunders has the approval of just less than half (45%), and this hasn’t changed (46% last month). Councillor Rob Ford has the approval of just one third (32%) and this result, too, is similar to last month (34%).

“Although a majority approved of bidding for the Olympics in our last poll, it is apparent that this enthusiasm did not extend to having the government pay for them. In Boston, when the population was polled, the same result was seen - everyone wanted the Olympics but none wanted to pay for 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.