3/10/2010 1:24:11 PM Canadians see benefits from Olympics, poll shows Toronto - A new Environics poll conducted for the CBC after the conclusion of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics shows that the Canadian public sees substantial benefits from the Games for Canada, for the province of British Columbia and for the City of Vancouver. British Columbians and Vancouverites, however, are less likely to see to see “great” benefits from the Games. Environics conducted three polls for the CBC; one before the Games began, the second mid-way through the Games, and the new poll in the week after the closing ceremonies. The new poll shows that 86 per cent of Canadians think the Olympics have led to great (51%) or some (35%) benefits for Canada as a whole; this represents an increase of 11 points overall from the 75 percent who expected benefits in the first pre- Games poll. Those seeing “great” benefits for Canada have increased significantly from 28 percent to 51 percent over the period. Eighty-five per cent of Canadians think there have been great (56%) or some (29%) benefits for the province of B.C; this figure has also increased, by four points, in the number expecting benefits for the province from the pre-Olympic period, with a significant increase from 43 percent to 56 percent in the number of Canadians seeing “great” benefits for the province. A total of 88 percent of Canadians in the new poll think the games have led to great (63%) or some (25%) benefits for the City of Vancouver. Among British Columbians, 80 percent see benefits for B.C; a significant increase from the 63 percent found before the Games. The number seeing “great” benefits for their province increased from 23 percent before the Games to 41 percent in the post-Game period. Among Vancouver residents, 85 percent think their city has benefited from the Games. The number who expected “great” benefits for their city jumped from 28 percent to 51 percent mid-way through the Games, but has fallen back to the 44 percent level in the new poll. Overall, 44 percent of Canadians see at least some benefit for themselves personally from the Games; this has increased by 19 points since the pre-Games period. The new poll shows that Ontario residents, and higher-income Canadians, are more likely than others to see benefits. Opinions divided on cost Almost half of Canadians surveyed (49%) say that the federal government, the province of B.C. and the City of Vancouver have spent “about the right amount” of taxpayer dollars on the Games; this figure has increased by eight points from the pre-Games poll. Thirty-five percent, down eight points, think that governments have spent too much. Attitudes toward government spending In B.C. and Vancouver remain more negative. A total of 55 percent of B.C. residents and 59 percent of Vancouver residents think too much was spent by these governments. However, criticism of spending is down from the pre-Games period, when 70 percent of British Columbians and 65 percent of Vancouverites felt that governments were spending too much. Some 37 percent of B.C. residents and 33 percent of Vancouver residents say “about the right amount” was spent by these governments on the Games. Poll Methods This report presents the findings of a telephone survey conducted by Environics Research Group for the CBC among a national random sample of 1,000 adults 18 years of age and older, living in Canada. The margin of error for a sample of this size is +/- 3.1%, 19 times out of 20. Interviewing was completed during the period March 4- 7, 2010. Margins of error are higher when looking at sub-regional samples. The B.C sample (N=125) has a margin of +-8.5 and the Vancouver sample (N=63) has a margin of +-11.8. Previous national polls were conducted from February 5-10, and from Feb22-24, 2010. The question wordings are shown in the accompanying top-line document. For more information contact: Donna Dasko, Ph.D. Senior Vice-President Environics Research Group Ltd. 416-969-2816 Olympics questions CBC Wave 3 Survey – Toplines 1. As you may know, the Winter Olympics were held in Vancouver this year. In your opinion have these Olympics led to great benefits, some benefits, very few benefits or no benefits at all for each of the following …? READ AND ROTATE ASK ALL 2. Thinking about the spending on the Olympics by the federal government, the B.C. provincial government, and the City of Vancouver, do think governments have spent too much, too little, or about the right amount, of taxpayer dollars on the Olympics? [ Latest News Articles ]       [ View Past Articles ]