Three Quarters (77%) of GTA Residents Believe Quality of Life is a Chief Competitive Advantage for the Region

As Well, Services in GTA are Seen as Being Worse Off Now Than in the Past

Toronto, ONTARIO - According to a Ipsos-Reid/Globe and Mail/CFTO/CFRB poll released today, three quarters (77%) of Greater Toronto Area residents believe that the quality of life in the region is one of the GTA's chief competitive advantages over other cities. However, an equal number (75%) indicate that unless something is done, the quality of life in their community will deteriorate over the next few years.

The poll is the first of two being released on the eve and the day of the Toronto City Summit, where 150 delegates are being convened to discuss the future of Toronto and its environs.

Three in ten (30%) express the view that overall quality of life in the GTA is worse now than three years ago and 37% indicate that it is worse off when compared to 15 years ago.

This deterioration has already started according to GTA residents. When asked if a number of factors that affect the quality of life in the their community has improved, worsened or stayed the same compared to 3 years ago and 15 years ago, each factor receives net negative scores (Better off minus Worse off) in both time comparisons. In both cases, `access to health care' (3 years ago: Net -37; 15 years ago: Net -41) and `education and schools' (3 years ago: Net -32; 15 years ago: Net -35) top the list receiving the largest net negative ratings.

These are the findings of an Ipsos-Reid/Globe and Mail/CFTO/CFRB poll conducted between June 19th and June 23rd, 2002. The poll is based on a randomly selected sample of 400 adult residents of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). With a sample of this size, the results are considered accurate to within 177 4.9 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire adult population of the GTA been polled. The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population. These data were statistically weighted to ensure the sample's regional and age/sex composition reflects that of the actual GTA population according to the 1996 Census data.

With the scheduled Toronto City Summit set to begin, three quarters (77%) of Greater Toronto Area residents believe that the quality of life in the region is one of the GTA's chief competitive advantages over other cities.

• This view is more likely expressed by those in middle income households (85%) than by those in either the lower (75%) or upper (74%) income households within the GTA.
• Men in the region (80% versus 75% of women) are more likely to believe this to be the case.
• Younger (82%) GTA residents, when compared to older (72%) residents are more likely to express this view.

However, an equal number (75%) indicate that unless something is done, the quality of life in their community will deteriorate over the next few years.

• Residents of the City of Toronto (80%) are more likely than residents in the `905' Belt (66%) to believe this to be the case.
• A higher proportion of lower income households (84%) agree with this view than those in upper (73%) or middle (71%) income households.

Three in ten (30%) believe that overall quality of life in the GTA is worse now than three years ago and 37% indicate that it is worse off when compared to 15 years ago. This compares to 22% who indicated that quality of life is better now than three years ago, and 33% when compared to 15 years ago. Forty-seven percent of GTA residents believe that compared to three years ago things are about the same, and 20% express this view when comparing quality of life to 15 years ago in the GTA.

• There is split opinion on this subject between those living in the City of Toronto and those in the `905' Belt. More Toronto residents believe things are worse than three years ago (36%) and 15 years ago (42%) than do `905' Belt residents (3 years: 20%; 15 years: 29%). In fact, in the `905' Belt more residents believe quality of life is better than 3 years ago (29%) and 15 years ago (39%) than indicate that things are worse (3 years: 20%; 15 years: 29%) over the corresponding time frames.
• Older (Net -25; Better 17% - Worse 42%) Ontarians and those in lower income households (Net -34; Better 14% - Worse 48%) are the most negative regarding the quality of life in the region when compared to three years ago. While the latter group is also the most negative regarding comparisons to 15 years ago (Net -11; Better 30% - Worse 41%).
• Younger residents are the most positive regarding changes to the quality of life over the two time frames. In fact, a higher number believe that quality of life in the GTA has gotten better over the past three years than has gotten worse (Net +8; Better 30% - Worse 22%). This pattern holds true when asked to compare the current quality of life in the area with 15 years ago (Net +15; Better 43% - Worse 28%).

