ALBERTA

[FEBRUARY 2016 C]

METHODOLOGY
Mainstreet surveyed a random sample of 3,092 Alberta residents by Smart IVR on February 3rd,
2016. A mixture of landlines and cell phones were surveyed. Margin of error: +/- 1.76%, 19 times out
of 20. Regional margins of error: Calgary: +/- 3.09%; Edmonton: +/- 2.98%; Rest of Alberta:
+/- 3.09%; 19 times out of 20. Results were weighed by age, gender and geography based
on the 2011 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.

ALBERTANS WANT FEDERAL HELP

February 8th, 2016 (Toronto, ON) A new Mainstreet/Postmedia poll nds the vast majority of the
province supports nancial assistance from the federal government. And more Albertans now
than before agree the provincial government should not rush to balance the books. The
Mainstreet/Postmedia Poll has a margin of error of +/- 1.76%, 19 times out of 20.
In our October budget poll we asked Albertans if they supported a quick return to balanced
budgets if it mean raising taxes or cutting services, back then 52% were against such a plan said
Quito Maggi, President of Mainstreet Research. That number has now jumped to 62% (+10%) with
23% not sure. Weve seen a gradual increase in the debt tolerance of Albertans, only 15% (-12%)
would want the province to aggressively return to balance budgets right now.
Albertans were asked to rate the provincial and federal governments economic plans. 25% rate
the provincial plan as excellent or good - while only 18% would say the same about the federal
plan.
A lot of people are out of work and Albertans arent seeing tangible action just yet. The upcoming
federal budget will be an opportunity for the Federal government to highlight any actions it takes
to boost the Alberta economy, continued Maggi.
Not surprisingly 69% of Albertans support federal nancial assistance.
Its a dicult economic climate right now, theres not a lot of optimism so Im not surprised
Albertans support more nancial assistance for the province, nished Maggi.
About Mainstreet Research
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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Present
YES: 15%
YES
NO
NOT SURE
YES
NO
NOT SURE

21%

52%

27%

23%

62%

15%

The NDP government initially promised to balance its books in 2018-19 before pushing it back a year. Should it
balance the books sooner, even if it has to raise taxes or cut services?

October 2015
NOT SURE: 23%

NO: 62%
18-34
13%
62%
25%

35-49
18%
63%
19%

Edmonton
18%
63%
19%

50-64
15%
66%
19%
Calgary
9%
74%
18%

65+ Male Female

13% 19%
11%
54% 63%
62%
33% 19%
27%
Rest of Alberta
17%
57%
26%

A4

How would you rate the provincial governments plan to deal with the economic downturn?
8%

8%

17%

26%

19%

21%

Excellent
EXCELLENT
GOOD
FAIR
POOR
VERY POOR
NOT SURE

EXCELLENT
GOOD
FAIR
POOR
VERY POOR
NOT SURE

Good

Fair

Poor
18-34
13%
21%
14%
19%
23%
9%

Very Poor
35-49
6%
10%
22%
23%
33%
6%

Edmonton
22%
21%
21%
9%
18%
9%

50-64
6%
22%
18%
21%
28%
5%
Calgary
5%
25%
25%
21%
16%
8%

Not Sure
65+
5%
14%
29%
22%
16%
15%

Male Female
7%
9%
18%
16%
20%
18%
23%
20%
28%
24%
4%
12%
Rest of Alberta
5%
12%
17%
25%
33%
8%

A5

How would you rate the federal governments plan to deal with the economic downturn?
9%

9%

9%

27%

23%

23%

Excellent
EXCELLENT
GOOD
FAIR
POOR
VERY POOR
NOT SURE

EXCELLENT
GOOD
FAIR
POOR
VERY POOR
NOT SURE

Good

Fair

Poor
18-34
18%
3%
25%
14%
30%
9%

Very Poor
35-49
4%
11%
21%
27%
31%
5%

Edmonton
18%
17%
21%
16%
18%
11%

50-64
5%
13%
23%
26%
27%
6%
Calgary
14%
9%
29%
16%
23%
9%

Not Sure
65+ Male Female
4% 10%
8%
12%
8%
10%
20% 23%
23%
31% 24%
21%
12% 29%
25%
20% 5%
13%
Rest of Alberta
4%
7%
21%
28%
32%
8%

A6

Should the federal government provide nancial assistance to the government of Alberta?

17%

14%

69%

YES: 69%
YES
NO
NOT SURE
YES
NO
NOT SURE

NOT SURE: 17%

NO: 14%
18-34
60%
21%
19%

35-49
73%
16%
10%

Edmonton
66%
11%
23%

50-64
79%
6%
15%
Calgary
59%
20%
21%

65+ Male Female

64% 72%
66%
10% 16%
13%
26% 12%
21%
Rest of Alberta
74%
13%
13%

A7

The NDP government initially promised to balance its books in 2018-19 before pushing it back a year.
Should it balance the books sooner, even if it has to raise taxes or cut services?
Yes
No
Not Sure
How would you rate the provincial governments plan to deal with the economic downturn?
Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor
Very Poor
Not Sure
How would you rate the federal governments plan to deal with the economic downturn?
Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor
Very Poor
Not Sure
Should the federal government provide nancial assistance to the government of Alberta?
Yes
No
Not Sure

ONLY WE
CALLED
THE
LIBERAL
MAJORITY.

I recommend "Raiders of the Lost Campaign Arc," released Oct. 18, because its 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 condence, a week
before we voted.
Maggi also has the distinction of being the guy who predicted the BC Liberals would win in 2013,
in deance 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 | 1322255B Queen Street East
| Toronto | Ontario | M4E 1G3 | Canada

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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