Six in Ten (58%) Ontarians (Up 2 Points) Believe
Resale Homes Subject to HST

Toronto, ON - Ontarians continue to be confused about what transactions are subject to HST and which are exempt as six in ten (58%) believe that the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) is applied to the purchase price of a resale home in Ontario, according to a new Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of the Ontario Real Estate Association.

Despite a general push to educate Ontarians on what is subject to the HST and what isn't, the proportion of Ontarians who believe that resale homes receive the added 13% tax is up 2 points. In reality, HST is only applied to new-build homes in Ontario, while re-sale homes are exempt from the tax.

Those in Northern Ontario (66%, -5 points) and the GTA (60%, +6 points) are most likely to believe that HST is applied to resale homes, while those living in Eastern (59%, unchanged), South-western (58%, -1 point) and Central Ontario (50%, -1 point) are less likely.

Women (63%) are more likely than men (53%) to believe that resale homes are subject to HST.

These are some of the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted between September 15-19, 2011, on behalf of the Ontario Real Estate Association. For this survey, a sample of 813 Ontarians from Ipsos' Canadian online panel was interviewed online. Weighting was then employed to balance demographics and political composition 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 +/- 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what the results would have been had the entire population of adults in Ontario 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
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 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.).

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

Ipsos, listed on the Eurolist of Euronext - Comp B, is part of SBF 120 and the Mid-100 Index, adheres to the Next Prime segment and is eligible to the Deferred Settlement System. Isin FR0000073298, Reuters ISOS.PA, Bloomberg IPS:FP