Majority (57%) Believes Prison Expansion a Worthwhile Initiative

Toronto, ON - Law and order has been a key plank in the federal government's platform since being elected in 2006. As part of its initiative go get tough on crime, the government has introduced legislation that would increase minimum sentences and ultimately increase the amount of time inmates would spend in prison. This will require prison expansion and extra costs while the inmates remain in jail. The government says the extra costs will be about two-billion dollars, but others, such as the parliamentary budget officer and the opposition parties, say the costs will be higher.

Notwithstanding the exact figure, a new Ipsos Reid poll conducted exclusively on behalf of Postmedia News and Global Television has revealed that a majority (57%) of Canadians believe that `the prison expansions are a worthwhile initiative', compared to just four in ten (43%) who are closer to the opinion that `the prison expansion is unaffordable'.

Opposition Members of Parliament have asked the federal government to release cost estimates of some of the government's proposed crime legislation. The government has refused to release these figures, saying that the information is contained in documents that are protected by cabinet confdence and therefore cannot be made public.

The results of the poll reveal that eight in ten (82%) Canadians more closely believe that `the government should be compelled to release the cost estimates if the opposition parties demand them'. Adopting the opposite stance, two in ten (18%) are closer to the opinion that `the figures should be kept secret if the government says they should be'.

Prison Expansion More Controversial Among Some Demographics...

While six in ten (57%) Canadians, overall, believe the prison expansions are a worthwhile initiative, the idea is more controversial among some groups than others.

• Those without a high-school diploma (69%) are considerably more likely than those with a diploma (61%), some postsecondary education (53%) or a university degree (50%) to believe the expansions are worthwhile. In fact, half (50%) of those with a degree believe the expansions are not affordable.
• Men (60%) are more likely than women (54%) to believe that the expansions are worthwhile.
• Those aged 55 and older (61%) are most likely to believe this is a good policy, compared to fewer Canadians aged 35 to 54 (57%) or 18 to 34 (52%).
• Residents of Alberta (73%) are by far the most likely to support the expansions, while those living in British Columbia (63%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (61%), Ontario (55%), Quebec (51%) and Atlantic Canada (51%) are less likely.

These are some of the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted between February 15 to 17, 2011, on behalf of Postmedia News and Global National. For this survey, a sample of 1,097 adults from Ipsos' Canadian online panel was interviewed online. Weighting was then employed to balance demographics and 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. A survey with an unweighted probability sample of this size and a 100% response rate would have an estimated margin of error of +/-3.0 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what the results would have been had the entire population of adults in Canada 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:

Darrell Bricker
CEO
Ipsos Public Affairs
(416) 324-2001
[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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