Overall, Eight in Ten (81%) Support a Free Trade Agreement Between Canada and the European Union

Toronto, ON - As Canada and the European Union (EU) continue to negotiate a trade agreement, Canadians, overall, are vastly supportive of such a deal. Eight in ten (81%) Canadians `support' (20% strongly/61% somewhat) a free-trade agreement between Canada and the European Union. Two in ten (19%), however, say they `oppose' (5% strongly/15% somewhat) such a trade agreement between Canada and the European Union.

• Men (84%) are slightly more likely to support a Canada-EU free trade agreement than women (77%).
• Residents of the Prairies (Saskatchewan/Manitoba - 87%, Alberta - 85%) and Atlantic Canada (85%) are most supportive of the trade agreement, followed by Quebec (81%) and British Columbia (81%), while Ontario is the least supportive (77%).
• Support for the trade agreement tends to increase with an increase in level of education. Canadians who are university graduates (86%) are most supportive of a Canada-EU free trade agreement, followed by Canadians with some level of post-secondary education (82%), and high school graduates (78%), while those with less than a high school education (77%) are least supportive.

What many Canadians are unaware of is that a proposed free trade agreement between Canada and the EU may include a provision that extends patents on brand-name pharmaceutical drugs. This is intended to encourage investment in new product development, but would also increase the cost of prescription drugs for Canadians.

When educated on such a provision, only one-third (31%) of Canadians say they `support' (5% strongly/26% somewhat) a free trade agreement between Canada and Europe, meaning a shift by half of the Canadian population away from supporting the agreement. Seven in ten (69%) Canadians `oppose' (34% strongly/35% somewhat) a trade agreement between the two parties when informed of such a provision that would increase prescription drug costs.

• Women (75%) are most opposed to a trade agreement that would extend drug patents, while men (63%) are the less opposed.
• British Columbians (74%) are the most opposed, followed by Albertans (71%), Ontarians (70%), and Quebecers (66%). Residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba (65%) and Atlantic Canada (65%) are the least opposed to such an agreement.
• Nearly three-quarters (74%) of Canadians seniors, aged 55+, are opposed to a Canada-EU trade agreement that might ultimately increase prescription drug costs, likely because they are the most affected by such a provision. Seven in ten (71%) middle-aged Canadians oppose the agreement, while six in ten (60%) young Canadians similarly oppose.
• Interestingly, lower and higher income Canadians share similar feelings of opposition to a Canada-EU trade agreement that would increase prescription costs when compared with middle class Canadians, who are the most likely to oppose the agreement. Two-thirds of Canadians making under $40,000 annually (66%) and over $100,000 annually (64%) oppose a Canadian trade agreement with Europe that would increase prescription drug costs, compared to seven in ten Canadians making between $40-59,000 a year (71%) and between $60-$99,000 a year (70%) who also oppose.

These are some of the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted between September 10th to 17th, 2012, on behalf of The Council of Canadians. For this survey a sample of 1,008 Canadians 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:

Sean Simpson
Associate Vice President
Ipsos Reid Public Affairs
416.572.4474
[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.

To learn more, please visit www.ipsos.ca.

About Ipsos

Ipsos is an independent market research company controlled and managed by research professionals. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos has grown into a worldwide research group with a strong presence in all key markets. In October 2011 Ipsos completed the acquisition of Synovate. The combination forms the world's third largest market research company.

With offices in 84 countries, Ipsos delivers insightful expertise across six research specializations: advertising, customer loyalty, marketing, media, public affairs research, and survey management.

Ipsos researchers 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 and they measure public opinion around the globe.

Ipsos has been listed on the Paris Stock Exchange since 1999 and generated global revenues of e1,363 billion (1.897 billion USD) in 2011.

Visit www.ipsos-na.com to learn more about Ipsos' offerings and capabilities.