[DECEMBER 2015]

Mainstreet surveyed a random sample of 3,017 Albertans by Smart IVR on December 3rd, 2015.
A mixture of landlines and cell phones were surveyed. Margin of Error: +/- 1.78%, 19 times out of
20. Regional margins of error: Edmonton: +/- 3.11%; Calgary +/-3.09%; Rest of Alberta :
+/-3.07%, 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.

MOST ALBERTANS OPPOSE BILL 6

December 5, 2015 (Toronto, ON) A new Mainstreet/Postmedia poll nds most Albertans oppose Bill 6, the
NDPs farm safety legislation. 60% of Albertans oppose the bill. The Mainstreet/Postmedia poll has a
margin of error of +/- 1.78%, 19 times out of 20.
Its clear that Albertans oppose the legislation as it currently stands - but a closer look at the numbers
shows strong support for legislation to protect paid agricultural workers. 67% of Albertans are telling us
they do not support the legislation aecting family members who work on a farm but 60% do believe
non-family workers should have protection, said Quito Maggi, President of Mainstreet Research.
Weve seen many protests over the last few weeks and rightly or wrongly Albertans are responding to the
message that Bill 6 unfairly targets family farms and small business with red-tape.
The highest approval for Bill 6 is found in Edmonton where 50% back the NDPs farm safety legislation.
Strong support in Edmonton for the NDPs legislation is a recurring theme of our polling, nished Maggi.
ABOUT MAINSTREET
Mainstreet is a national public research rm. 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 was the
only polling rm to correctly predict a Liberal majority government in the 2015 federal election.
-30Available for Interview from Toronto: Quito Maggi, quito@mainstreetresearch.ca
For more information: David Valentin, (613) 698-5524 - david@mainstreetresearch.ca

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The province has introduced a new bill to protect agriculture workers, saying it wants to ensure they are
LEANING AND DECIDED
eligible for workers compensation if they are injured on the job. It also makes farms and ranches subject to
Occupational Health and Safety laws like other industries. Critics say it goes too far and will aect family
farms, those who support the bill say it provides a much-needed safety net to farm workers.
Do you support or oppose this plan?

10%

32%

60%

TOTAL APPROVAL: 32%

STRONGLY APPROVE
SOMEWHAT APPROVE
SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE
STRONGLY DISAPPROVE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE
STRONGLY APPROVE
SOMEWHAT APPROVE
SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE
STRONGLY DISAPPROVE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

TOTAL DISAPPROVAL: 60%

18-34
7%
18%
16%
48%
11%
457

35-49
18%
14%
15%
43%
10%
732

Edmonton
30%
20%
15%
21%
14%
991

50-64
20%
17%
19%
35%
9%
902
Calgary
16%
21%
15%
40%
8%
1005

NOT SURE: 10%

65+
18%
22%
18%
31%
11%
926

Male Female
15%
15%
16%
18%
16%
17%
45%
37%
7%
13%
1322 1695
Rest of Alberta
10%
15%
18%
48%
10%
1021

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Should these changes apply to the family

farm and
immediate
family members working on the farm?
LEANING
AND
DECIDED

12%
21%

67%
Yes

No

Not Sure

YES
NO
NOT SURE

18-34
13%
52%
36%

YES
NO
NOT SURE

Edmonton
7%
76%
17%

35-49
12%
68%
20%

50-64
14%
68%
17%
Calgary
17%
64%
19%

65+
9%
15%
76%

Male Female
8%
19%
75% 67%
18%
14%

Rest of Alberta
13%
59%
29%

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Should these changes

apply
to paid
agriculture workers?
LEANING
AND
DECIDED

17%

23%
60%
23%
17%

60%

Yes

No

Not Sure

YES
NO
NOT SURE

18-34
54%
17%
29%

YES
NO
NOT SURE

Edmonton
57%
27%
16%

35-49
65%
19%
15%

50-64
57%
29%
14%
Calgary
67%
22%
11%

65+
52%
21%
28%

Male Female
61%
61%
24% 26%
14%
12%

Rest of Alberta
56%
19%
25%

A6

The province has introduced a new bill to protect agriculture workers, saying it wants to
ensure they are eligible for workers compensation if they are injured on the job. It also makes
farms and ranches subject to Occupational Health and Safety laws like other industries. Critics
say it goes too far and will aect family farms, those who support the bill say it provides a
much-needed safety net to farm workers. Do you support or oppose this plan?
Strongly support the plan
Somewhat support the plan
Somewhat oppose the plan
Strongly oppose the plan
Not Sure
Should these changes apply to the family farm and immediate family members working on the
farm?
Yes
No
Not Sure
Should these changes apply to paid agriculture workers?
Yes
No
Not Sure

Mainstreet is a national public research rm. 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 was the only polling rm to correctly predict a Liberal majority
government in the 2015 federal election.

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