ALBERTA MARCH 2017

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6 AM MST, MARCH 14, 2017
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Methodology
Mainstreet surveyed a random sample of 2,374
Albertans on March 10, 2017 through Chimera IVR.
Respondents were screened to conrm voting
eligibility. Landline and Cell lines were included.
Responses were weighed using demographic
information to targets based on the 2011 Census.
The margin of error for survey results is 2.01
percentage points, 19 times out of 20. For
Edmonton specic results, the margin of error is
3.62 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. For
Calgary specic results, the margin of error is 3.4
percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
. majority government in the 2015 federal election.
About Mainstreet
With 20 years of political experience at all three
levels of government, President and CEO Quito
Maggi is a respected commentator on Canadian
public aairs.
Dierentiated 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 rm in several by
elections and the most recent Toronto mayoral
election. Most recently, Mainstreet Research was
the only polling rm to correctly predict a Liberal
Contact Information
In Ottawa: Quito Maggi, President
quito@mainstreetresearch.ca
In Montreal: David Valentin, Executive Vice
President. david@mainstreetresearch.ca
In Toronto: Dr. Joseph Angolano, Vice President
joseph@mainstreetresearch.ca
Find us online at:
www.mainstreetresearch.ca
twitter.com/MainStResearch
facebook.com/mainstreetresearch
TAX RELIEF, DEFICIT SLAYING TOP BUDGET WISH LIST

March 14, 2017 (Ottawa, ON) A new Mainstreet/Postmedia poll nds Albertans keen to see tax reductions
with 35% saying it is their top budget priority. The Mainstreet/Postmedia poll has a margin of error of +/-
2.01 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

In second place comes reducing spending to lower the decit at 24%, followed by spending on health
and education (18%) and investment in public infrastructure (12%).

Its unlikely Albertans are going to get everything they want on their wish list but some will see nancial
relief with the governments plan to reduce school fees. said Quito Maggi, President of Mainstreet
Research. Whats clear is that Albertans across the province want to see a reduction in the taxes they have
to pay despite the fact that a tax reduction would make it harder to slay the decit which is the number
two priority at 24%.

Overall, 58% of Albertans are dissatised with the governments response to economic conditions.

The government does not control oil prices but many Albertans are saying they have no handled the
downturn correctly, continued Maggi. Most of the support for government policies is coming from
Edmonton and to a lesser extent, Calgary.

Many in the province simply do not believe the government is acting fast enough to bring the budget back
to balance with 52% saying the government is moving too slowly.

-30-

For additional information or to arrange an interview, contact:

Quito Maggi, President, quito@mainstreetresearch.ca
David Valentin, Executive Vice-President, (514) 913-5524 - david@mainstreetresearch.ca

Priority #1: Reduce Taxes
As the provincial government moves to table the
spring budget, Albertans are most keen to see tax
reductions with a full 35% saying that is their
number one budget priority.
In second place comes reducing spending to lower
the decit at 24%, followed by spending on health
and education (18%) and investment in public
infrastructure (12%).
As this survey explores, many Albertans do not
believe the government is moving fast enough to
balance the budget; but with many still reeling
from the economic climate that appears to
steadily be improving, it should come as no
surprise that tax cuts are polling high. Of course,
tax cuts in the current economic climate would
make balancing the budget harder.
Budget Priorities
Dierent parts of the province have dierent
priorities, notably Edmonton, which registers the
highest numbers for investment in infrastructure
(16%) and spending on health and education
(24%).
In Calgary, the biggest priority is reducing taxes
(34%) followed by reducing the decit (29%).
In the Rest of Alberta reducing taxes posts 38%
(the highest in the province) with lowering the
decit at 23% and spending on a health and
education in a decent third place with 18%.
Its unlikely Albertans are going to get everything
they want on their wish list but some will see
nancial relief with the governments plan to
reduce school fees.
One thing that appears to have been ruled out is
moving any faster to reduce the decit. The
provincial decit is currently projected to be $10.8
billion.
Its unlikely Albertans are going
to get everything they want on
their wish list but some will see
nancial relief with the
governments plan to reduce
school fees. - Quito Maggi
 Childcare

Government Approval
And how would you rate the provincial
58% of Albertans are dissatised with the governments
governments handling of the economy?
response to economic conditions.

Only 24% say the governments handling of the economy is

Excellent or Good. Another 10% say that the response has
been fair.

Only in Edmonton do positive ratings nearly outnumber

negative ones. In Edmonton, 40% say the response has
been excellent or good while 41% say the response has been
poor or very poor - essentially a tie.

In all other areas of the province the numbers are much

more stark. In Calgary 52% say the response has been Poor
or Very Poor; in the Rest of Alberta that number is 66%, a
full two thirds.

Men are slightly more likely than women to register negative

ratings - but their ratings are more intensely negative with
more men registering Very Poor than women by 8
percentage points.
Budget Balance
A majority of Albertans, 52%, say the government is Finance Minister Joe Ceci says the provincial
moving too slowly to balance the budget. budget will not be back in balance (with
revenues meeting or exceeding government
Only 9% say the government is moving too fast while 24%
say the speed is about right.
spending) until 2023 or 2024. In your opinion is
this too fast, too slow or is it about right?
Only in Edmonton do more respondents say the speed is
about right (40%) than too slow (34%).

In Calgary, the number who think the government is

moving too slowly jumps to 50%, while in the Rest of
Alberta its 59%.

Males are much more likely than females to say that the
government is moving too slowly by 16% (Males: 60%;
Females: 44%).

Those over the age of 50 are the least likely to say the
government is moving too slowly but not by about 7-9
percentage points when comparing the age cohorts.