Seven in Ten (72%) Canadians are Concerned About Access to Special Needs Education

Toronto, ON - There appears to be a significant concern in Canada about the education and care given to elementary students in the public system with special needs, according to a new Ipsos Reid poll conducted exclusively for Global Television, the fifth instalment of a six-part series on education. Seven in ten (72%) are `concerned' (28% very/44% somewhat) about `access to special needs education', while three in ten (28%) are `not concerned' (6% strongly/23% somewhat) about this aspect of elementary public-school education.

Quebecers (81%) are most concerned about access to special needs education, while fewer in British Columbia (74%), Ontario (70%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (65%), Atlantic Canada (64%), and Alberta (63%) are concerned about access to special needs education. Conversely, two in five residents of Alberta (37%), Atlantic Canada (36%), and Saskatchewan and Manitoba (35%) are not concerned about this type of education access, higher than Ontarians (30%), British Columbians (26%), and Quebecers (19%) who are similarly not concerned.

Canadians are split on whether `special-needs students are being well served by the public-education system'. One half (53%) `agrees' (53% -- 7% strongly/45% somewhat); the other half (47%) `disagrees' (11% strongly/36% somewhat). Residents from the Prairie Provinces (64% Saskatchewan and Manitoba/63% Alberta) and Atlantic Canada (62%) most agree that special-needs students are being well served by the public school system, compared to a slight majority of Ontarians (54%), and a minority of British Columbians (49%) and Quebecers (43%). A slim majority of Quebecers (57%) and British Columbians (51%) disagree that the public education system serves special needs students well, compared to a narrow minority of Ontarians (46%) and a smaller minority of Atlantic Canadians (38%), Albertans (37%), and residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba (36%).

Perhaps as a result, three quarters (76%) would `support' (30% strongly/46% somewhat) the existence of `schools that focus solely on children with special needs'. Only one quarter (24%) would `oppose' (7% strongly/18% somewhat) this types of schools. British Columbians (83%) are most supportive of special needs schools, followed by residents of Ontario (76%) and Saskatchewan and Manitoba (76%). Those most opposed to these types of schools hail from Atlantic Canada (32%), Alberta (28%), and Quebec (26%).

Global Television's Grading Our Schools section: http://www.globalnews.ca/topics/gradingourschools/index.html.

These are some of the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted between August 20-27th, 2012, on behalf of Global Television, the fifth instalment of a six-part series on education. For the survey, a sample of 1,569 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 +/- 2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, respectively, 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.

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.