Amid Barrage of Bad News,
Most (83%) Canadians Remain `Optimistic' About Canada
Toronto, ON - Amid a barrage of bad-news stories dealing with gloomy economic forecasts, deep deficits and job losses, even in this time of recession Canadians remain optimistic, according to a new Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of Canwest News Service and Global National.
In fact, eight in ten (83%) are `optimistic' (36% very/47% somewhat) about `Canada as a nation', and an equal proportion is `optimistic' (26% very/57% somewhat) about their `standard of living compared to others'. It seems that even in tough times, most Canadians believe they're relatively well-off.
Further, eight in ten (84%) `agree' (35% strongly/49% somewhat) that they are `always an optimist' and that they `see the glass as half full', an attitude that appears to be in stark contrast to the prevailing mood in the news media - one of impending doom and gloom.
Focusing on the economy, seven in ten (69%) `agree' (23% strongly/46% somewhat) that `we'll come out of this economic recession stronger and better than before it started'. Just three in ten (30%) `disagree' (8% strongly/22% somewhat). What is unclear is when that will be, as only 44% are `optimistic' (11% very/34% somewhat) that it will be this year. The majority (55%) is `not optimistic' (20% not at all/35% not very) that we'll get out of recession this year.
Still, nine in ten (87%) `agree' (40% strongly/47% somewhat) that `despite everything that's going on in the world, they're still optimistic for a better tomorrow'. However, only a slim majority `agrees' (15% strongly/37% somewhat) that `they're confident that when they grow up, today's children will be better off than their own generation is today', while nearly one half (47%) `disagrees' (15% strongly/32% somewhat) with this sentiment.
Health, Arts, Science and Technology...
Setting aside economic issues for now, Canadians appear to be optimistic about a wide-variety of things ranging from their own health to advancements in science and technology. More specifically, nine in ten (90%) are `optimistic' (44% strongly/46% somewhat) about their `personal health' situation, perhaps driven by the fact that eight in ten (83%) are `optimistic' (32% very/50% somewhat) about `the advancements in science and healthcare to cure future ailments'.
Moreover, eight in ten (80%) Canadians are `optimistic' (29% very/50% somewhat) about `technological discoveries that will help make our lives better'.
One area where a majority (62%) is still `optimistic' (18% very/44% somewhat), but not to the same degree as the areas above, relates to `the strength of arts and culture' in their community. Fully one in three (34%) are `not optimistic' (8% not at all/26% not very) about the strength of the arts in their community.
These are the findings of an Ipsos Reid survey conducted on behalf of Canwest News Service and Global National between March 24 and March 26, 2009. The poll was based on a randomly selected sample of 1,001 adult Canadians, who were interviewed by telephone. With a sample of this size, the results are considered accurate to within 1773.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire adult Canadian population been polled. The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population. The data was statistically weighted to ensure the sample's regional and age/sex composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population according to the census data.
For more information on this news release, please contact:
John Wright
Senior Vice President
Ipsos Reid
Public Affairs
(416) 324-2002
[email protected]
About Ipsos Reid
Ipsos Reid is Canada's market intelligence leader, the country's leading provider of public opinion research, and research partner for loyalty and forecasting and modelling insights. With operations in eight cities, Ipsos Reid employs more than 600 research professionals and support staff in Canada. The company has the biggest network of telephone call centres in the country, as well as the largest pre-recruited household and online panels. Ipsos Reid's marketing research and public affairs practices offer the premier suite of research vehicles in Canada, all of which provide clients with actionable and relevant information. Staffed with seasoned research consultants with extensive industry-specific backgrounds, Ipsos Reid offers syndicated information or custom solutions across key sectors of the Canadian economy, including consumer packaged goods, financial services, automotive, retail, and technology & telecommunications. Ipsos Reid is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group.
To learn more, please visit www.ipsos.ca.
About Ipsos
Ipsos is a leading global survey-based market research company, owned and managed by research professionals. Ipsos helps interpret, simulate, and anticipate the needs and responses of consumers, customers, and citizens around the world.
Member companies assess market potential and interpret market trends. They develop and build brands. They help clients build long-term relationships with their customers. They test advertising and study audience responses to various media. They measure public opinion around the globe.
Ipsos member companies offer expertise in advertising, customer loyalty, marketing, media, and public affairs research, as well as forecasting, modeling, and consulting. Ipsos has a full line of custom, syndicated, omnibus, panel, and online research products and services, guided by industry experts and bolstered by advanced analytics and methodologies. The company was founded in 1975 and has been publicly traded since 1999.
In 2008, Ipsos generated global revenues of e979.3 million ($1.34 billion U.S.).
Visit www.ipsos.com to learn more about Ipsos offerings and capabilities.
Ipsos, listed on the Eurolist of Euronext - Comp B, is part of SBF 120 and the Mid-100 Index, adheres to the Next Prime segment and is eligible to the Deferred Settlement System. Isin FR0000073298, Reuters ISOS.PA, Bloomberg IPS:FP
