Comparing the Management of Calgary and Edmonton

Public Sector

Comparing the View of Edmontonians and Calgarians on the Management of Their Respective Cities.

 

Public perceptions of the management of the governments of Calgary and Edmonton are dramatically different. Whereas in Calgary three out of four residents believe that the Mayor has provided the necessary leadership the city needs, approximately half that proportion of Edmontonians would say the same thing about their current Mayor. Furthermore, whereas just over half of Calgarians believe that city council does a good job balancing the interests of their business community and other residents, only one-third of Edmontonians believe that their council does the same. On all four aspects investigated, Calgarians give their municipal government higher ratings than Edmontonians give their government. (see Table 13)

The overall approval of the running of Calgary directly relates to the high levels of approval of city council and the Mayor's performance. In contrast, approval of Edmonton's city council and Edmonton's mayor is substantially lower. These figures (shown on Table 14) explain why the civic election campaign in Edmonton has generated considerable interest and coverage, whereas the civic election in Calgary has yet to develop into any type of race.

TABLE 13: COMPARING CALGARIANS' AND EDMONTONIANS' ASSEESSMENT OF THEIR MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS

160Edmonton
June 1995
(506)
% 		Calgary
Sept. 1995
(400)
%
The Mayor has provided necessary leadership 3874
City council is always squabbling 77 58
Council does a good job balancing interests of the business community and other residents3354
The municpal government effectively uses tax dollars3348

TABLE 14: COMPARING CONTENTMENT WITH COUNCIL AND MAYOR'S PERFORMANCE BETWEEN EDMONTON AND CALGARY

Edmonton
June 1995
(506)
%		Calgary
Sept. 1995
(400)
%
Approve of Council4275
Disapprove of Council5316
Unsure 5 9
Approve of Mayor4986
Disapprove of Mayor4986
Unsure58

A Calgary-wide survey was conducted with a random and representative sampling of 400 adults between September 6th and September 11th, 1995.

Results of the total Calgary sample of 400 respondents are accurate within ±5.0%. In other words, the results of this poll would not be more than 5.0% above or below the result of a total population survey, 19 times out of 20. The margin of error is higher for sub-samples.

This public opinion survey was conducted by the Alberta Division of the Angus Reid Group on behalf of the Calgary Herald.

For more information, contact:

Darrel Bricker
Senior Vice-President
Angus Reid Group
(613) 241-5802

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

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