MAJORITY OF CANADIANS (53%) MOST CONCERNED ABOUT Y2K "GLITCH" BEING FIXED IN HEALTHCARE SECTOR

CONCERNED ABOUT Y2K "GLITCH" BEING FIXED IN HEALTHCARE SECTOR

BANKING AND OTHER FINANCIAL SERVICES (50%) AND POLICE SAFETY SERVICES (46%) NEXT RANKING IN CONCERN AMONGST KEY SECTORS AND SERVICES

OVERWHELMING MAJORITY (93%) AWARE OF Y2K ISSUE - BUT ONLY 25% "VERY FAMILIAR" WITH ISSUE

This National Angus Reid/CTV poll was conducted by telephone between November 16th and November 23rd, 1998 among a representative cross-section of 1,520 Canadian adults.

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

With a national sample of 1,520, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the overall results are within +2.5 percentage points of what they would have been had the entire adult Canadian population been polled. The margin of error will be larger for other sub-groupings of the survey population.

From a list of priority sectors and services that may be affected by the "Y2K" issue, a majority of Canadians are most concerned that hospitals and other health services "will be fixed". The level of public concern is only slightly lower with regard to banking and other financial services (50%), and police and public safety services (46%). When it comes to familiarity with the Y2K issue, an overwhelming majority (93%) of Canadians are aware of it, but only one in four (25%) are "very familiar" with the Y2K issue.

These are some of the findings gleaned from a national Angus Reid Group/CTV telephone survey conducted between November 16th and 23rd, 1998 among a representative cross-section of 1,520 Canadian adults. With a national sample of 1,520, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the overall results are within +2.5 percentage points of what they would have been had the entire adult Canadian population been polled. The following provides a full synopsis of the findings.

Similar Levels of Concern for Banking and Financial Services (50%) and Police and Public Safety Services (46%)

Respondents were provided with a list of priority sectors and services and asked how concerned they were about the "Year 2000 Computer Glitch" being fixed in each. Responses were then tabulated to provide a concern ranking. More than half of Canadians (53%) are concerned about the Y2K computer glitch being fixed in hospitals and other health services. This level of concern is highest among residents of Quebec (68%), those aged 18 to 34 (58%), women (59%), those without a high school diploma (61%) and the least affluent (61% of those with household incomes of less than $30K).

At 50 percent, the level of public concern is similar for banking and other financial services. Quebecers (60%), those aged 18 to 34 (55%), women (55%), and the least affluent (57%) express the highest levels of concern over the impact of the Y2K glitch on the financial services industry.

Almost half (46%) of Canadians are concerned as to whether the Y2K glitch will be fixed for police and other public safety services. Most notably, concern is highest among residents of Quebec (55%) or the Atlantic provinces (51%), women (50%), those without a high school diploma (51%) and the least affluent (52%).

Public Concern is Lower for Gas & Electrical Utilities (39%), Telephone & Telecommunications Services (38%), and Travel Services (29%)

Public concern as to whether the Y2K glitch will be fixed in the gas and electrical utilities sector (39%) is virtually the same as that for telephone and telecommunications services (38%). Most concerned about the electrical utilities sector are Albertans (45%) and Quebecers (51%), women (44%), those without a high school diploma (47%), and the least affluent (46%). Similarly, concern about telephone and telecommunications services is highest among residents of Quebec (50%), women (43%), those without a high school diploma (46%) and the least affluent (43%).

At 29 percent, the level of concern is lowest as to whether the glitch will be fixed in the travel services sector. This level of concern is slightly higher among residents of Quebec (36%), and those without a high school diploma (36%).

But Only 25% are "Very Familiar" with Y2K Issue

While an overwhelming majority of Canadians (93%) are aware of the Year 2000 Computer Glitch, only one in four (25% -- of those who are aware of the issue) are "very familiar" with it (59% are "somewhat familiar").

Awareness of the Y2K glitch is highest among residents of Saskatchewan/Manitoba (97%) or the Atlantic provinces (97%), university graduates (98%) and those with a household income of more than $60K (97%). While still very high, awareness is lower than average among residents of Quebec (86%), those without a high school diploma (84%) and the least affluent (88%) - the groups which tend to express the highest levels of concern over the impact the Y2K glitch will have on various service industries.

Of those who are aware of the Y2K glitch, most likely to be "very familiar' with the issue are residents of Alberta (37%) or Ontario (30%), those aged 35 to 54 (29%), men (34%), university graduates (40% and the most affluent (37%).

For further information, please contact:

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