Mainstreet - Edmonton July 2016

JULY SNAPSHOT
EMBARGOED UNTIL: 5 AM - JULY 11, 2016
PRINT EXCLUSIVE: POSTMEDIA NETWORK
Mainstreet surveyed a random sample of 830 Edmonton residents by Smart IVR™ on July 8, 2016. A mixture of landlines and cell
phones were surveyed. Margin of error: +/- 3.4%, 19 times out of 20. Results were weighed by age and gender based on the 2011
Canadian Census.
A2
"Exclusive Mainstreet/Postmedia polls are protected
by copyright. The information and/or data may only
be rebroadcast or republished with full and proper
credit and attribution to “Mainstreet/Postmedia”.
EDMONTONIANS MIXED ON POLICE BUDGET
July 11, 2016 (Ottawa, ON) – A new Mainstreet/Postmedia poll finds mixed opinions on whether the police budget
should be increased with many Edmontonians believing the city is less safe. The Mainstreet/Postmedia Poll has a
margin of error of +/- 3.4%, 19 times out of 20.
“Alberta is one of three Provinces where the legal drinking age is 18, along with Manitoba and Quebec while the rest
of Canada has set the age for legal consumption at 19. A majority of Edmontonians want to keep it that way, with
nearly two thirds (63%) saying they would not want to increase it beyond 18 versus just 18% who would support such
an increase,” said Quito Maggi, President of Mainstreet Research.
“4 in 10 Edmontonians who would support increasing the age for alcohol consumption say it should be raised to 19,
while another 32% said 21 like in some US states, just 5% said 20 and another 22% were not sure. The most desired
options other than the current age appear to follow other jurisdictional norms.”
“Recent changes made by the Provincial government that loosen restrictions on serving alcohol is overwhelmingly
popular with 73% saying they approve, including 76% of men and 80% of those under 35. Just 17% disapprove,
including almost 2 in 10 women disapproving of the move (19%).”
“We see similar support for loosening restrictions on rules for consumption at festivals like the Edmonton Summer
Festival. Over 7 in 10 people would support such changes (71%), and significantly higher among those under 35 with
almost 8 in 10 (79%). Only 16% would oppose such changes with another 13% not sure.”
The Mainstreet/Postmedia poll also asked Edmontonians questions about crime and policing.
“In recent years Edmonton has received some unwanted attention for having a a steady crime rate while other major
cities rates fell up to 2014. Since 2015, rates have increased, including a record number of murders that some attribute
to the downturn in the economy. These realities are mirrored by the perceptions of a majority of Edmontonians who
believe crime is either increasing (43%) or staying the same (37%). Just 11% believe crime is decreasing with another
9% not sure about the relative amount of crime.”
“Despite those perceptions, people are split on whether the City should approve an increased budget for the local
police force. 44% indicate the City should approve an increase for the Police force while 35% said no, with 21% not sure
about increasing the budget. This will present a challenge for the Mayor and Council as they decide on budget
priorities versus the safety concerns of residents. Perhaps increased attention towards Violent Crimes and Sex Trade
would be a good approach for City officials as 22% and 21% respectively indicate these should be priorities for the
police force. The rest were closely split between focusing on Gangs (12%), Drugs (15%) and Property Crimes (15%),’
finished Maggi.
About Mainstreet Research
Mainstreet is a national public research firm. With 20 years of political experience at all three levels of government,
President and CEO Quito Maggi is a respected commentator on Canadian public affairs.
Differentiated by its large sample sizes, Mainstreet Research has provided accurate snapshots of public opinion,
having predicted a majority NDP government in Alberta, a majority Liberal government in British Columbia and a
majority Liberal government in Ontario. Mainstreet has been the most accurate polling firm in several by elections and
the most recent Toronto mayoral election. Most recently, Mainstreet was the only polling firm to correctly predict a
Liberal majority government in the 2015 federal election.
-30Available for phone interview: Quito Maggi, quito@mainstreetresearch.ca
For more information: David Valentin, 514-913-5524, david@mainstreetresearch.ca
A3
The provincial government has recently made changes to
liquor laws, removing restrictions on happy hours, and
making it easier for breweries and distilleries to operate.
Do you approve or disapprove allowing bars to stay open
and serve later?
City
73%
Males
76%
Females
70%
18-34
80%
35-49
69%
50-64
71%
65+
65%
0
10
17%
10%
15%
9%
19%
11%
12%
7%
21%
10%
16%
13%
24%
20
30
40
Approve
50
Disapprove
60
70
11%
80
90
100
Not Sure
City
18-34
35-49
50-64
65+
Male
Female
Approve
73%
80%
69%
71%
65%
76%
70%
Disapprove
17%
12%
21%
16%
24%
15%
19%
Not Sure
10%
7%
10%
13%
11%
9%
11%
Sample
830
131
179
258
262
398
830
A4
And would you support the province of Alberta
raising the legal drinking age?
City
18%
Males
16%
Females
20%
18-34
15%
35-49
21%
50-64
23%
65+
13%
0
10
63%
19%
66%
18%
60%
20%
73%
12%
59%
21%
53%
24%
63%
20
25%
30
40
Yes
50
No
60
70
80
90
100
Not Sure
City
18-34
35-49
50-64
65+
Male
Female
Yes
18%
15%
21%
23%
13%
16%
20%
No
63%
73%
59%
53%
63%
66%
60%
Not Sure
19%
12%
21%
24%
25%
18%
20%
A5
[If Yes] And what age do you think the drinking age
should be set at?
