Polls
October 4, 2017 (Ottawa, ON) – A new Mainstreet/Postmedia poll produced for the Calgary Herald & Calgary Sun finds Calgarians oppose expanding the city’s bike network to the suburbs – and are split on a property tax increase to pay for additional policing. The Mainstreet/Postmedia poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
“Respondents were split when it came to raising property taxes to pay for additional policing.” said Quito Maggi, President of Mainstreet Research. “43% said they would be opposed to the plan with 39% in favour, another sign that property taxes are the top issue this election campaign and that they are a higher priority than crime and safety.”
“The numbers were not close however when it came to questions about bike lanes. 57% oppose the new bike lanes that have been added downtown and 55% oppose expanding the bike network to the suburbs. Despite their low cost, bike lanes appear to have a become a grievance for a number of Calgarians.”
“Not surprisingly when we look at how the mayoral vote stacks up on the issue there is a clear divide. Supporters of Naheed Nenshi support the bike lanes (53%, 55%) but supporters of Bill Smith and Andre Chabot are strongly opposed (80%, 74% for Smith; 84%, 84% for Chabot).”
“There is also a split when we look at the policing question with Nenshi supporters more willing to raise property taxes to pay for additional police (48%) than Smith supporters (34%) or Chabot supporters (27%).”
“Undecided voters support a property tax increase for more police by 7 percentage points but at the same time oppose the downtown bike lanes (41%) and their expansion (46%).”
“Calgary voters support more assistance for businesses, something the mayoral candidates promised to address at the Chamber of Commerce debate. Once again there is a split, Nenshi supporters are opposed to assistance to business (28% support; 41% oppose) but all other voter groups are in favour,” finished Maggi.
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Mainstreet – Calgary September 2017 C by Mainstreet on Scribd