SASKATCHEWAN POST-BUDGET 2017

EMBARGOED UNTIL:
5 AM CST, APRIL 3, 2017
PRINT EXCLUSIVE:
POSTMEDIA NETWORK
Methodology
Mainstreet surveyed a random sample of 1,704
Saskatchewan residents from March 30 to March
31st, 2017 through Chimera IVR. Landline and Cell
lines were included. Responses were weighed
using demographic and geographic information to
targets based on the 2011 Census.
The margin of error for survey results is 2.37
percentage points, 19 times out of 20. Margins of
error are greater for subsamples.
. majority government in the 2015 federal election.
About Mainstreet
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 Research was
the only polling rm to correctly predict a Liberal
Contact Information
In Ottawa: Quito Maggi, President
quito@mainstreetresearch.ca
In Montral: David Valentin, Executive Vice
President. david@mainstreetresearch.ca
In Toronto: Dr. Joseph Angolano, Vice President
joseph@mainstreetresearch.ca
Find us online at:
www.mainstreetresearch.ca
twitter.com/MainStResearch
facebook.com/mainstreetresearch
WALL APPROVAL FALLS; 45% DISAPPROVE OF SK BUDGET

April 3, 2017 (Montral, QC) A new Mainstreet/Postmedia poll conducted for the Saskatoon Star Phoenix
and Regina Leader Post nds Brad Wall with a net approval rating of +1. with 46% approval and 45%
disapproval. The Mainstreet/Postmedia poll has a margin of error of +/- 2.37%, 19 times out of 20.

These are very dierent numbers for Brad Wall than what we usually see said David Valentin, Executive
Vice-President of Mainstreet Research. We last saw Brad Wall with 52% approval last October with 43%
disapproval, thats a net approval rating of +9, his approval and disapproval numbers are now essentially
tied.

Were seeing very dierent results for the Saskatchewan NDP than we saw in the last election. The NDP
now leads in both Regina and Saskatoon where the Saskatchewan Party is running second. But outside
those two urban centres the Saskatchewan Party holds a dominant lead. Of course, an election isnt being
held anytime soon and we still dont know who will be leading the NDP into the next campaign - the
numbers could increase, or decrease, once there is a new leader at the helm.

Driving these numbers are the impact of the budget which has a net disapproval rating of -19
(approval-disapproval). Regina residents are the most likely to disapprove (57%) while Saskatoon
residents are the most likely to approve (26%).

Many individual parts of the budget are receiving strong disapproval as well: 51% are against the closure
of STC, 43% are opposed to the expansion of the PST, 66% are against the PST increase, 49% are against
the funding cuts to Libraries and Universities, 63% oppose the end of the grants-in-lieu program.

These are a raft of unpopular spending cuts the government says is necessary to achieve balance, and
while the budget itself is out performing most of these measures in approval, individually these
components are mostly being panned. The highest approval number for any of those measures is 21% for
the expansion of the PST.

While the government is making some changes to its proposal to eliminate the grants-in-lieu program so
that select communities see less impact, 40% of Saskatchewan residents support cities suing the
provincial government over lost revenue with 30% opposed. These are softer numbers compared to other
scores with 30% not sure.

Residents are similarly split when it comes to whether the government will be successful in renegotiating
public sector contracts to reduce costs. A majority, 51%, believe the government will be successful while
41% think it will not. 68% of Regina residents say the government will not be successful while 67% of those
outside urban centres say it will be - a sharp regional divide.

Lastly, 23% of Saskatchewanians say the budget cuts are necessary, 29% say they are not, while another
30% say the cuts could have been accomplished in a better way. All of this adds up to a rough reaction to
a tough provincial budget, nished Valentin.
-30-

For additional information or to arrange an interview, contact:

David Valentin, Executive Vice-President, (514) 913-5524 - david@mainstreetresearch.ca