Half agree minimum wage should be raised to $14

Transcription

1 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Half agree minimum wage should be raised to $14 Two thirds think unlicensed daycares should be banned Toronto, In a random sampling of public opinion taken by the Forum Poll among 914 Ontarians 18 years of age and older, more than half agreed the minimum wage of $10.50 an hour was too little (57%), while fewer than one tenth thought it was too much (7%). One third think it is about right (34%) and very few have no opinion on this (1%). Incidence of thinking the minimum wage is too high is characteristic of the youngest (13%), males (11%), mid-income groups ($40K to $60K - 10%), in Northern Ontario (16%) and among PC voters (16%). One half approve of raising the minimum wage to $14 an hour (50%), just fewer disapprove (40%) and one tenth have no opinion (10%). Approval is highest among the youngest (63%), the least wealthy (67%), females (57%) in Northern Ontario (55%) and among NDP voters (70%). Two thirds want unlicensed daycares banned Two thirds of Ontarians say unlicensed daycares should not be allowed to in the province (65%), while 3-in-10 disagree (29%). Fewer than a tenth have no opinion (6%). The desire to disallow unlicensed daycares is highest among the oldest ( %), females (69%), the less wealthy ($20K to $40K - 75%) and among New Democrats (76%). While there is majority agreement the minimum wage is currently set too low, it is surprising to see one half in accord with a raise to $14, which was the level set by a private member's bill last year. This appears to be acceptable to most," said Forum Research President, Dr. Lorne Bozinoff. Lorne Bozinoff, Ph.D. is the president and founder of Forum Research. He can be reached at lbozinoff@ or at (416) MEDIA INQUIRIES: lbozinoff@ HIGHLIGHTS: More than half agreed the minimum wage of $10.50 an hour was too little (57%), while fewer than one tenth thought it was too much (7%). One third think it is about right (34%) and very few have no opinion on this (1%). I Incidence of thinking the minimum wage is too high is characteristic of the youngest (13%), males (11%), mid-income groups ($40K to $60K - 10%), in Northern Ontario (16%) and among PC voters (16%). While there is majority agreement the minimum wage is currently set too low, it is surprising to see one half in accord with a raise to $14, which was the level set by a private member's bill last year. This appears to be acceptable to most," said Forum Research President, Dr. Lorne Bozinoff. 1

2 Methodology The Forum Poll was conducted by Forum Research with the results based on an interactive voice response telephone survey of 914 randomly selected Ontarians 18 years of age and older. The poll was conducted on July 22 nd, Results based on the total sample are considered accurate +/- 3%, 19 times out of 20. Subsample results will be less accurate. Margins of error for subsample (such as age, gender) results are available at Where appropriate, the data has been statistically weighted to ensure that the sample reflects the actual population according to the latest Census data. This research is not necessarily predictive of future outcomes, but rather, captures opinion at one point in time. Forum Research conducted this poll as a public service and to demonstrate our survey research capabilities. With offices across Canada and around the world, 100% Canadian-owned Forum Research is one of the country s leading survey research firms. This Forum Poll and other polls may be found at Forum's poll archive at MEDIA INQUIRIES: lbozinoff@ 2

3 Approval of minimum wage amount in Ontario [All Respondents] % Sample Too Much Too Little About Right Don t Know July 22 nd, March 26 th to 27 th, Approval of raising minimum wage to $14 an hour [All Respondents] % Sample Approve Dissaprove Don t Know July 22 nd, March 26 th to 27 th,

4 Approval of minimum wage in Ontario The minimum wage in Ontario is $10.50 an hour. Is this too much, too little or about right? [All Respondents] Age / Gender Male Female Sample Too much Too little About right Region E. Ont GTA SW. Ont N. Ont Sample Too much Too little About right Household Income <20K 20-40K 40-60K 60-80K K K 250K+ Sample Too much Too little About right Current Provincial Party Preference PC Lib NDP Green Another Party Sample Too much Too little About right

5 Education Secondary Some college or Completed college Post graduate school or less university or university studies Sample Too much Too little About right MEDIA INQUIRIES: lbozinoff@ Marital Status Married or living Separated or Widowed or Single, never common law divorced widower married Sample Too much Too little About right Religion Protestant Evangelical Other Catholic Christian Christian Christian Other None Sample Too much Too little About right Ethnicity Canadian British, Scots, Irish or Welsh Other European Other Sample Too much Too little About right

6 Approval of raising minimum wage to $14 an hour Would you approve or disapprove of raising the minimum wage to $14 an hour? [All Respondents] Age / Gender Male Female Sample Approve Disapprove Region E. Ont GTA SW. Ont N. Ont Sample Approve Disapprove Household Income <20K 20-40K 40-60K 60-80K K K 250K+ Sample Approve Disapprove Current Provincial Party Preference PC Lib NDP Green Another Party Sample Approve Disapprove

7 Education Secondary Some college or Completed college Post graduate school or less university or university studies Sample Approve Disapprove Marital Status Married or living Separated or Widowed or Single, never common law divorced widower married Sample Approve Disapprove Religion Protestant Evangelical Other Catholic Christian Christian Christian Other None Sample Approve Disapprove Ethnicity Canadian British, Scots, Irish or Welsh Other European Other Sample Approve Disapprove

8 Approval of unlicensed daycares being allowed to in Ontario Should unlicensed daycares be allowed to in Ontario or not? [All Respondents] MEDIA INQUIRIES: Age / Gender Male Female Sample Unlicensed daycares should be allowed to Unlicensed daycares should not be allowed to Region E. SW. N GTA Ont Ont Ont Sample Unlicensed daycares should be allowed to Unlicensed daycares should not be allowed to Household Income <20K K 60K 80K 100K 250K 250K+ Sample Unlicensed daycares should be allowed to Unlicensed daycares should not be allowed to

9 Current Provincial Party Preference PC Liberal NDP Green Another Party Sample Unlicensed daycares should be allowed to Unlicensed daycares should not be allowed to Education Secondary school or less Some college or university Completed college or university Post graduate studies Sample Unlicensed daycares should be allowed to Unlicensed daycares should not be allowed to Marital Status Married or living common law Separated or divorced Widowed or widower Single, never married Sample Unlicensed daycares should be allowed to Unlicensed daycares should not be allowed to

10 Religion Protestant Evangelical Other Catholic Christian Christian Christian Other None Sample Unlicensed daycares should be allowed to Unlicensed daycares should not be allowed to Ethnicity Canadian British, Scots, Other Irish or Welsh European Other Sample Unlicensed daycares should be allowed to Unlicensed daycares should not be allowed to

11 For more information: Lorne Bozinoff, Ph.D. President Forum Research Inc. Tel: (416) Fax: (416)