CIVIC ISSUES

EMBARGOED UNTIL: 6 AM MST - SEPTEMBER 19, 2016

PRINT EXCLUSIVE: POSTMEDIA NETWORK
Mainstreet surveyed a random sample of 802 Saskatoon Residents by Smart IVR on September 13, 2016. A mixture of landlines
and cell phones were surveyed. Margin of error: +/- 3.46%, 19 times out of 20. Results were weighed by age and gender based
on the 2011 Canadian Census.

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"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.

ROADS TOP ISSUE FOR SASKATOON VOTERS

September 19, 2016 (Montral, QC) A new Mainstreet/Postmedia poll nds voters are most concerned
about roads with Crime in 2nd and Taxes, third. The Mainstreet/Postmedia Poll has a margin of error of +/3.46%, 19 times out of 20.
Saskatoons roads are a top issue this campaign said David Valentin, executive vice-president of
Mainstreet Research. We found in earlier polling that many dont see real improvement happening to
Saskatoons roads and feel they are in particularly bad shape. Now, were seeing that roads are a high
priority for voters. Certainly its something candidates will want to be talking about.
We also asked voters about strategic voting and whether they preferred to vote for a candidate who could
win or one who best represented their values. The results are not positive for Don Atchison - who is
generally regarded as the candidate who strategic voting would be employed against.
While only 20% of voters say they want to vote strategically, these voters are overwhelmingly older. 37%
of seniors say they want to vote strategically and if they plan to vote strategically to stop Don Atchisons
re-election that could have a big eect.
While most are happy with the services from the City of Saskatoon, fewer say they are getting good value
for the taxes they pay. 41% say their property taxes are a good value while 37% say they are not, a 4%
dierence just outside the margin of error.
When asked about transparency at city hall, there dont appear to be any strong opinions with 6% saying
city council is very transparent and 9% saying council is not at all transparent. The remainder are in the
middle, and overall, 50% say council is either very or somewhat transparent, nished Valentin.
About Mainstreet Research
Mainstreet is a national public research rm. With 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 Research has provided accurate snapshots of public
opinion, having predicted a majority NDP government in Alberta, a majority Liberal government in British
Columbia and a majority Liberal government in Ontario. Mainstreet has been the most accurate polling rm
in several by elections and the most recent Toronto mayoral election. Most recently, Mainstreet was the only
polling rm to correctly predict a Liberal majority government in the 2015 federal election.
-30Available for Interview from Toronto:

David Valentin, Executive Vice-President, Mainstreet Research

Call: 514-913-5524 or E-mail: david@mainstreetresearch.ca

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What would you say is more important: voting

for a candidate who might be able to win or
voting for the candidate who best represents
your values ?

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What would you say is more important: voting

for a candidate who might be able to win or
voting for the candidate who best represents
your values ?

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In your opinion what is the top issue in the

municipal election campaign?

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In your opinion what is the top issue in the

municipal election campaign?

43%
39%
18%

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How would you rate city services provided by

the City of Saskatoon?

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How would you rate city services provided by

the City of Saskatoon?

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Overall, is the cost of the property taxes you

pay the City of Saskatoon a good value for the
money you pay, or not?

43%
39%
18%

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Overall, is the cost of the property taxes you

pay the City of Saskatoon a good value for the
money you pay, or not?

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Thinking about city hall, would you say it is very

transparent and accountable, somewhat transparent
and accountable, not too transparent and
accountable or not at all transparent and
accountable?

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Thinking about city hall, would you say it is very

transparent and accountable, somewhat transparent
and accountable, not too transparent and
accountable or not at all transparent and
accountable?

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SCRIPT

What would you say is more important: voting for a candidate who might be able to win or voting for the candidate who best
represents your values ?
Best Represents Your Values
Voting for a Candidate who might be able to win
Not Sure
In your opinion what is the top issue in the municipal election campaign. Is it: Roads, Crime, a Downtown Arena, Leisure
Centres, Growth and Development, Taxes, Transit, Waste and Recycling or something else ?
Roads
Crime
Downtown Arena
Recreation Facilities
Growth and Development
Taxes
Transit
Waste & Recycling
Something Else
Not Sure
Should a new downtown library be a priority for the new city council elected in October?
Yes
No
Not Sure
And how would you rate city services provided by the City of Saskatoon: Excellent, Good, Fair, Poor or Very Poor?
Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor
Very Poor
Not Sure
Overall, is the cost of the property taxes you pay the City of Saskatoon a good value for the money you pay, or not?
A Good Value
Not a Good Value
Not Sure
Thinking about city hall, would you say it is very transparent and accountable, somewhat transparent and accountable, not too
transparent and accountable or not at all transparent and accountable?
Very Transparent and Accountable
Somewhat Transparent and Accountable
Not Too Transparent and Accountable
Not at all Transparent and Accountable
Not Sure
Should City Council introduce a mandatory organic recycling program? Or should it be voluntary?
City Council Should Introduce a Mandatory Organic Recycling Program
The Organic Recycling Program Should be Voluntary
Not Sure

CALGARY GREENWAY

WHITBY

Most Accurate Pollster of the Calgary

Greenway by election.

Most Accurate Pollster of the

Whitby by election.

SASKATCHEWAN

MANITOBA

Most Active Pollster of Saskatchewans

general election, top results within MoE.

Most Active Pollster of Manitobas general

election, top results within MoE.

ONLY WE
CALLED
THE
LIBERAL
MAJORITY.

I recommend "Raiders of the Lost Campaign Arc," released Oct. 18, because its an interview
with a pollster that everyone who follows politics should hear. Quito Maggi, of Mainstreet Public
Research, was the only pollster I saw call the Liberal majority with such condence, a week
before we voted.
Maggi also has the distinction of being the guy who predicted the BC Liberals would win in 2013,
in deance of the majority of the polls.
His technique involves picking a true bellwether riding and polling it thoroughly. His explanation
for how he does it is well worth a listen and should be required research for anyone running a
political campaign. - Shannon Rupp, The Tyee, November 4th, 2015
Mainstreet Research | 1322255B Queen Street East
| Toronto | Ontario | M4E 1G3 | Canada

Mainstreet is a national public research rm. 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 Research has provided accurate snapshots of
public opinion, having predicted a majority NDP government in Alberta, a majority Liberal
government in British Columbia and a majority Liberal government in Ontario. Mainstreet has
been the most accurate polling rm in several by elections and the most recent Toronto mayoral
election. Most recently, Mainstreet was the only polling rm to correctly predict a Liberal majority
government in the 2015 federal election.

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