Canadians Say 2014 was a Slight Improvement over 2013, Optimistic Things Will Be Better in 2015

Toronto, ON - Reflecting on the past year, Canadians say that 2014 was a slight improvement over 2013, but they are much more optimistic about what lies ahead in 2015, according to a new Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of Global News.

Taking the five categories of personal assessment for 2014 and the outlook for 2015 and averaging the totals for each region, it's clear that there are some provinces/regions who view 2014 as a better year than others do, and are more optimistic about 2015 than many:

• 2014 was good: Saskatchewan/Manitoba (73.4%) followed by Atlantic Canada (70.4%, British Columbia (68.2%), Ontario (64.4%), Alberta (62.2%) and Quebec (61.4%).
• Optimistic about 2015: Atlantic Canada (79.8%) followed by British Columbia (77.8%), Alberta (76%), Ontario (75.2%), Saskatchewan/Manitoba (74.4%) and Quebec (68.6%).

2014 a Slight Improvement over 2013...

All things considered, Canadians give good marks for how 2014 treated them and their family overall, as well as their job and career (for those who are employed), but are not as favourable in their assessment of how 2014 treated their personal financial situation, the economy, or their retirement plans/savings. Canadians' assessment of 2014 was slightly improved from their assessment of 2013:

• You and your family - 79% good (24% very/55% somewhat), up 3 points vs. 21% bad (5% very/16% somewhat), down 3 points. Highest: Saskatchewan and Manitoba (88% good); Lowest: Alberta (75% good).
• Your personal financial situation - 60% good (10% very/50% somewhat), unchanged vs. 40% bad (11% very/28% somewhat), unchanged. Highest: Atlantic Canada (71% good); Lowest: Alberta (57% good) and Ontario (57% good).
• The Canadian economy in general - 56% good (5% very/51% somewhat), up 2 points vs. 44% bad (10% very/34% somewhat), down 2 points. Highest: Saskatchewan and Manitoba (68% good); Lowest: Quebec (44% good).
• Your retirement plans/savings - 52% good (8% very/44% somewhat), up 2 points vs. 48% bad (21% very/28% somewhat), down 2 points. Highest: Alberta (58% good), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (58% good) and Atlantic Canada (58% good); Lowest: Quebec (48% good).
• Your job and career (among working Canadians) - 77% good (22% very/55% somewhat), unchanged vs. 23% bad (4% very/19% somewhat), unchanged. Highest: Atlantic Canada (88% good); Lowest: Alberta (68% good).

Canadians Foresee a Better 2015...

Looking ahead, Canadians expect that 2015 will be a better year on all accounts, with family and work being most positive, followed by Canadians' financial situation, the economy and retirement savings. A solid majority believe 2015 will be a good year for them in the following ways:

• You and your family - 88% good (29% very/59% somewhat), up 1 point vs. 12% bad (3% very/9% somewhat), down 1 point. Highest: BC (92% good); Lowest: Alberta (87% good), Ontario (87% good), Quebec (87% good).
• Personal financial situation - 76% good (16% very/60% somewhat), up 1 point) vs. 24% bad (4% very/20% somewhat), down 1 point. Highest: Atlantic Canada (79% good); Lowest: Saskatchewan and Manitoba (68% good).
• The Canadian economy in general - 62% good (8% very/54% somewhat), down 2 points vs. 38% bad (8% very/30% somewhat), up 2 points. Highest: Ontario (69% good); Lowest: Quebec (47% good).
• Your retirement plans/savings - 62% good (11% very/51% somewhat), down 2 points vs. 38% bad (12% very/26% somewhat), up 2 points. Highest: Alberta (70% good); Lowest: Quebec (54% good).
• Your job and career (among working Canadians) - 87% good (25% very/62% somewhat), up 2 points vs. 13% bad (2% very/11% somewhat), down 2 points. Highest: Atlantic Canada (98% good); Lowest: Saskatchewan and Manitoba (80% good).

Canadians Most Satisfied with their Happiness and Health, Least Satisfied with Finances and Sex Life...

Canadians were asked to rate various aspects of their life as being good or bad, and the data reveal that Canadians are most inclined to give positive ratings to their overall level of happiness and their health, but much less likely to give a rave review of their sex/romantic life and their personal financial situation.

• Personal happiness - 81% good (26% very/55% somewhat), up 1 point vs. 19% bad (5% very/14% somewhat), down 1 point. Highest: BC (86% good); Lowest: Saskatchewan and Manitoba (79% good) and Ontario (79% good).
• Health - 79% good (25% very/54% somewhat), unchanged, vs. 21% bad (3% very/18% somewhat), unchanged. Highest: BC (86% good); Lowest: Atlantic Canada (72% good).
• Social life - 76% good (19% very/57% somewhat), up 4 points vs. 24% bad (6% very/18% somewhat), down 4 points. Highest: Quebec (86% good); Lowest: Saskatchewan and Manitoba (70% good).
• Sex or romantic life - 61% good (21% very/40% somewhat), up 1 point vs. 39% bad (18% very/21% somewhat), down 1 point. Highest: Quebec (71% good); Lowest: Alberta (47% good).
• Personal financial situation - 61% good (12% very/49% somewhat), unchanged vs. 39% bad (10% very/28% somewhat), unchanged. Highest: Atlantic Canada (67% good); Lowest: Ontario (57% good).

These are some of the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted between December 16 to 19, 2014 on behalf of Global News. For this survey, a sample of 1,005 Canadians from Ipsos' Canadian online panel was interviewed online. Weighting was then employed to balance demographics to ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the adult population according to Census data and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll is accurate to within +/- 3.5 percentage points had all Canadians adults been polled. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.

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.

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