THE RE-ELECTION OF MIKE HARRIS

MAJORITY OF ONTARIANS (54%) SAY THE RE-ELECTION OF MIKE HARRIS AND THE PCs IS "GOOD NEWS" - 41% SAY IT'S "BAD NEWS"

BUT, IF THEY HAD TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN, IT WOULD STILL BE CLOSE AS PCs (43%) HOLD POST-ELECTION SUPPORT IN POLLS - LIBERALS (40%), NDP (13%)

HEALTHCARE (53%) AND EDUCATION (41%) STILL MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES FACING ONTARIO; HOWEVER, LEVEL OF CONCERN ON A DOWNWARD TREND - HEALTHCARE (down 2O% FROM PEAK IN FEBRUARY 1999), EDUCATION (down 24% FROM PEAK IN OCTOBER 1998

TAXES (21%), POVERTY (20%), ENVIRONMENT (14%) ALSO IMPORTANT ISSUES FACING THE PROVINCE

This Ontario Angus Reid Group/Globe and Mail/CFRB poll is based on a provincial telephone survey conducted between August 5th and August 15th, 1999 among a representative cross-section of 1,000 Ontarian adults. These data are statistically weighted to ensure the sample's regional, age and sex composition reflects that of the actual Ontario population according to 1996 Census data.

With a national sample of 1,000, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the overall results are within +3.1 percentage points of what they would have been had the entire adult Ontarian population been polled. The margin of error will be larger for other sub-groupings of the survey population.

As the Ontario Progressive Conservative Caucus wraps up its preparation for the first sitting of Parliament since its summer re-election, the majority (54%) of Ontarians say the re-election of Mike Harris and the Progressive Conservatives is "good news" for the province, echoing the Tory campaign theme that it is keeping the province on the "right track". Whereas, 41% say it's "bad news" mainly due to continuing education and healthcare woes. But, if they had to do it all over again, it would still be close as the vote numbers show that Mike Harris and the Progressive Conservatives hold their post-election support of 43% of the decided vote. The polarized provincial Liberals maintain 40% of the decided vote, while Ontario's New Democrats maintain 13% support.

Healthcare (53%) and education (41%) are still the most important issues facing the province, according to Ontarians. However, the level of mentions of healthcare has dropped 20 points since its highest rating of 73% in February 1999. Similarly, concern regarding education has dropped 24 points since its highest rating of 65% in October 1998. Other issues of importance to Ontarians include taxes (21%), poverty (20%) and the environment (14%).

These are the highlights gleaned from an Ontario Angus Reid Group/Globe and Mail/CFRB telephone survey of 1,000 adult Ontarians. Interviews were conducted between August 5th and August 15th, 1999. A sample size of 1,000 is said to have a corresponding margin of error of +3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

THE MAJORITY (54%) SAY THE RE-ELECTION OF MIKE HARRIS AND THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVES IS "GOOD NEWS"

The majority (54%) of Ontarians say "the re-election of Mike Harris and the Progressive Conservatives is good news for the province". The most common reasons given for the PC government's second mandate being "good news" include: "doing a good job and being on the right track" (37%), "reducing the deficit and balancing the budget" (14%), "keeping its promises" (14%), "reducing taxes" (13%) and "the economy is strong" (12%). However, four in ten (41%) see the re-election of Mike Harris and the PCs as "bad news for the province." Frequently education (33%) and health (32%) cutbacks are offered as the main reasons why Harris' re-election is "bad news".

• Ontarians 55 years or older (64%), men (63%) and high-income earners (63%) are most likely to suggest that the re-election of the provincial Tories is "good news for the province".
• Regionally, Northern Ontarians (55%) are the most likely to say the re-election of Mr. Harris and the PC Party is "bad news" - compared to the provincial average (41%).
• While the GTA (56% versus 40%) matches the provincial averages (54% versus 41%), clearly respondents living in the 905 area code of the GTA (68%) are more likely to say the re-election of Mike Harris is "good news for the province" - compared to 50% of those living in the 416 area of the GTA.
• Not surprisingly, respondents who voted PC in the June election (96%) think it is "good news" for the province to have Harris and his PCs re-elected. However, one third (31%) of Liberal voters also said that Harris' re-election is "good news for the province".

PROVINCIAL TORIES HOLD POST ELECTION SUPORT OF 43% OF DECIDED VOTE - LIBERALS (40%), NDP (13%)

Mike Harris and the Progressive Conservatives hold their election lead at 43% of the decided vote. The provincial Liberals garner 40% of the decided vote while Ontario's New Democrats maintain 13% support. Those who are undecided on which provincial party they would support represent 7% of the Ontario population.

• Progressive Conservative support is strongest with Ontarians aged 55+ (55%), men (51%), high-income earners (53%) and those living in the 905 area code of the GTA (53%).
• For the Liberals, the strongholds of support practically mirror those listed above - women (48%), low income earners (Support for the New Democrats is strongest among Ontarians aged 18 to 34 (17%), Northern Ontarians (22%) and urban dwellers (15%) more so than rural Ontarians (5%).

HEALTHCARE (53%) AND EDUCATION (41%) MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES FACING THE PROVINCE - CONCERN ON DOWNWARD TREND

Although healthcare (53%) and education (41%) remain at the top of the list of the most important issues facing the province, concern for these issues is on a downward trend. The level of mentions of healthcare, as the issue "Ontario's leaders should give top priority to", has dropped 20 points since its highest rating of 73% in February 1999. Similarly, concern regarding education has dropped 24 points since its highest rating of 65% in October 1998. Other issues of importance to Ontarians include taxes (21%), poverty (20%) and the environment (14%).

• Older Ontarians (55+, 62%), the university educated (60%), women (60%) and high-income household respondents (>$60k, 58%) are most likely to mention healthcare as the issue "Ontario's leaders should give top priority to".
• The young (18 to 34, 48%), university educated (48%) and female (47%) respondents are most likely to mention education as the most important issue facing Ontario's leaders.
• Ontarians who voted Liberal or NDP in the June 1999 provincial election are more likely to mention healthcare and education than were PC voters as the most important issue facing Ontario's leaders (See attached tables).
• PC voters (33%), men (26%) and residents of GTA living in the 905 area code (32%) are most likely to mention taxes as the most important issue facing the province.
• Residents of the GTA (30%), young Ontarians (aged 18 to 34, 26%), those with a high school education or less (23%) and women (24%) are most likely to mention poverty as the most important issue.

For further information contact:

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

The Angus Reid Group is Canada's largest and most well known Canadian research company. Established in 1979 by Dr. Angus Reid, the company serves 1200 clients via its six offices in Canada, four offices in the United States and its European office in London, England. With a compliment of 250 full time qualitative and quantitative researchers, the company has annual revenues of $65 Million and is growing at an average rate of 30 percent per year. The employee owned company also operates its own field service entity, Direct Reid, utilizing 450 CATI telephone interviewing stations for north American calling and a 50,000 household consumer panel in Canada.