Harris/Decima Poll: Swing Voters signal Opportunity for Government in Protecting Oceans’ Health
For the federal Conservative government, there is an unmistakable opportunity, as 90 per cent agree that “conserving our natural environment is something a true Conservative Party should take very seriously” but 58 per cent believe this principle is not reflected in the direction the government is currently taking.
According to Bruce Anderson of Harris/Decima: “Economic issues dominate political discourse at the moment, but the Conservatives and other parties can see in this data the truth that other issues and positions can help bolster or weaken their competitive standing. The environment remains a question of moral obligation for many people: it’s about what kind of planet they will leave behind for future generations.
Many voters who are willing to consider either the Liberals or the Conservatives say that taking action in this area is important to them and would make them more inclined to the party that showed such leadership. Regardless of perceptions of past performance, there is no question that voters are willing to look anew at whoever is willing to champion the ideas they believe in.”
“This poll illustrates what we have long expected,” said Craig Stewart, Director of WWF-Canada’s Ottawa bureau. “There is a substantial and cohesive voting constituency on both coasts that too few pay attention to. Swing voters value our oceans and protecting our waters is an issue voters will bring to the ballot box during federal elections. This government has an excellent opportunity to take advantage of this and start protecting oceans’ health.”
Mr. Stewart urged the government to begin this undertaking by including some of the measures proposed in WWF-Canada’s pre-budget submission in its upcoming Budget. The proposed measures include:
1. Implementing new programs to assist in the recovery of cod stocks off Newfoundland and salmon stocks off B.C. over the next three years;
2. Investing in technology and surveillance capacity to reduce the risk and limit the impact of a potential oil spill in the Arctic;
3. Implementing regulatory and planning measures needed to guide development in the offshore; and
4. Greatly increasing the size of our Marine Protected Areas network
In each of the above cases, asked whether Conservative action on these ideas were likely to make respondents vote Conservative, the results showed that in all cases they would significantly bolster the appeal of the Conservatives.
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Background and Methodology
On behalf of WWF-Canada, Harris/Decima conducted studies in four ridings in Canada simultaneously. The ridings that were surveyed were Avalon, West Nova, Esquimalt, and Vancouver South. In each riding, just over 300 interviews were conducted by phone, with random samples of the general public. In each case, the margin of error is 5.8 per cent, 19 times out of 20.The field dates for the survey work were December 10 to December 14, 2008. Bruce Anderson designed and analyzed this study on behalf of Harris/Decima and in consultation with WWF-Canada.
For the complete Harris/Decima interview package visit: http://assets.wwfca.panda.org/downloads/harrisdecima_poll_oceanspolicy.pdf or www.harrisdecima.ca/en/newsroom
For further information:
Andrew Dumbrille, WWF-Canada, 613-290-2006, [email protected]
Bruce Anderson, Harris/Decima, 613-882-0929 [email protected]