Two-Thirds (65%) of Canadians Optimistic For Economy in 2013, Especially In West

Toronto, ON - Looking ahead to the New Year, most Canadians have a positive outlook on Canada's economy, especially those living in the west, according to a new poll conducted by Ipsos Reid on behalf of Postmedia News and Global Television. Two-thirds (65%) of Canadians expect 2013 to be a `good' (8% very/57% somewhat) year for the Canadian economy, while one in three (35%) believe it will be a `bad' (6% very/29% somewhat) year going forward.

Highlighting a tale of two countries, western Canadians appear to have the brightest outlook for the Canadian economy going into 2013. Albertans (77%), residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba (76%), and British Columbians (72%) are most likely to believe that next year will be a `good' year for the Canadian economy, while Ontarians (66%), Atlantic Canadians (65%), and Quebecers (53%) are considerably less optimistic.

Despite a majority believing that Canada is heading into a good year, economically, for the country, there are others who believe the outlook is not so rosy. Four in ten (40%) Canadians `agree' (8% strongly/32% somewhat) that they `believe that Canada will enter into an economic recession in 2013'. A majority (60%), however, `disagree' (9% strongly/50% somewhat) that Canada will enter into a recession in the next year. Quebecers (47%) and Atlantic Canadians (47%) are most likely to `agree' that Canada will fall back into a recession in 2013, followed by Ontarians (40%), residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba (36%), British Columbians (35%), and Albertans (30%).

Reflecting on 2012, six in ten (61%) think that 2012 was a `good' year (4% very/57% somewhat) for the Canadian economy, compared to four in ten (39%) who believe that 2012 was a `bad' year (7% very/32% somewhat) for Canada's economy.

Residents of Alberta (76%) and Saskatchewan and Manitoba (73%) are most likely to believe that 2012 was a `good' year for the Canadian economy, followed by those from British Columbia (64%), Atlantic Canada (61%), Ontario (59%), and Quebec (53%). Quebecers (47%) and Ontarians (41%), however, most believe that this year was a `bad' one for the Canadian economy, ahead of Atlantic Canadians (39%), British Columbians (36%), residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba (27%), and Albertans (24%).

Federal/Provincial Economic Management...

While a majority of Canadians have a positive review of Canada's economic performance in 2012 and heading into 2013, they are split on the federal government's overall management of the Canadian economy. Half (49%) of Canadians `approve' (9% strongly/40% somewhat) of the federal government's overall management of the Canadian economy, compared to the other half (51%) who `disapprove' (17% strongly/35% somewhat). Approval of the federal government's management of the economy is down 5 points since February.

Albertans (60%) and Ontarians (51%) most `approve' of the federal government's overall management of the Canadian economy, followed by residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba (50%), British Columbians (49%), Atlantic Canadians (44%), and Quebecers (41%).

Despite the mixed review of the federal government's management of the economy, it is decidedly better than what Canadians have to say about their provincial government's management of the economy. Just four in ten (37%), overall, `approve' (4% strongly/33% somewhat) of their provincial government's overall management of the economy, compared to two-thirds (63%) who `disapprove' (25% strongly/38% somewhat) of their province's economic management.

Residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba (56%) are most likely to `approve' of their provincial government's overall management of the economy, followed by a minority of Albertans (44%), Atlantic Canadians (41%), Quebecers (40%), British Columbians (33%), and Ontarians (31%). Conversely, Ontarians (69%) and British Columbians (67%) most `disapprove' of their provincial government's overall management of the Canadian economy, ahead of Quebecers (60%), Atlantic Canadians (59%), Albertans (56%), and those from Saskatchewan and Manitoba (44%).

These are some of the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted between December 7th to 12th, 2012, on behalf of Postmedia News and Global Television. For this survey, a sample of 1,021 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. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case the poll is accurate to +/- 3.5 percentage points of the entire Canadian adult population. 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.