TORONTONIANS ARE AGAINST CARDING 47% to 42%

January 13th, 2015. A new Mainstreet Technologies poll finds 54% of Torontonians believe crime
in the City of Toronto is increasing though almost half are against the controversial practice of
carding. With 2,320 respondents, the poll has a margin of error of +/- 2.03%.
The poll also found the Toronto Police Service earning high marks with a 69% approval rating. It
climbs to 73% among decided residents.
"A majority of Torontonians say crime is rising but 69% approve of the Toronto Police Services
said Mainstreet Technologies President, Quito Maggi. While the public is concerned about crime
increasing most dont believe carding is the right way to go. In light of recent world events it is
interesting that more Torontonians are opposed to carding than are in favour of it.
Mainstreet Technologies asked Torontonians; When police create a record in a police database
of someone theyve interacted with the practice is called Carding. Critics say this practice
unfairly targets and detains minority groups while supporters say it is a necessary tool to ensure
public safety. Do you approve or disapprove of Carding?
Only in Scarborough is there more support than opposition to carding, 54% to 37%. Opposition
is strongest downtown at 55% (42% in favour). When it comes to crime, 66% of Scarborough
residents say it is increasing - the highest score in Toronto.
Scarborough is the only part of the city where more Torontonians support carding than are
against it - when you look at this alongside their view on crime in the city its very clear they are
the most concerned with public safety, Maggi finished.
-30For more information, further comment or phone interview:
David Valentin, Media Relations
(613) 698-5524 - david@mainstreettechnologies.ca
Methodology
The poll surveyed a random sample of 2,320 Torontonians by Interactive Voice Response (IVR)
on January 11th, 2015. Margins of error are larger for sub samples.
About Mainstreet Technologies
Mainstreet Technologies is an emerging national public research firm. With 20 years of political
experience at all three levels of government, President and CEO Quito Maggi is a respected
commentator on Canadian public affairs.
Mainstreet has provided accurate snapshots of public opinion, having predicted a majority PC
government in Alberta, a majority Liberal government in British Columbia and a majority Liberal
government in Ontario. Most recently it was the most accurate pollster in the 2014 Toronto
election.

APPROVAL & DISAPPROVAL - QUICK STATS

MARGIN OF ERROR: +/- 2.03, 19/20
TOTAL RESPONDENTS: 2,320
TOTAL APPROVAL T. DISAPPROVAL
TORONTO POLICE SERVICE
CARDING
INCREASING
VIEW OF CRIME

NOT SURE

69%
42%
DECREASING

25%
47%
THE SAME

6%
11%
NOT SURE

19%

17%

10%

54%

APPROVAL & DISAPPROVAL - TORONTO POLICE SERVICE

Thinking about the Toronto Police Service, do you approve or disapprove of the
way they are doing their job?
AGE & GENDER BREAKDOWN
STRONGLY APPROVE
SOMEWHAT APPROVE
SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE
STRONGLY DISAPPROVE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE
BY BOROUGH
STRONGLY APPROVE
SOMEWHAT APPROVE
SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE
STRONGLY DISAPPROVE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

18-34
28%
35%
10%
27%
0%
352

35-49
20%
45%
18%
4%
12%
488

SCAR.
28%
33%
21%
15%
4%
760

50-64
23%
52%
16%
4%
4%
832
N. YORK
14%
47%
13%
14%
11%
592

65+
30%
43%
13%
8%
6%
648

Male
19%
48%
14%
16%
4%
1040
ETOB.
23%
54%
9%
10%
4%
536

Female
31%
40%
14%
7%
7%
1280
D. TOWN
33%
44%
13%
7%
3%
432

AMONG DECIDED
TOTAL APPROVAL
TOTAL DISAPPROVAL

73%
27%

CONT. NEXT PAGE

VIEW OF CRIME
Do you believe crime is increasing, decreasing or staying the same in Toronto?
AGE & GENDER BREAKDOWN
18-34 35-49 50-64
63%
56%
41%
26%
9%
23%
20%
14%
16%
14%
5%
13%
488
832
352

INCREASING
DECREASING
STAYING THE SAME
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

BY BOROUGH
INCREASING
DECREASING
STAYING THE SAME
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

SCAR.
66%
7%
14%
13%
760

N. YORK
46%
21%
23%
11%
592

65+
53%
20%
18%
9%
648

Male
55%
17%
19%
10%
1040

ETOB.
53%
30%
11%
6%
536

Female
54%
21%
15%
11%
1280

D. TOWN
55%
18%
16%
10%
432

AMONG DECIDED
INCREASING
DECREASING
STAYING THE SAME

61%
21%
18%

CONT. NEXT PAGE

APPROVAL & DISAPPROVAL - CARDING

When police create a record in a police database of someone theyve interacted
with the practice is called Carding. Critics say this practice unfairly targets and
detains minority groups while supporters say it is a necessary tool to ensure
public safety. Do you approve or disapprove of Carding?
AGE & GENDER BREAKDOWN
STRONGLY APPROVE
SOMEWHAT APPROVE
SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE
STRONGLY DISAPPROVE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE
BY BOROUGH
STRONGLY APPROVE
SOMEWHAT APPROVE
SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE
STRONGLY DISAPPROVE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE
TOTAL APPROVAL
TOTAL DISAPPROVAL
AMONG DECIDED
TOTAL APPROVAL
TOTAL DISAPPROVAL

47%
53%

18-34 35-49 50-64 65+

25%
19%
27%
23%
21%
22%
0%
31%
33% 34%
17%
26%
12%
14%
36%
18%
13%
8%
21%
2%
648
488
832
352

Male
21%
17%
26%
26%
10%
1040

Female
27%
19%
28%
15%
11%
1280

SCAR.
41%
14%
31%
6%
7%
760

N. YORK
13%
21%
25%
23%
18%
592

ETOB.
12%
27%
25%
16%
19%
536

D. TOWN
28%
14%
27%
28%
3%
432

54%
37%

33%
48%

39%
41%

42%
55%