CARP Ontario Budget Poll Report

To view a detailed poll analysis with illustrations, click here

CARP members in Ontario are disappointed with the Ontario budget, more so than national members are with the recent federal budget. There is wide agreement that the focus of the budget should be job and growth creation, rather than deficit reduction, but few think it will be effective at either, and, as a result, almost half our Ontario members say they are less likely to vote for the government in the next provincial election.

CARP members endorse their organization’s call for the provinces to work with the federal government to substantially increase CPP/OAS rates, and are also very concerned about the impact of the HST on their pocketbooks.

When asked which one budget initiative focused at seniors they felt was most important, controlling the cost of generic drugs came out on top, indicating the government of Ontario has strong support in its campaign to eliminate generic drug manufacturer rebates.

The one major budget initiative which draws by far and away the most support is freezing public servants’ pay.

When asked for solutions to Canada’s pension woes, members are most likely to suggest increasing CPP contributions to increase benefits, followed by initiating a supplementary pension scheme, and very few see no need to change the system.

Members agree strongly with the idea of adding extra seats to the House of Commons for BC, Alberta and Ontario (except in the Atlantic provinces), and they strongly disagree with the idea of making Toronto Canada’s 11th province.

If provincial elections were held tomorrow among our members, the Conservatives would win in Ontario, the Wild Rose Alliance in Alberta and the Liberals in BC. Since the last time electoral preference in BC and Ontario was polled in fall, 2009, the Liberals in both provinces have improved their prospects.

Federally, the Conservatives lead by a healthy margin, and they have increased in electoral preference since our last poll in early March during the federal budget.

Keywords: budget, pension reform