Mainstreet surveyed a random sample of 2,451 Toronto residents by Smart IVR on

September 8, 2015. Mainstreet surveyed a mixture of landlines and cell phones.

Margin of error: +/- 1.98%, 19 times out of 20. Results were weighed by
geography, age and gender based on the 2011 Canadian Census.

B2
"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.

TORONTONIANS SPLIT ON OLYMPICS AS SUPPORT FOR BID SLIPS

September 14, 2015 (Toronto, ON) - A new Mainstreet/Postmedia poll finds support for an Olympic Bid in
Toronto slipping. Meanwhile, Torontonians are split when asked about funding infrastructure projects by
selling the citys minority stake of Toronto Hydro. The Mainstreet/Postmedia poll has a margin of error of
+/- 1.98%, 19/20.
Mayor John Tory continues to lead Toronto City Council in approval with 62% of Toronto residents
indicating they approve of the job he is doing compared to 50% for council, said Quito Maggi, president
of Mainstreet Research. Disapproval remains low for both the Mayor and council with just 24%
disapproving of the Mayor and 3 in 10 disapproving of Council.
Support for a Toronto Olympic bid has slipped to 50%, down 8% since the last Mainstreet survey on this
issue. Those opposed to the bid has increased by 9% to 47%. As people learn more about the benefits and
costs of an Olympic bid, opinions have become more divided. A bid for 2024 may be a risky proposition
and with the current climate of economic uncertainty, the city is split.
For Mayor Tory the political risks may not be worth it. He would need to win two more terms (2018, 2022)
to reap the political windfall of hosting the 2024 Olympics, Maggi continued.
As the Syrian refugee crisis continues, Mainstreet surveyed Torontonians on ways they are willing to help.
22% say they would make a donation, 58% would donate clothing or other items and 17% say they would
consider sponsoring a refugee.
Torontonians are ready to help in different ways. Ultimately, as they learn more about the requirements to
sponsor a refugee many may not follow through, but what is striking is that 4 in 10 Torontonians would not
rule out making a financial donation or helping with sponsorship (Not Sure). This suggests Torontonians
need more information, finished Maggi.
Regional margins of error:
Downtown +/- 3.49%; Scarborough +/- 3.96%; Etobicoke +/- 4.13%; North York +/- 4.6%
-30Available for Interview From Toronto: Quito Maggi, President, quito@mainstreetresearch.ca
For more information: David Valentin, (613) 698-5524 - david@mainstreetresearch.ca
ABOUT MAINSTREET
Mainstreet is a 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.
Differentiated by its large sample sizes, Mainstreet has provided accurate snapshots of public opinion,
having predicted a majority NDP government in Alberta (2015), a majority Liberal government in British
Columbia, and a majority Liberal government in Ontario. Most recently, Mainstreet was the most accurate
pollster of Novembers Toronto mayoral election.

B3

Do you approve or disapprove of the way John Tory is handling his job as Mayor?
13%

24%

62%

TOTAL APPROVAL: 62% (-1%)

STRONGLY APPROVE
SOMEWHAT APPROVE
SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE
STRONGLY DISAPPROVE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE
STRONGLY APPROVE
SOMEWHAT APPROVE
SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE
STRONGLY DISAPPROVE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

TOTAL DISAPPROVAL: 24% (-)

18-34
27%
30%
9%
22%
12%
386

35-49
40%
26%
12%
11%
12%
523
SCAR.
38%
23%
11%
13%
15%
621

NOT SURE: 13% (-)

50-64
41%
24%
10%
9%
16%
679

65+
36%
25%
14%
9%
15%
863

Male Female
37%
35%
23%
29%
11%
12%
15%
11%
14%
13%
1100
1351

N. YORK ETOB. D. TOWN

35%
30%
39%
24%
25%
31%
12%
18%
7%
15%
17%
10%
15%
10%
13%
460
570
800

B4

Do you approve or disapprove of the way John Tory is handling his job as Mayor?

80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10

September

August

July

June

May

April

March

February

January

B5

Thinking about Toronto City Council, do you approve or disapprove of the way it
is handling its job?

