Awareness of CO detector by-law

This Angus Reid Group poll was commissioned by Canadian Tire. It was conducted by telephone between October 27th and 28th, 1998 among a representative cross-section of 400 residents of the new city of Toronto.

These data were statistically weighted to ensure the sample's regional and age/sex composition reflects that of the actual Toronto population according to the 1996 Census data. With a sample of 400, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the overall results are within +5.0 percentage points of what they would have been had the entire adult Toronto population been polled. The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population.

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Majority (55%) of Torontonians not aware of new by-law requiring the installation of CO Detectors in all homes

While 95% of Toronto homes equipped with smoke detectors, only 36% have a CO detector

A by-law that will require every dwelling to have a carbon monoxide (CO) detector takes effect in the new city of Toronto on November 1st. Canadian Tire commissioned the Angus Reid Group to undertake a survey among Toronto residents about the new by-law and issues surrounding CO detectors. The survey found that:

• A majority (55%) is not aware of the new by-law.
• In spite of the fact that half of Torontonians (51%) indicate that they would not recognize the symptoms of CO poisoning, only one third (36%) have a CO detector installed in their home.

Awareness of by-law low

A majority (55%) is not aware of the by-law scheduled to go into effect in Toronto on November 1st requiring every home to have at least one carbon-monoxide detector. Two in five (45%) indicate that they know about the new by-law. Awareness is lowest among younger Torontonians (30% among those between 18 and 34 years) and highest among older Torontonians (65% among those over 55 years).

Having learned about the new by-law, half (55%) of respondents without a CO detector plan to purchase one within the next month. Owners (74%) are more inclined to obtain a CO detector than renters (41%). In addition, respondents who are living with children under 18 years (62%) are more likely to buy a CO detector than those without children living at home (53%). Furthermore, a majority (55%) of those who live in multi-level dwellings plan to buy a CO detector for each floor of their home.

Only 36% of Toronto households have a CO Detector

While 95 per cent of Toronto residents have a smoke detector only one third (36%) have a carbon monoxide detector. Owners (50%) are more likely than renters (18%) are to have a CO detector. Those who live with children under 18 years (43%) are also more likely to own a CO detector than other Torontonians (33%).

In addition, three quarters (73%) of respondents with CO detectors who live in multi-level dwellings do not have a CO detector installed on each floor of their home. One quarter (24%) have a CO detector on each floor.

Majority would not recognize symptoms of CO poisoning

A majority (51%) indicate that they would not recognize the symptoms of CO poisoning. Two in five (45%) respondents indicate that they would recognize the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.

For more information on this news release, please contact:

John Wright
Senior Vice-President
Angus Reid Group
(416) 324-2900