Calgary Issues June 2015

The poll surveyed a random sample of 1,319 Calgary residents by Smart IVR on June 14th, 2015.

Mainstreet surveyed a mixture of landlines and cell phones.Margin of error: +/- 2.7%, 19/20.

CALGARY DIVIDED OVER SECONDARY SUITES

June 16th, 2015. A new Mainstreet Technologies poll finds 70% of Calgary residents are following the secondary suites debate at City Hall - and they are divided over outright reform of secondary suites 42% to 37% within the polls margin of error of +/- 2.7%, 19/20.

Much like council, Calgarians are divided over what to do about secondary suites, said Quito Maggi, president of Mainstreet Technologies. There is higher support for specific reforms, such as allowing secondary suites in areas already zoned for them or containing them to the inner city, but there is no consensus on allowing secondary suites in all neighbourhoods of the city. Even though the poll mentions a vote would be non-binding, there is strong support for a plebiscite on the issue.

Meanwhile, Naheed Nenshi scored an approval rating of 57%. Support was lower for City Council (51%) and Local Councillor (47%). Approval/Disapproval scores for Local Councillor were statistically tied.

We were surprised at the approval scores but the next election is two years away. What is troubling for individual councillors is Calgarians are sharply divided over their local representation. The scores for local councillor are particularly weak - most of the approval comes from those who somewhat approve as opposed to those who strongly approve. The reverse is true for Mayor Nenshi who sees the bulk of his approval score come from those who strongly approve of his performance. 70% of Calgarians have been following the secondary suites debate and this may be contributing to the mayors approval rating, finished Maggi.

Highlights- 57% approve of Naheed Nenshis performance as mayor- 51% approve of city council, 47% approve of their local councillor - 42% of Calgarians approve of widespread secondary suite reform, 37% are opposed, a statistical tie- 47% approve of secondary suite reform contained to the inner city- 76% approve of easing rules for secondary suites where they are already allowed

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For more information: Pour les informations en franaisDavid Valentin, [email protected] Steve Pinkus, [email protected]

Available for interview from Toronto:Quito Maggi, [email protected], 416-570-3762

About Mainstreet TechnologiesMainstreet Technologies 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 aairs.

Dierentiated 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 and Februarys by-election in Sudbury.

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Naheed Nenshi is handling his job as Mayor?

STRONGLY APPROVESOMEWHAT APPROVESOMEWHAT DISAPPROVESTRONGLY DISAPPROVENOT SURESAMPLE

AGE & GENDER BREAKDOWN18-3440%12%18%26%4%116

35-4943%21%14%17%5%190

50-6431%24%16%24%5%445

65+33%25%15%22%4%568

Female44%19%17%12%7%695

Male31%20%15%32%1%

624

TOTAL APPROVAL: 57% TOTAL DISAPPROVAL: 38% NOT SURE: 4%

57%

38%

4%

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



35-4923%39%13%18%7%190

50-6414%33%25%21%8%445

65+13%35%26%19%8%568

Female21%25%21%26%7%624

Male21%25%21%26%7%624


51%

41%

9%

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


AGE & GENDER BREAKDOWN18-34

6%38%24%21%10%116

35-4911%33%24%22%12%190

50-6416%35%22%16%12%445

65+19%37%19%12%12%568

Female10%40%22%17%12%695

Male13%32%24%21%11%624


47%

42%

11%

Calgary City Council has been debating the licensing of secondary suites, including basement apartments. How closely have you been following this story?

VERY CLOSELYSOMEWHAT CLOSELYNOT TOO CLOSELYNOT AT ALL CLOSELYNOT AWARESAMPLE


35-4930%42%18%9%6%190

50-6426%45%18%9%2%445

65+27%44%19%5%1%

568

Female25%44%23%6%2%695

Male39%32%18%3%8%624

VERY/SOMEWHAT: 70% NOT TOO/AT ALL: 25% NOT AWARE: 5%

70%

25%

5%

Currently, more than half of all residential districts in Calgary are not zoned to allow secondary or basement suites. Should Calgary City Council change zoning rules to allow secondary or basement suites in ALL neighbourhoods of the city?

YES*NO*NOT SURESAMPLE

AGE & GENDER BREAKDOWN18-3453%30%17%116

35-4946%33%21%190

50-6430%46%24%445

65+28%48%24%568

Female41%32%27%695

Male43%42%15%624

YES*: 42% NO*: 37% NOT SURE: 21%

*Yes, Calgary city council should change zoning rules to allow secondary suites throughout all neighbourhoods; *No, Calgary city council should keep zoning rules the way they are

42%

37%

21%

The city has also considered changing its zoning rules to allow secondary or basement suites only in wards closest to the inner city, rather than city-wide. Do you approve or disapprove of this change?



35-4917%31%21%21%11%190

50-6414%30%22%20%14%445

65+15%34%21%17%13%568

Female10%31%28%19%13%695

Male20%34%20%19%8%624


47%

43%

10%

And, do you approve or disapprove of the City of Calgary making it easier to create secondary suites in the districts where zoning already allows it?



35-4943%40%7%2%8%190

50-6430%37%18%6%9%445

65+30%36%17%7%10%568

Female34%41%10%6%9%695

Male38%39%10%6%8%624


76%

16%

9%

Finally, do you approve or disapprove of the City of Calgary conducting a non-binding plebiscite, a vote during the next municipal election, about changing the rules surrounding secondary suites in the city?



35-4942%27%11%13%7%190

50-6427%31%11%19%12%445

65+25%31%12%18%14%568

Female25%32%13%14%15%695

Male43%26%12%14%4%624


63%

27%

10%


- Strongly approve- Somewhat approve

- Somewhat disapprove- Strongly disapprove

- Not Sure

Finally, do you approve or disapprove of the City of Calgary conducting a non-binding plebiscite about changing the rules surrounding secondary suites in the city?



- Not Sure




- Not Sure




- Not Sure




- Not Sure

Currently, more than half of all residential districts in Calgary are not zoned to allow secondary or basement suites. Should Calgary City Council change zoning rules to allow secondary or basement

suites in all neighbourhoods of the city?

- Yes, Calgary city council should change zoning rules to allow secondary suites throughout all neighbourhoods

No, Calgary City Council should keep zoning rules the way they are- Not Sure




- Not Sure

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- Not Sure

Finally, do you approve or disapprove of the City of Calgary conducting a non-binding plebiscite about changing the rules surrounding secondary suites in the city?



- Not Sure




- Not Sure




- Not Sure




- Not Sure

Currently, more than half of all residential districts in Calgary are not zoned to allow secondary or basement suites. Should Calgary City Council change zoning rules to allow secondary or basement

suites in all neighbourhoods of the city?

- Yes, Calgary city council should change zoning rules to allow secondary suites throughout all neighbourhoods

No, Calgary City Council should keep zoning rules the way they are- Not Sure




- Not Sure

Calgary Issues June 2015

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