19%

50%

31%

TOTAL APPROVAL: 50% (+1%)

STRONGLY APPROVE
SOMEWHAT APPROVE
SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE
STRONGLY DISAPPROVE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE
STRONGLY APPROVE
SOMEWHAT APPROVE
SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE
STRONGLY DISAPPROVE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

TOTAL DISAPPROVAL: 31% (+1%)

18-34
12%
37%
14%
19%
18%
386

35-49
26%
30%
18%
9%
17%
523
SCAR.
24%
25%
11%
23%
17%
621

NOT SURE: 19% (-1%)

50-64
12%
33%
16%
15%
23%
679

65+
13%
36%
18%
15%
18%
863

Male Female
16%
16%
36%
31%
15%
18%
18%
11%
15%
23%
1100
1351

N. YORK ETOB. D. TOWN

14%
8%
17%
36%
42%
33%
11%
22%
23%
19%
9%
7%
20%
19%
20%
460
570
800

B6

Thinking about Toronto City Council, do you approve or disapprove of the way it
is handling its job?

55
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
January

March

May

July

September

B7

Thinking about your local city councilor, do you approve or disapprove of the way
they are handling their job?

14%

28%

TOTAL APPROVAL: 58% (+1%)

STRONGLY APPROVE
SOMEWHAT APPROVE
SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE
STRONGLY DISAPPROVE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE
STRONGLY APPROVE
SOMEWHAT APPROVE
SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE
STRONGLY DISAPPROVE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

58%

TOTAL DISAPPROVAL: 28% (-1%)

18-34
36%
23%
26%
2%
13%
386

35-49
36%
19%
22%
11%
13%
523
SCAR.
38%
26%
19%
11%
5%
621

NOT SURE: 14% (+1%)

50-64
24%
40%
15%
6%
14%
679

65+
28%
26%
19%
10%
16%
863

Male Female
30%
32%
28%
27%
21%
21%
8%
7%
13%
14%
1100
1351

N. YORK ETOB. D. TOWN

33%
12%
35%
21%
40%
27%
24%
17%
20%
6%
7%
5%
16%
24%
13%
460
570
800

B8

Thinking about your local city councilor, do you approve or disapprove of the way
they are handling their job?

70
65
60
55
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
January

March

May

July

September

B9

Do you approve or disapprove of Toronto selling off its minority stake of Toronto
Hydro to pay for infrastructure projects in the city?

31%

32%

38%

TOTAL APPROVAL: 31%

STRONGLY APPROVE
SOMEWHAT APPROVE
SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE
STRONGLY DISAPPROVE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE
STRONGLY APPROVE
SOMEWHAT APPROVE
SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE
STRONGLY DISAPPROVE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

TOTAL DISAPPROVAL: 38%

18-34
19%
5%
9%
29%
38%
386

35-49
9%
16%
13%
23%
39%
523
SCAR.
14%
17%
13%
24%
32%
621

NOT SURE: 32%

50-64
13%
26%
17%
21%
23%
679

65+
15%
21%
15%
23%
25%
863

Male Female
15%
12%
18%
16%
10%
17%
24%
25%
33%
31%
1100
1351

N. YORK ETOB. D. TOWN

13%
15%
14%
16%
17%
17%
12%
15%
15%
26%
26%
22%
33%
27%
33%
460
570
800

B10

Some have suggested Toronto bid to host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games.
Critics have said that hosting the games would be very expensive and a wasteful
use of tax dollars while supporters say that it is about more than the money and
Toronto already has the world-class venues and infrastructure needed to hold the
Olympic games. Do you approve or disapprove of Toronto making a bid to host
the 2024 Summer Olympics?
4%

50%
47%

TOTAL APPROVAL: 50% (-8%)

STRONGLY APPROVE
SOMEWHAT APPROVE
SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE
STRONGLY DISAPPROVE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE
STRONGLY APPROVE
SOMEWHAT APPROVE
SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE
STRONGLY DISAPPROVE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

TOTAL DISAPPROVAL: 47% (+9%)

18-34
37%
21%
20%
19%
3%
386

35-49
32%
23%
17%
23%
4%
523
SCAR.
33%
18%
21%
24%
4%
621

50-64
20%
21%
22%
32%
5%
679

NOT SURE: 4% (-)

65+
21%
22%
23%
31%
3%
863

Male Female
29%
27%
22%
22%
20%
21%
26%
26%
4%
4%
1100
1351

N. YORK ETOB. D. TOWN

32%
31%
18%
19%
18%
29%
23%
21%
18%
23%
26%
30%
3%
3%
5%
460
570
800

B11

If asked, would you make a financial donation to aid refugees from Syria?

