Most (84%) Believe Euro Zone Debt Crisis Will Impact Canada, Fewer (57%) Believe it will Impact their Own Financial Situation

Toronto, ON - Most (84%) Canadians believe that the current debt crisis in the Euro Zone will have an impact (25% a lot/59% somewhat) on Canada as a whole, according to a new Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of Postmedia News and Global Television. Just two in ten (16%) believe that he debt crisis won't impact (2% not at all/14% not really) Canada as a whole.

Canadians are less convinced, however, that the Euro debt crisis will have an impact on their own personal financial situation. Still, a majority (57%) believes the debt crisis will have an impact (12% a lot/45% somewhat) on their own personal financial situation, while four in ten (43%) believe their own situation will not be impacted (10% not at all/33% not really).

The Euro crisis has been the primary focus of most central banks and markets for quite some time now, costing both the Greek and Italian prime minsters their jobs, and discussion between the French President and German Chancellor about how to avoid the crisis are nearly a daily occurrence. Despite the best efforts of many world leaders, markets are still jittery and the crisis has not been averted, perhaps just delayed for now.

Residents of Alberta (90%) are most likely to believe that Canada will not escape being impacted by the Euro crisis, followed by those living in British Columbia (89%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (89%), Ontario (87%), Atlantic Canada (86%) and Quebec (72%). Canadians aged 55+ are most likely to believe Canada will be impacted (91%), while those aged 35 to 54 (83%) or 18 to 34 (77%) are less likely to think so.

Thinking about their own personal financial situation, British Columbians (63%) are the most likely to believe the Euro crisis will have an impact on them, followed by a majority of those living in Saskatchewan and Manitoba (62%), Atlantic Canada (59%), Ontario (59%), and Alberta (58%). Just 49% of Quebecers believe they'll personally be impacted by the Euro Zone crisis. Seven in ten (70%) older Canadians believe they'll be impacted, while fewer middle-aged (56%) or younger (43%) Canadians believe they'll be impacted.

These are some of the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted between December 14 and 19, 2011, on behalf of Postmedia News and Global Television. For this survey, a sample of 1,021 Canadians who season 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. A survey with an unweighted probability sample of this size and a 100% response rate would have an estimated margin of error of +/- 3.1 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:

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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Ipsos is a leading global survey-based market research company, owned and managed by research professionals. Ipsos helps interpret, simulate, and anticipate the needs and responses of consumers, customers, and citizens around the world.

Member companies assess market potential and interpret market trends. They develop and build brands. They help clients build long-term relationships with their customers. They test advertising and study audience responses to various media. They measure public opinion around the globe. Ipsos member companies offer expertise in advertising, customer loyalty, marketing, media, and public affairs research, as well as forecasting, modeling, and consulting. Ipsos has a full line of custom, syndicated, omnibus, panel, and online research products and services, guided by industry experts and bolstered by advanced analytics and methodologies. The company was founded in 1975 and has been publicly traded since 1999. In 2010, Ipsos generated global revenues of e1.140 billion ($1.6 billion U.S.).

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