The deterioration of factors impacting quality of life in the GTA has already begun according to area residents. When asked if a number of factors that effect quality of life in the their community has improved, worsened or stayed the same compared to 3 years ago and 15 years ago, each factor included receives net negative scores (Better off minus Worse off) in both time period comparisons. In both cases, `access to health care' (3 years ago: Net -37; 15 years ago: Net -41) and `education and schools' (3 years ago: Net -32; 15 years ago: Net -35) top the list receiving the largest net negative ratings.

The following table indicates, in order of net scores, how each of the factors ranked when asked to compare to three years ago.

To view the table please open the attached P DF file.

• A higher number of residents in the City of Toronto are likely to indicate that things are worse off for each factor than believe are better off when compared to the results in the `905' Belt. The only exception is concerning `personal safety' (`905' Net -12; Toronto Net -8). The largest discrepancy between the two areas of the GTA is regarding `municipal services' where more City residents indicate that things have worsened than improved (net -35), where as more `905' residents indicate the opposite point of view (net +9).
• `Access to healthcare' appears to be of a higher concern for older (net -43) and middle aged (net -42) GTA residents than their younger (net -27) counterparts.
• The view of `education and schools' is more pessimistic among women (net -37), lower (net -40) and upper (net -35) income households and middle aged (net -37) residents.
• The perception of `municipal services' is more negative among middle aged (net -29), upper income households (net -26) and men (net -22).
• The view of `access to housing' is strongest among middle aged (net -23) residents compared to the views of their younger and older counterparts (both net -16).
• The perception of `public safety' is worse among older (net -20) residents, women (net -20) and those with household incomes of $30,000 or higher (net -16).
• `Transportation' is viewed as being worse off by a higher proportion of those from upper income households (net -25) and men (net -24).
• `Personal safety' is viewed as deteriorated over the three year period by more younger and older (net -12) residents, those in upper income households (net -14) and women (net -13).

The following table indicates, in order of net scores how each of the factors ranked when asked to compare to fifteen years ago.

To view the table, please open the attached PDF file.

Of note, is that concern over `public safety' (Net -26) and `personal safety' (Net -24) is much higher than in the comparison to 3 years ago (`public safety': Net -9; `personal safety': Net -14).

• With only a few exceptions, resident of the City of Toronto are more pessimistic than their `905' counterparts regarding comparisons to 15 years ago. The largest differences appear to be regarding `municipal services' (Toronto: Net -33; `905': Net +13); `access to housing' (Toronto: Net -32; `905': Net +4); `Transportation' (Toronto: Net -17; `905': Net +10); and `public safety' (Toronto: Net -31; `905': Net -18). Interestingly however, the view of `personal safety' is virtually identical between the two areas (Toronto: Net -26; `905': Net -24).
• Older (net -54) and middle aged (net -52), as well as upper income households (net -49) and women (net -46) in the GTA appear to be more critical regarding `access to healthcare' when compared to 15 years ago.
• The comparison `education and schools' between now and 15 years ago is more negative among the middle aged (net -51), those in upper income households (net -45) and women (net -40)
• The perception of `public safety' when compared to 15 years ago is worse among older (net --32) residents, women (net -31) and those in upper (net -28) and middle (net -25) income household.
• `Personal safety' is viewed as deteriorated over the fifteen year period by more older (net -34) and middle aged (net -28) residents, women (net -33) and those in middle (net -25) and upper (net -28) income households.
• The view of `access to housing' is more pessimistic among lower income households (net -29) when compared to the views of their middle (net -18) and upper (net -16) income households.
• The longer comparative perception of `municipal services' is more pessimistic among middle aged (net -34), and upper income households (net -24) residetns.
• `Transportation' is viewed as being worse off by a higher proportion of men (net -21) those from upper income households (net -14) and older (net -10) and middle aged (net -13) GTA residents.

To view the complete release and tables, please open the attached PDF files.

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For more information on this news release, please contact:

John Wright
Senior Vice-President
Ipsos-Reid Public Affairs
(416) 324-2900