Healthcare and Education Are the Number One Issues in Ontario

This most recent CFRB/Globe and Mail/Angus Reid Group poll was conducted between April 6th to 12th 1998 among a representative cross-section of 1,000 Ontarians. This latest sounding of public opinion in Ontario yielded the following results:

• Ontarians believe that healthcare (55%) and education (54%) are the most important issues facing the province.
• Six in ten (60%) believe that the government is on the "right-track".
• If an election were held tomorrow, the Liberals would capture the plurality, 43%, the Progressive Conservatives would garner 38% of the vote and the NDP would capture 13%.

Healthcare and education top Ontarians' concerns

This poll included the Angus Reid Group's on-going monitor of Ontarians' public policy priorities by asking Ontarians to name, 'top-of-mind', the two most important issues facing Ontario today. This analysis is based on the total number of mentions that each policy area received (consequently, totals exceed 100%).

Healthcare/medicare (55%) and education (54%) share top billing on this list. Since the last sounding in February 1998, both of these policy areas have increased in importance. Specifically, healthcare continues in its upward climb gaining 6 points (up from 49%) while education is back at its previous levels after dropping 15 points in February (up from 40%). Concern with healthcare is most acute among those over 55 years (64%). Younger Ontarians (60%) are the most likely to consider education (60%) an important issue.

While less important than it has been in previous surveys, jobs/unemployment still receives the third highest number of mentions. In this survey, it is mentioned by 28% of Ontarians compared to 33% two months ago.

Six in ten consider Tories on the right-track

Ontarians were also asked to indicate whether they believe the provincial government of Mike Harris and the Progressive Conservatives has Ontario on the right track or the wrong track. Six in ten (60%) Ontarians believe that the government is on the right track.

However, the data also indicate that almost half (46%) of Ontarians are soft in their estimations of the government's course. That is 32% believes that the government is "somewhat" on the right track and 14% believe that it is "somewhat" on the wrong track.

Liberals capture plurality if provincial election were held tomorrow

If an election were held tomorrow, the Liberals would capture a plurality of 43%, the Progressive Conservatives would garner 38% of the vote and the NDP would capture 13%.

These standings reflect some volatility among the electorate since February 1998. The Liberals have lost 3 points over the last two months (down from 46%). While the Tories have reversed a downward-trend and regained five points (up from 33%). The NDP remain virtually unchanged losing 1 point (down from 14%).

This CFRB/Globe and Mail/Angus Reid Poll was conducted by telephone between April 6th to 12th 1998 among a representative cross-section of 1,000 Ontarians.

These data were statistically weighted to ensure the sample's regional and age/sex composition reflects that of the actual Ontario population according to the 1996 Census data.

With an Ontario-wide sample of 1,000, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the results are within ±3.2 percentage points of what they would have been had the entire adult Ontario population been polled. The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population.

For more information on this news release, please contact:

John Wright
Senior Vice-President
The Angus Reid Group
Toronto, Ontario
(416) 324-2900