Polling Research

Counsel Research

With governments, businesses and organizations planning for the post-COVID recovery, now is the time to learn what Canadians are thinking across a range of issues that affect their future.

Counsel Research’s differentiator is large sample polling at an affordable price. This lets us go deeper into the views of key groups of Canadians. Whether you are interested in swing voters, homeowners, or provincial samples, our bigger sample gives you better information at the local level – just the kind of vital information that decision-makers are looking for.

Latest Polling:

Canada Day Poll 2022:

June 30, 2022

The past several years have seen increased reckoning with racial discrimination and colonial injustice in Canadian society, including the discovery of unmarked graves which have brought to the forefront of public discourse the horrific abuses committed under the Indian Residential School system.

As this reckoning and reconciliation continues, there has been a growing debate over whether or not Canada Day festivities should be tempered with reflection, or even halted altogether.

As Canadians prepare for barbeques and fireworks this long weekend, the pollsters at Counsel Public Affairs went into the field to find out how Canadians are feeling about both the Canadian flag and Canada Day itself this year.

Read our summary here

View the full results here

Ontario Final Election Poll:

May 31, 2022

With voters heading to the polls in just two days, a new public opinion poll by Counsel Public Affairs suggests that Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives remain on track for re-election to a second majority government mandate. The PCs currently have the support of nearly 40% of voters, having picked up close to three points since Counsel’s last poll on May 18th.

Province-wide, Doug Ford’s PCs enjoy a 14-point lead among decided or leaning voters with 39.6% of the vote (+3.0% since Counsel’s last poll on May 18th), compared to 25.1% (-2%) for the Ontario Liberals led by Steven Del Duca and 22.5% (-2%) for the Andrea Horwath-helmed Ontario NDP.

Click here for our detailed results.

Ontario Post-Debate Poll:

May 20, 2022

A new public opinion poll by Counsel Public Affairs immediately following the Leaders debate on May 16, 2022, confirms that Premier Ford’s PC Party remains on track for a re-election to a second majority government mandate – with key findings revealing that campaign momentum could still change the dynamic of the race and its outcome in the final two weeks.

Province-wide, Doug Ford’s PCs hold a 9-point lead among decided or leaning voters with 36.9% (+2.0% from January) of the vote, compared to 27.5% (+3.3%) for the Ontario Liberals led by Steven Del Duca and 24.3% (-6.2%) for the Andrea Horwath-helmed Ontario NDP.

Click here for our detailed results.

Housing Data:

Feb 17, 2022

Newly-released public opinion data spotlights widespread concern about the cost of housing in Ontario and a desire for bold government action.

According to Counsel’s poll, 83% of Ontario voters are either very concerned or somewhat concerned about the cost of housing in their community. These high levels of concern are consistent across the province, reflecting the rapid housing cost increases experienced across Ontario during the pandemic. A staggering 82% of renters in Ontario believe they will never be able to afford a home.

While Ontario voters are evenly divided on whether the housing crisis is a supply or demand issue, two-thirds believe that the government should take action to limit increasing housing prices. Supported measures include taxing gains on the sale of primary residences that exceed $1 million, requiring developers to build low-income housing whenever they build a new development, and a foreign-owned vacancy tax.

Despite the need for action, most Ontario voters remain unwilling to compromise on environmental preservation: 73% believe that Ontario’s Greenbelt should remain protected from development.

Issues Data:

Feb 4, 2022

Newly-released data delves further into issues of key concern for Ontarians, as well as opinions related to COVID-19 and inflation.

The data reveals cost of living as the issue of most concern to Ontarians across the political spectrum, followed by the healthcare system, COVID-19, and housing affordability.

Ontarians continue to feel the pressure of inflation on their daily lives, and are looking to government as the cause. A majority of Canadians of all political affiliations believe government actions have significant impact on increased inflation. 80% of Ontarians believe inflation is an invisible tax, and 60% support eliminating inflation to make life more affordable.

On COVID-19, Ontarians share widespread support for vaccine mandates, taxes, and lockdown measures. Over 70% of Ontarians, including over 40% of those who are unvaccinated, support the recent lockdown measures of limiting indoor gatherings and restricting retail and restaurant capacities.

Click here for detailed results.

The Race:

Jan 27, 2022

A new public opinion poll by Counsel Public Affairs shows opportunities for Ontario’s three main parties.

Province-wide, Doug Ford’s Ontario PCs hold the lead (decided or leaning voters) over both Andrea Horwath’s Ontario New Democrats and Steven Del Duca’s Ontario Liberal Party. If an election were held today, poll respondents would vote 34.9% for Doug Ford’s Ontario PCs, 30.5% for Andrea Horwath’s Ontario NDP, 24.2 % for Steven Del Duca’s Ontario Liberal Party, 4.4% for Mike Schreiner’s Ontario Green Party, and 6% for other parties.

Click here for our detailed results.

Over the coming weeks, Counsel will be sharing additional data from our January poll, delving further into Ontarians’ views on key issues.

What the Highly Valuable ‘Swing Voter’ is Thinking

Political leaders care how swing voters and regions react to issues. With a federal election anticipated later this year and an Ontario election potentially a year away, now is the time to find out the views of each party’s “next 10%” – the potential supporters who decide elections.

Ask Questions Nationally or Focus on a Region

Sometimes it is vital to get a national snapshot, sometimes a regional snapshot is required. What is the Greater Toronto Area thinking? Where is BC’s Lower Mainland leaning? Counsel can tailor your polling to the regions and ridings that matter to you – generating results that will help guide your strategy.

Focus on Specific Demographics

Counsel Research’s large sample sizes provides you with unparalleled insights into the opinions of the key demographics who decide elections. Knowing where seniors, millennials, women, or any other slice of the electorate stands on an issue is extremely valuable information when you’re building a government or public relations strategy or finding a targeted audience.

Led by Counsel’s David Murray, the Conservative Party of Canada’s 2019 election pollster.

He has an intimate understanding of how political leaders calculate their next moves, and the voter coalitions each party needs to persuade to achieve their electoral goals.

At Counsel, David focuses on federal government advocacy and expands Counsel’s suite of services to include public opinion research. He uses data to craft narratives that demonstrate how clients’ goals can empower decision makers to be successful.

For more information, please contact David Murray at 613.869.3894 or dmurray@counselpa.com

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