22%

41%

38%

YES: 22%

YES
NO
NOT SURE
SAMPLE
YES
NO
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

NO: 38%
18-34
23%
44%
33%
386

NOT SURE: 41%

35-49 50-64 65+ Male Female
25%
19%
18% 22%
21%
18%
45%
46% 38%
38%
57%
37%
35% 40%
41%
523
679
863 1100
1351
SCAR. N. YORK ETOB. D. TOWN
26%
21%
19%
20%
36%
40%
39%
36%
38%
39%
42%
44%
621
460
570
800

B12

If asked, would you make an in-kind donation, such as clothing, to Syrian refugees?

23%

58%
19%

YES: 58%

YES
NO
NOT SURE
SAMPLE
YES
NO
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

NOT SURE: 23%

NO: 19%
18-34
62%
19%
20%
386

35-49 50-64 65+ Male Female

56%
58%
58% 58%
59%
17%
20%
20% 18%
20%
27%
22%
22% 24%
21%
523
679
863 1100
1351
SCAR. N. YORK ETOB. D. TOWN
60%
59%
56%
58%
18%
18%
20%
21%
22%
24%
23%
22%
621
460
570
800

B13

And, if asked would you consider sponsoring a Syrian refugee to come to Canada?

17%

44%

39%

YES: 17%

YES
NO
NOT SURE
SAMPLE
YES
NO
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

NOT SURE: 44%

NO: 39%
18-34
19%
37%
44%
386

35-49 50-64 65+ Male Female

21%
14%
14% 17%
17%
45%
36%
36% 39%
38%
34%
50%
50% 44% 44%
523
679
863 1100
1351
SCAR. N. YORK ETOB. D. TOWN
16%
17%
17%
18%
39%
39%
38%
38%
45%
44%
45%
44%
621
460
570
800

B14

SCRIPT
Do you approve or disapprove of the way John Tory is handling his job as Mayor?
Strongly Approve
Somewhat Approve
Somewhat Disapprove
Strongly Disapprove
Not Sure
Thinking about Toronto City Council, do you approve or disapprove
of the way it is handling its job?
Strongly Approve
Somewhat Approve
Somewhat Disapprove
Strongly Disapprove
Not Sure
Thinking about your local city councilor, do you approve or disapprove
of the way they are handling their job?
Strongly Approve
Somewhat Approve
Somewhat Disapprove
Strongly Disapprove
Not Sure
Do you approve or disapprove of Toronto selling off its minority stake of Toronto Hydro
to pay for infrastructure projects in the city?
Strongly Approve
Somewhat Approve
Somewhat Disapprove
Strongly Disapprove
Not Sure
Some have suggested Toronto bid to host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. Critics have said that
hosting the games would be very expensive and a wasteful use of tax dollars while supporters say that
it is about more than the money and Toronto already has the world-class venues and infrastructure
needed to hold the Olympic games. Do you approve or disapprove of Toronto making a bid to host the
2024 Summer Olympics?
Strongly Approve
Somewhat Approve
Somewhat Disapprove
Strongly Disapprove
Not Sure

B15

SCRIPT

If asked, would you make a financial donation to aid refugees from Syria?
Yes
No
Not sure
If asked, would you make an in-kind donation, such as clothing, to Syrian refugees?
Yes
No
Not sure
And, if asked would you consider sponsoring a Syrian refugee to come to Canada?
Yes
No
Not sure

Mainstreet is a 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.
Differentiated by its large sample sizes, Mainstreet has provided accurate snapshots of
public opinion, having predicted a majority NDP government in Alberta (2015), a majority
Liberal government in British Columbia, and a majority Liberal government in Ontario.
Most recently, Mainstreet was the most accurate pollster of Novembers Toronto mayoral
election.

2015 Mainstreet Research. All rights reserved