Policy Poll
The Toronto Board of Trade conducts an online poll twice monthly to
gauge the opinions of visitors to our web site on issues affecting
business in the Toronto region. Below is a public-opinion snapshot from
previous polls.
December 1 - February 17th, 2010
With the municipal election just over a year away, of the following,
what do you think is the most important thing the City must do to grow
our regional economy?
| Create a regional economic war
cabinet |
15.48% |
|
| Expand funding for a regional
transit system |
38.06% |
|
| Better coordinate a regional growth plan |
16.77% |
|
|
Create one regional economic development agency
|
15.48% |
|
| Better coordinate regional property taxes |
14.19%
|
|
November 2 - 30, 2009
With the municipal election just over a year away, of the following,
what do you think is the most important thing the City must do to
promote social equity?
| Improve City services in low income
areas |
10.53% |
|
| Invest in programs for at risk
youth |
5.26% |
|
| Invest in elementary and secondary schools |
15.79% |
|
|
Strategy to reduce poverty
|
34.21% |
|
| Invest in training of immigrants and
underemployed people |
34.21%
|
|
October 19 - 30, 2009
With the municipal election just over a year away, of the following,
what do you think is the most important thing the City must do to
improve civic democracy?
| Establish and strengthen
accountability offices |
41.67% |
|
| Improve integrity, ethics and
transparency rules |
8.33% |
|
| Address Mayoral, Executive Committee and
Council powers |
4.17% |
|
|
Strengthen public consultation mechanisms
|
29.17% |
|
| Work to increase voter turnout |
16.67% |
|
October 5 - 16, 2009
With the municipal election just over a year away, of the following,
what do you think is the most important thing the City must do to fix
its financial situation?
| Reduce labour costs |
18.52% |
|
| Privatize
or deliver city services more efficiently |
25.93% |
|
| Raise existing taxes and fees and consider
introducing new fees |
14.81% |
|
| Move to multi-year City budgets |
7.41% |
|
| Better maintenance of City infrastructure |
33.33% |
|
September 21 - October 2, 2009
What’s your favourite Toronto cultural event?
| Toronto
International Film Festival |
|
31.91% |
|
| Pride
Parade |
14.89% |
|
| Nuit Blanche |
25.53% |
|
| Luminato |
10.64% |
|
| Caribana |
17.02% |
|
September 7 - 18, 2009
Talk of a fall election is heating up, as the Liberals have indicated
they can no longer support the Conservative government. If an election
were to take place this fall, what would be your desired outcome?
| Another
minority Parliament |
|
8.33% |
|
| A
majority government |
47.22% |
|
| I don't want an election now |
44.44% |
|
August 24 - September 4, 2009
The Toronto Port Authority has requested funds from the federal and
provincial governments to turn the existing utility tunnel into a
pedestrian tunnel to the Toronto City Centre Airport. Do you support the
proposal to create this pedestrian tunnel?
|
|
80.43% |
|
| No |
13.04% |
|
| Not sure |
6.52% |
|
August 10 - 21, 2009
Which is the ONE issue area you feel should be the Toronto Board of
Trade's top priority for our policy and advocacy efforts?
| Toronto's
global competitiveness |
|
50.00% |
|
| Metrolinx/regional
transportation system |
30.77% |
|
| Business taxation |
7.69% |
|
| Municipal Affairs (i.e. City Council's
activities) |
7.69% |
|
| Don't
know |
3.75% |
|
July 27 - August 7, 2009
Recently, Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney forecast that Canada's
economy will expand at an annual rate of 1.3% in Q3 2009, effectively
signaling the end of the recession. Do you agree with this forecast?
| Yes,
the recovery's already begun |
|
16.67% |
|
| Yes,
but the recovery will be weak and slow |
46.77% |
|
| No, the recession's still ongoing |
33.33% |
|
| Recession?
What recession? Times are great |
3.33% |
|
July 20 - July 24, 2009
On July 9, the City presented an offer to the unions that included a
7.2% pay increase over 4 years, a partial sick leave plan pay-out,
averaging $8500/worker, and the introduction of a short-term disability
plan. What do you think of this offer?
| This
offer is appropriate |
|
20% |
|
| This
offer is too generous |
80% |
|
| This
offer is not generous enough |
0% |
|
July 13 - July 17, 2009
How has your business been affected by the current strike by Toronto
city workers?
|
|
46.15% |
|
| Reduced
revenues (e.g., fewer tourists) |
11.54% |
|
| Lower
productivity (e.g., employees performing tasks normally done by city
workers) |
3.75% |
|
| Increased employee absences (e.g., employees
unable to come to work due to daycare closures) |
0% |
|
| My
clients/customers are noticeably unhappy |
38.46% |
|
June 22 - July 1, 2009
In the current recession, what has had the greatest impact on your
business?
| Inability
to obtain business loans and/or refinancing |
6.25 |
|
| Lack
of consumer confidence |
25.00 |
|
| Uncertain
economic climate |
37.50 |
|
| Difficulty
in getting accounts receivable paid |
31.25 |
|
June 8 - 19, 2009
In the current year, what do you expect to happen to your the
staffing levels of your company?
| We
expect to hire more staff |
37.50 |
|
| Stay
about the same |
25.00 |
|
| We
expect to lay off staff |
37.50 |
|
May 22 - June 5, 2009
How much summer vacation are you planning to take?
| Are
you kidding? I have no time for vacation |
14.13 |
|
| A
couple days here or there |
20.65 |
|
| A
week or so, but I am sticking close to home |
15.22 |
|
| I
am taking at least a couple weeks but my Blackberry is coming
too |
26.09 |
|
| I
am taking a couple weeks and turning off all communications
devices |
23.91 |
|
May 11 - 19, 2009
What initiatives would help your business create opportunities for
young people?
| Increase
grants and tax credits for apprenticeship programs |
22.22 |
|
| Introduce
tax credit subsidies for student summer interns |
44.44 |
|
| Expand
university/college and high school co-op programs |
33.33 |
|
| Tax
incentives to help subsidize early retirement opportunities for older
workers |
0.00 |
|
April 27 - May 8, 2009
From an economic perspective, what do you consider to be
Toronto’s greatest advantage?
| Our
diversity/tolerance |
31.11 |
|
| Our
quality of life |
22.22 |
|
| Our
business environment |
20.00 |
|
| Our
labour force |
26.67 |
|
April 13 - 24, 2009
April 7, the Board released its 1st annual Scorecard on Prosperity,
which showed that the surrounding municipalities’ economies are
growing at a much faster pace than the city centre’s. In your
opinion, what is the primary reason for this result?
| Lower
business property taxes in the surrounding municipalities |
50.00
|
|
| Lower
cost of land in the surrounding municipalities |
25.00 |
|
| Growth
of the labour force in the surrounding municipalities |
0.00 |
|
| More
space to grow in the surrounding municipalities |
25.00 |
|
April 1 - 10, 2009
What do you think of the 2009 Ontario Budget?
| It's
good for business. |
25.00
|
|
| It's
good for people. |
4.76
|
|
| It's
good for both. |
28.57
|
|
| It's
good for neither. |
41.67
|
|