City
40%
Males
36%
Females
44%
18-34
50%
37%
35-49
50%
27%
50-64
21%
65+
40%
0
10
32%
22%
36%
24%
30%
21%
7% 38%
10%
20%
34%
10% 20%
20
30
19
40
20
50
21
30%
60
70
80
90
100
Not Sure
City
18-34
35-49
50-64
65+
Male
Female
19
40%
50%
50%
21%
40%
36%
44%
20
5%
3%
3%
7%
10%
5%
5%
21
32%
37%
27%
38%
20%
36%
30%
Not Sure
22%
10%
20%
34%
30%
24%
21%
A6
And should the province loosen restrictions on
security requirements to allow festivals – such as the
Edmonton Folk Festival – to have open liquor sales
through festival site?
City
71%
16%
13%
Males
70%
16%
14%
Females
72%
18-34
79%
35-49
69%
50-64
60%
65+
73%
0
10
16%
12%
11%
17%
14%
24%
16%
13%
20
30
40
Yes
50
No
60
10%
70
80
15%
90
100
Not Sure
City
18-34
35-49
50-64
65+
Male
Female
Yes
71%
79%
69%
60%
73%
70%
72%
No
16%
11%
17%
24%
13%
16%
16%
Not Sure
13%
10%
14%
16%
15%
14%
12%
A7
Do you believe crime is increasing, decreasing or
staying the same in Edmonton?
City
43%
Males
46%
Females
40%
18-34
45%
35-49
51%
50-64
42%
65+
24%
0
10
37%
34%
40%
11%
9%
11%
9%
11%
10%
44%
30%
10% 9%
30%
16%
44%
20
Increasing
30
12%
19%
40
50
Staying the Same
60
70
Decreasing
14%
80
90
100
Not Sure
City
18-34
35-49
50-64
65+
Male
Female
Increasing
43%
45%
51%
42%
24%
46%
40%
Staying/Same
37%
44%
30%
30%
44%
34%
40%
Decreasing
11%
5%
10%
16%
19%
11%
11%
Not Sure
9%
5%
9%
12%
14%
9%
10%
A8
Edmonton’s police chief has suggested that if the
service doesn’t get its budget request that response
times could be cut for minor calls. Should city council
approve a larger police budget?
City
44%
Males
47%
Females
41%
18-34
48%
35-49
32%
50-64
44%
65+
56%
0
10
35%
21%
31%
22%
39%
20%
36%
16%
45%
23%
29%
28%
25%
20
30
40
Yes
50
No
60
19%
70
80
90
100
Not Sure
City
18-34
35-49
50-64
65+
Male
Female
Yes
44%
48%
32%
44%
56%
47%
41%
No
35%
36%
45%
29%
25%
31%
39%
Not Sure
21%
16%
23%
28%
19%
22%
20%
A9
What crimes do you feel police should prioritize?
City
18-34
35-49
50-64
65+
Male
Female
Gangs
12%
13%
10%
12%
11%
12%
12%
Drugs
15%
16%
13%
17%
13%
14%
16%
Violent Crimes
22%
32%
20%
13%
14%
26%
18%
Property Crimes
15%
5%
20%
19%
25%
16%
14%
SexTrade/Child
Exploit 21%
PC
25%
17%
20%
20%
15%
27%
Commercial
3%
1%
2%
6%
5%
4%
2%
Something Else
4%
2%
5%
5%
5%
5%
3%
Not Sure
8%
5%
12%
8%
8%
7%
8%
A10
SCRIPT
The provincial government has recently made changes to liquor laws, removing restrictions on happy hours, and
making it easier for breweries and distilleries to operate. Do you approve or disapprove allowing bars to stay open
and serve later?
Approve
Disapprove
Not Sure
And would you support the province of Alberta raising the legal drinking age?
Yes
No
Not Sure
[If Yes] And what age do you think the drinking age should be set at?
19
20
21
Not Sure
And should the province loosen restrictions on security requirements to allow festivals – such as the Edmonton
Folk Festival – to have open liquor sales through festival site?
Yes
No
Not Sure
Do you believe crime is increasing, decreasing or staying the same in Edmonton?
Increasing
Staying the Same
Decreasing
Not Sure
Edmonton’s police chief has suggested that if the service doesn’t get its budget request that response times could
be cut for minor calls. Should city council approve a larger police budget?
Yes
No
Not Sure
What crimes do you feel police should prioritize?
Gangs
Drugs
Violent crimes
Property crimes such as break-ins
The sex trade, including prostitution and child exploitation
Commercial crime
Something Else
Not Sure
ONLY WE
CALLED
THE
LIBERAL
MAJORITY.
“I recommend "Raiders of the Lost Campaign Arc," released Oct. 18, because it’s an interview
with a pollster that everyone who follows politics should hear. Quito Maggi, of Mainstreet Public
Research, was the only pollster I saw call the Liberal majority with such confidence, a week
before we voted.
Maggi also has the distinction of being the guy who predicted the BC Liberals would win in 2013,
in defiance of the majority of the polls.
His technique involves picking a true bellwether riding and polling it thoroughly. His explanation
for how he does it is well worth a listen and should be required research for anyone running a
political campaign.” - Shannon Rupp, The Tyee, November 4th, 2015
Mainstreet Research | 132−2255B Queen Street East
| Toronto | Ontario | M4E 1G3 | Canada
Mainstreet is a national public research firm. With 20 years of political experience at all three
levels of government, President and CEO Quito Maggi is a respected commentator on Canadian
public affairs.
Differentiated by its large sample sizes, Mainstreet Research has provided accurate snapshots of
public opinion, having predicted a majority NDP government in Alberta, a majority Liberal
government in British Columbia and a majority Liberal government in Ontario. Mainstreet has
been the most accurate polling firm in several by elections and the most recent Toronto mayoral
election. Most recently, Mainstreet was the only polling firm to correctly predict a Liberal majority
government in the 2015 federal election.
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